A2 fit question (yes another one )

[Pa12]

This is the other Eastman contract I have. Not sure off the top of my head what it is, you can see it’s a lot trimmer yet the same size.


View attachment 141997View attachment 141999View attachment 142001View attachment 142003View attachment 142005

Both look good to me.

 

[saucerfiend]

They look like the same contract to me.

 

[Micawber]

Yup, the second one looks ok too. Of course the BIG question is how do they feel to you? Bear in mind they are simple leather jackets, see past that, mindful of the background and history of course, and just wear the piss out of them!

 

[blackrat2]

The first one is what I would pick, not to trim as seems to have become the norm for clothing, but loose enough for layering..

 

[Smithy]

The really trim A-2 fit thing was all the rage with Japanese hipsters around 10-15 years ago. It obviously caught on over at the Hat Place where guys were oohing and aahing over ridiculously trim jackets.

I remember one time when some guy posted over there a "What do you think of my A-2 jacket fit?" thread. It was blatantly obvious the jacket was ludicrously too small and yet egged on by those cool dudes in Japan, everyone over there was saying how good the fit was and how cool he looked. At the end he revealed he couldn't even zip the thing up it was so small.

Needless to say any enthusiasm I'd had for Le Salon du Chapeau quickly evaporated after that thread.

 

[leper-colony]

The really trim A-2 fit thing was all the rage with Japanese hipsters around 10-15 years ago. It obviously caught on over at the Hat Place where guys were oohing and aahing over ridiculously trim jackets.

I remember one time when some guy posted over there a "What do you think of my A-2 jacket fit?" thread. It was blatantly obvious the jacket was ludicrously too small and yet egged on by those cool dudes in Japan, everyone over there was saying how good the fit was and how cool he looked. At the end he revealed he couldn't even zip the thing up it was so small.

Needless to say any enthusiasm I'd had for Le Salon du Chapeau quickly evaporated after that thread.

Yep. In the past, here, long ago, the advice was a fit like a leather shirt. So, to me, I ask do you want fashion or history?

 

[Smithy]

Yep. In the past, here, long ago, the advice was a fit like a leather shirt. So, to me, I ask do you want fashion or history?

A lot of that nonsense seemed to be around a decade to 15 years ago when for whatever reason in Japan the cool hipster kids over there started going for super trim fits with things like A-2s. Because at that time anything Americana from Japan was ubercool, guys seemed to jump on that stupid over tight bandwagon like mad, and hence why the cool kids over at the Lid Place went nuts for it too.

The ironic thing like you point out is if you actually look at photos of airmen during the war, the vast majority of "fit" is pretty relaxed and for good reason - functionality.

 

[Rutger]

1st one very good fit. Allows movement and a sweater.
The 2nd one I can imagine sleeves creeping up all the time when reaching for the steering wheel or a pint.

 

[mulceber]

1st one very good fit. Allows movement and a sweater.
The 2nd one I can imagine sleeves creeping up all the time when reaching for the steering wheel or a pint.

Yeah, my thoughts as well. Second looks like a decent fit, but on the fitted/short side.

 

[Smithy]

A-2s due to their design (essentially a leather shirt) need to be slightly large and relaxed in fit. The lack of bi-swing, etc means that for the jacket to be usable and comfortable it needs to be large and relaxed enough to be able to move in it.

It ain't rocket science fellas

 

[mulceber]

A-2s due to their design (essentially a leather shirt) need to be slightly large and relaxed in fit. The lack of bi-swing, etc means that for the jacket to be usable and comfortable it needs to be large and relaxed enough to be able to move in it.

It ain't rocket science fellas

The flip side of that is that, on a G-1, you can to a certain degree get away with wearing a jacket that’s actually too small for you, since the pleats will just expand, effectively adding 2-4 inches to the chest measurement of the jacket. But that’s a whole other discussion.

 

[Smithy]

The flip side of that is that, on a G-1, you can to a certain degree get away with wearing a jacket that’s actually too small for you, since the pleats will just expand, effectively adding 2-4 inches to the chest measurement of the jacket. But that’s a whole other discussion.

Yup Jan, entirely agree.

It's the reason why sizing and fit for an A-2 is so entirely different from a G-1, or even a B-10 for that matter.

The A-2 is entirely different from most jackets and especially modern day jackets and that's why so many people have problems with them.

 

[Lorenzo_l]

A-2s due to their design (essentially a leather shirt) need to be slightly large and relaxed in fit. The lack of bi-swing, etc means that for the jacket to be usable and comfortable it needs to be large and relaxed enough to be able to move in it.

It ain't rocket science fellas

That. I now have a loose-fitting A-2 that is a joy to wear. As I can easily layer under it, its functionality has gone up a (big) notch and I have been able to wear the said A-2 all through the winter (which has been on the very mild side btw, but you get the point). I learned the point Smithy is making the hard way.

 

[Pa12]

Probably been said many times but looking at period pictures fit is all over the place. Depends on your body type etc. And in the end I think it’s just personal preference. Almost anything could be classified as accurate. I think we have all seen a couple of pictures of what we view as “the”fit , and we strive for that. But we aren’t that guy, so it may not even be achievable.

 

[Smithy]

Funny thing is that whilst you will see some tight/short fits, the vast majority of photos show A-2s that aren't skin tight and far more relaxed.

The whole "A-2 fits were all over the place" which gets banged around doesn't actually stack up to photographic evidence if we're talking about an average fit. Yes there were some too small and even some too big but the majority of A-2s used by aircrew were a relaxed fit. That's borne out by the 1,000s of photos of airmen wearing them. For every photo of one guy with a tight A-2 there's 20-plus of a guy with a looser one.

 

[Pa12]

Perhaps because of the condition of people then, eating better, there was less variation in body types and generally easier to make clothes that fit well

 

[Smithy]

People were skinnier (also young) but also we forget these things were worn in combat. They were pieces of equipment worn under combat conditions. It was no good having a jacket that excessively restricted movement and therefore affected someone's ability to move/react in action.

 

[Pa12]

People were skinnier (also young) but also we forget these things were worn in combat. They were pieces of equipment worn under combat conditions. It was no good having a jacket that excessively restricted movement and therefore affected someone's ability to move/react in action.

And that makes a huge difference. I recently dropped 15 lbs and now weigh what I did at 20. My jackets look a thousand times better. There’s a reason models are thin. Makes the clothes look better.

 

[bn1966]

I own two 48 chest ELC A-2’s and both are roomier contracts. I tried the smaller hipster fit and it didn’t work out . Yours look fine to my eye and I expect to be able to wear a fine sweater underneath.

 

[B-Man2]

I just sold three Good Wears solely for all the reasons stated above . When I first got them I liked the trim fitting look but something was always pulling up. The back, the sleeves, something . Then I started to look closely at period photos and the fit and drape of the jackets . The ones that looked good and draped well all looked to be a little big on the wearer. So a while back I decided to sell off all the trim jackets and keep the ones that were easier to wear and I’m happier now as my jackets are a pleasure to wear and I can wear them in warmer and in colder climates .