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ELC Star Sportswear fit poll

Which size fits better?

  • 40

    Votes: 33 71.7%
  • 42

    Votes: 13 28.3%

  • Total voters
    46

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
Last November I bought a size 40 Star Sportswear A-2 at the ELC popup store. As it broke in, the sleeves became a tad on the short side, and the shoulders are a tiny bit snug. I started doubting my decision so I ordered a size 42 so I can compare and decide once and for all. It feels a bit like a tent but it's not broken in at all like my size 40. What do you think, which one fits better? I've created a poll. The one with the whistle is the size 40.

Thanks!

40:
IMG_0088.JPG


42:
IMG_0132.JPG


40:
IMG_0107.JPG


42:
IMG_0138.JPG


40:
IMG_0114.JPG


42:
IMG_0155.JPG


40:
IMG_0124.JPG


42:
IMG_0164.JPG
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
They're both more than acceptable Greg but personally I think the 40 looks better. But then I'm not the one wearing it so it really comes down to how you feel in them.

Fit-wise the 40 on you looks pretty damn close to the fit of Blakeslee's A-2 that we've been talking about in the other thread, so I guess you know which way I'd choose!
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
What I feel is that the shoulders of the 42 is better, but there is just too much extra room in the torso and in the sleeves. Which are also a bit too long but I guess they would shorten once broken in and creased. I guess the shoulders of the 40 would also become more comfy once fully broken in. It's incredible how much difference there is between the 2 sizes.
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
Looking good Greg... I have to ask, which one is more comfortable to you?

Neither of them is restrictive, the only thing "uncomfortable" about the 40 is the sleeve ride-up, but it has extra room in the torso too. The 42 is more comfortable in a sense like a pyjama is - plenty of space to move. But all the wrinkling of the excess leather makes in uncomfortable at the same time. Gosh, I'm difficult! :(
 

stanier

Well-Known Member
The 40 wins hands down in the pics. The 42 does look like a tent, you’re right.

Interestingly, I too have an ELC Star in a 40 (which I love) and very occasionally when I stretch forward I wonder if I should have got a 42 but in the strength of the difference in these pics I definitely made the right choice! Btw, over time it has loosened up and kind of learnt to fit if that makes sense!
 

Lorenzo_l

Well-Known Member
Hi Greg,
To my eye, the size 40 looks like the best fit, despite the somewhat short sleeves which, all things considered, do not look bad at all. Having said that,
I'll subscribe To Brett's point: which of the two is the most comfortable to wear? size 40 a tad snug on the shoulders but still comfy, size 42 like a pajama, lost of room to wiggle about in. While my vote goes for the size 40, it's for you to decide bro!
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the inputs. Even if I said I would not consider adding inches and go for any long sizes, is the 40 still better? I mean don't the sleeves look weird? Does ELC even offer the Star in 40 Long?

Also: is there a possibility that the 42 would wear in, develop creases and stop feeling like a tent?
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
@stanier great fit! The thing is the sleeves of the 40 only look short when I stand in attention, that is, my elbows are not bent. As soon as I put my hands on my hips or pockets, they're OK.
 

stanier

Well-Known Member
Don’t worry about it Greg. You’ll see lots of posts on here about how original issued A-2 fit was all over the place. IMHO yours looks great. Don’t forget if you had a long it would be longer in the body as well and yours is fine as is. How often do you stand to attention anyway?

The comfort / pyjama argument would apply to a 48 too, and you wouldn’t want one of those! Purely my personal opinion but I think a lot of A-2’s are worn too often too big and too long, sorry everybody, just my opinion.

On you Greg, the ELC Star 40 looks cool. The 42 doesn’t.

Just enjoy what you have, it works very well, would be my opinion.

Cheers
 

2BM2K

Well-Known Member
I prefer the loo of the 42. To me the 40 looks a little short in the body length.
I the way I test the length of an A2 is to put it on , zip it up, pull the body down to it's
full length.

Then with both hands fill up the collar. The waist band should come to rest on the hips.
If it is too long then there will be too much bousing of the jacket at the back.

Now, carefully, un zip jacket. The waistband should not drop too much, if at all.

Here are acouple of photos of original Star Sportwear jacket;



576180_399454483443978_1269844507_n.jpg


Mundt.jpg
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
@2BM2K that may be true for the lengths, but these don't seem to have so much excess leather in the torso nor the sleeve width. Check out the length of JC's Star. The rivet above his jeans' pocket is just visible. Just like when I wear my size 40. The 42 reaches down all the way to the pockets of my not high waisted jeans.

front_view3.jpg


There is an excess 2-3 inches on both sides of the torso that I can pinch with my fingers at the seam. So the question comes down to this:

Which one is more likely? a) the 42 will develop creases and stop looking like a tent, or b) the 40's shoulder loosens up a bit which would also pull the sleeves up a bit less?

I also realize with my build none of them will fit like it was custom tailored, but if you were at the PX in 1943, which one would you give me?
 

Persimmon

Well-Known Member
You would be given a jacket and told take it.
Inside you would see a label with a size 48 on it and think ... oh well.
 

seres

Member
My vote goes for the 40, all things considered. The sleeves are just slightly short, but overall the 40 fits better.
 

stanier

Well-Known Member
You would be given a jacket and told take it.
Inside you would see a label with a size 48 on it and think ... oh well.

And then lose a stone in a month with worry and fear about seeing the next day. How they did what they did, I’ll never know.
 

Persimmon

Well-Known Member
And then lose a stone in a month with worry and fear about seeing the next day. How they did what they did, I’ll never know.

And maybe grab the smaller size jacket left by the empty bed in your hut when sadly the owner failed to return home that day
 
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