What to do with an unsellable jacket

[TLW '90]

I just got this vintage WB place deerskin jacket fairly cheap off Ebay.

I was watching 2 similar jackets, took one off my watchlist because I realized that the sleeves were too short, and bought the other when the seller offered be a huge discount.
I inadvertently got the jackets mixed up, took the wrong one off my watchlist, and bought this one without double checking.

It turned out to be a very snug 36 with sleeves that are only 21" long.
I do not think it is likely that I'll ever find somebody this can fit ( maybe a kid or dwarf ), so I consider it unsellable.

What would you do with it ?

Right now I am contemplating somehow making it into a vest, or just cutting it up for the leather.
I have a wool vest that I wanted to customize by adding leather trim to the pockets, and I think this deerskin might look pretty good.

 

[heavydutysg135]

I would be inclined to at least see if it could be sold for a low price versus throwing additional money at something you did not initially want. It is a small jacket and seems not crazy that a petit girl or smaller framed male in the 5 foot or shorter range could want to purchase where they would be ok with sleeves at the wrist. Both the chest size is small and sleeves are short and it is not as if it is a jacket with size 46 chest and 21" sleeves.

 

[TLW '90]

I would be inclined to at least see if it could be sold for a low price versus throwing additional money at something you did not initially want. It is a small jacket and seems not crazy that a petit girl or smaller framed male in the 5 foot or shorter range could want to purchase where they would be ok with sleeves at the wrist. Both the chest size is small and sleeves are short and it is not as if it is a jacket with size 46 chest and 21" sleeves.

I hadn't planned on throwing money at it.
I just thought about maybe cutting the sleeves off but it's not actually a style of jacket that would make a good vest that way.
There is likely somebody out there who could wear this, but it sat on Ebay for months and I'm not likely gonna find any takers around here on TFL.

I could always donate it to goodwill I suppose.

 

[heavydutysg135]

Just as a bit of perspective, I am 5' 3" and weigh approx 150 lbs. I do some weightlifting when job / kids allow and wear size 40 - 42 chest with short arms. I have a size 42 jacket with sleeves as short as 21.5" that fit ok at the wrist (typically would prefer another .5" - 1"). Not exactly apples to apples to this because the shoulder width on that size 42 would be wider, but just thinking that if someone was 5 feet or less and really small it could work.

Maybe if you lowered the price significantly from what it sat at for months it would sell.

With you saying it is not a style you would expect without sleeves, would likely indicate you would not wear it if you did that.

 

[TLW '90]

With you saying it is not a style you would expect without sleeves, would likely indicate you would not wear it if you did that.

That's why I wouldn't do it, just an idea I threw out there before even really thinking about it.

I have no problem passing it along on here for the cost of shipping, but I don't feel like waiting forever for a taker to come along.

 

[GHT]

You could be generous and donate it to a charity shop, that's what I did with an expensive suit. It was made of linen, looked like I had slept in it after half an hour, I didn't listen to the tailor who wanted to mix the linen with synthetic, so it hung forever in the wardrobe. Hopefully the charity may make some money out of it.

 

[TLW '90]

I have thought about giving it to goodwill.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Slip that in the goodwill box and some picker will have it on FleaBay again in a heartbeat.

That, or a compact crackie in your hood will be sporting a deerskin jacket soon.

 

[TLW '90]

Slip that in the goodwill box and some picker will have it on FleaBay again in a heartbeat.

That, or a compact crackie in your hood will be sporting a deerskin jacket soon.

And that is part of what's making me consider just cutting it up for the leather.
But ultimately I probably won't be doing that.

 

[Monitor]

Nobody's going to pick that up, especially not as a donation.

It would make a neat vest, cut at the pockets & there's plenty of material in the sleeves for all sorts of repairs and projects.

 

[TLW '90]

Nobody's going to pick that up, especially not as a donation.

It would make a neat vest, cut at the pockets & there's plenty of material in the sleeves for all sorts of repairs and projects.

I have certainly been doubtful that somebody will fit and want to wear this.

Making it into a vest really isn't in the cards for me though.
It's not as long as it might look so cutting it off at the pockets would be too short but it's a little too long as is.
I really do think this leather would make good pocket trim for the Schaefer outfitter cattle baron vest that I want to customize.


I'm on the fence about cutting it up because it is a once nice vintage jacket in a condition I would happily wear if possible, but I really do think it's a very hard sell that even if I donated it somebody would buy for the leather.

I payed $60 for it which I'll never get back, but the leather is about worth that to me.

 

[Peacoat]

Try to sell it first. Give it a chance to find a home where it can be used as intended.

If not successful, then use it for project leather.

 

[TLW '90]

I have decided that I won't be cutting this jacket up, because I scrounged up something else for the project I've got in mind.

 

[Fifty150]

You never know what someone will buy on eBay, at the right price. And that price is negotiable. Set up your auction to accept offers. You may be surprised at what someone will offer.

 

[TLW '90]

You never know what someone will buy on eBay, at the right price. And that price is negotiable. Set up your auction to accept offers. You may be surprised at what someone will offer.

I don't sell on Ebay.
I'm probably just going to donate it.