ELC Star Sportswear fit poll

[Greg Gale]

Thanks for posting these @Technonut2112 ! Now it's clear we have a very different taste. I wanted to post the first pic as a counter example to show what I do not want to look like in my Star, but decided not to for fear of possibly offending a member here

The HPA pic is also a bit larger than I like, although it's something I could live with. JC's fit is really nice, but it's quite far from the way my 42 fits me. His sleeves are just as tapered as my 40, albeit longer, but that's due to the difference in our bodies.

 

[Lebowski]

^^
Technonut, there's definitely oversized jacket on your first pic above, look at its sleeve's tunneling - there's almost no cuffs visible there.
The third pic is quite O'k, but still roomy.
Anyway, Greg's jacket size 40 fits him way too much better (to my taste personally).
P.S. Tastes are different and it's O'k. I respect your taste even if mine is different. Peace!)

 

[Technonut2112]

Thanks for posting these @Technonut2112 ! Now it's clear we have a very different taste. I wanted to post the first pic as a counter example to show what I do not want to look like in my Star, but decided not to for fear of possibly offending a member here

The HPA pic is also a bit larger than I like, although it's something I could live with. JC's fit is really nice, but it's quite far from the way my 42 fits me. His sleeves are just as tapered as my 40, albeit longer, but that's due to the difference in our bodies.

NP... No doubt for the $$ invested, you should look exactly as you like... Me, I'm more into historical accuracy, comfort, and the most commonly recognized 'every-man' A-2 fit.. I've never cuddled-up to the 'slim' fit of recent years, but does look good on certain folks. Since I've had the GW RW 27752, my A-2 contract search has ended. Most comfortable, exquisitely-patterned A-2 I've owned out of many over the past 30 years. JC himself has been known to say basically the same regarding the RW patterns.

Here's another historical pic of a gent who enjoys a good, comfortable fit:

 

[Lebowski]

Since I've had the GW RW 27752, my A-2 contract search has ended. Most comfortable, exquisitely-patterned A-2 I've owned out of many over the past 30 years. JC himself has been known to say basically the same regarding the RW patterns.

Congrats, GW RW 27752 is a keeper! Very like it.

 

[Smithy]

Some Star's with a good-looking fit to my eye:

(sleeves a tad long)

View attachment 5268
View attachment 5269

And an Eastman Star pic from HPA:

View attachment 5270

1. No, sleeves far too long and just a hop, skip and a jump from Jerry Seinfeld territory with those shoulders.

2. Not bad.

3. No, two man tent!



Really though, I think there's a distinct difference between relaxed and too relaxed in how an A-2 fits, in the same way as trim and too trim. At the end of the day, wear whatever feels right for you and puts a smile on your dial, and to hell with what anyone else thinks.

 

[Technonut2112]

1. No, sleeves far too long and just a hop, skip and a jump from Jerry Seinfeld territory with those shoulders.

2. Not bad.

3. No, two man tent!



Really though, I think there's a distinct difference between relaxed and too relaxed in how an A-2 fits, in the same way as trim and too trim. At the end of the day, wear whatever feels right for you and puts a smile on your dial, and to hell with what anyone else thinks.

Personally, I think the HPA Star looks quite sharp, and actually has a comfortable-looking fit. (I don't think Charles would have modeled it if not 'right' to his experienced eyes) Anyhow, I'll stick to the majority of fits that I see in the 1000's of pics I have collected over the years.. Not the minority of the slim-fitting A-2's I've seen fighter-pilots of the era wear for the most part. When I'm throwing down the kind of $$ for a top-tier repro (even pre-owned), I want both historical accuracy, and daily wear comfort.

It's all in the eyes staring back at you in the mirror...............

EDIT: If one looks at the emerging new style in Japan, it appears that they're starting to make a turn-around towards larger fitting A-2's coupled with vintage work-wear, kind of removed from the tight, 'above-the-belt' Rockabilly look which has dominated there for some time.

At the end of the day, as long as no one here looks like this, all is well in the realm:

One more for the road.... Tunneled wrist knits, drooping shoulders, and oversized to many's eye, here is Harrison Ford, with more $$ than God to purchase any bespoke repro he wants, yet is so comfortable in his middle-aged skin, he decides on this A-2 (at 55, I'm leaning towards 'comfort is king' as well.. )

 

[Smithy]

One last thing I'll throw in here is the drape. Those veg tanned hides are significantly stiffer - you can see that in the HPA Star pic you posted above so it's not draping in the same way as you see in the WWII photos. This also makes it difficult to make a direct comparison to wartime images. Those veg tanned hides need a LOT of wear to drape anywhere near with the same softness as those originals in photos. It would be interesting to see just how different Greg's 40 would look if it had the same degree of relaxation in the hide that the ones in this image do:

 

[Greg Gale]

I found a photo of a guy in a size 42 Star. I think it's a great fit. He's 180 cm tall and weights 87 kg versus my 184 cm and 75 kg. Now I see that I'd need to put on at least 10 kilos for the 42 to fit nicely:

 

[Technonut2112]

Congrats, GW RW 27752 is a keeper! Very like it.

Thanks man! I used to be into some 'trimmer' jackets, but after owning both the GW RW 18091 (goat), and 27752, I quickly started to enjoy the comfort that I hadn't with the others, especially the 27752. I still like a trimmer-but-comfortable fit in USN / AN-J-3 leather jackets, but the bi-swing back is the saving grace for a trim fit / look and comfort (along with the rib-rack waistband to handle blousing instead of the stiffer goat).

 

[B-Man2]

Greg;
I’ve read all of the posts on this thread 3 times and what I finally realized is that as a group of A2 enthusiasts we are all just as confused as you are as to what exactly is the “Perfect Fit A2” .
I joined this forum years ago and we were kicking around this exact topic back then. We’ve gone around this tree several times since then. I am just as opinionated as most and I can’t seem to figure out what constitutes the “Perfect Fit “ anymore than the next guy. All you have to do is look in our closets at the various sizes of A2s , which are testaments to our attempts at seeking the perfect fit A2. This is the great thing about this forum, we’ve all been where you unknowingly are headed .... In the not too distant future you too will have 4 or 5 jackets that started out as the perfect fit but as your knowledge and expectations changed and developed were put on the hanger for a better perfect fit A2. You will realize as many of us have that the best fitting A2 changes with the look you want to achieve, the clothing you are wearing at the time and the weather conditions outside. Sometimes you want one a little trimmer and other times one a little looser for layering.
The one really smart move you’ve made is checking with the girl friend because after all we say here..... isn’t that the opinion that carries the most weight? Welcome to the forum brother!!

 

[Southoftheborder]

View attachment 5276

One more for the road.... Tunneled wrist knits, drooping shoulders, and oversized to many's eye, here is Harrison Ford, with more $$ than God to purchase any bespoke repro he wants, yet is so comfortable in his middle-aged skin, he decides on this A-2 (at 55, I'm leaning towards 'comfort is king' as well.. )

View attachment 5284

Thing is he flies a vintage aeroplane so needs a flight jacket designed for the job. I suspect that's a G&Bs which is sneered at by most A2 aficionados but is a very solid bulletproof jacket. They are also very oversized and comfortable. I don't think you can compare a fit for looks, with fit for purpose.

 

[Lebowski]

I don't think you can compare a fit for looks, with fit for purpose.

It was discussed many times here, please look back at all these photos posted above. All those guys from 40s did their hard work perfect then, in WWII period, independently of their trim- or roomy- fit, sizes and other. I don't think they could have time or/and any possibility to think about such minor things then.
So, it's not a question of purpose at all, it's just a question of taste and preferences if we talk about repro's fit. Me personally prefer trim-fitted contracts. Somebody could prefer relax- and roomy-fitted contracts and oversized fit (like mentioned above H. Ford as an example of that roomy fit). That's O'k)
P.S. Every time when I've been looking at H. Ford wearing his oversized A-2, I've been thinking how weird it looks on him. I've no idea why he wears his A-2 in such strange manner/fit/size or something. Of course, I know that he's not just an actor but is a pilot, but I still don't like his fit at all. It's just my humble opinion and just my taste. Somebody could think different and it's O'k too. Different tastes are O'k. I actually think that H.Ford just don't care what me personally or any other people think about his fit)) He wears his A-2 just the way he like. That's it.

 

[Southoftheborder]

It was discussed many times here, please look back at all these photos posted above. All those guys from 40s did their hard work perfect then, in WWII period, independently of their trim- or roomy- fit, sizes and other. I don't think they could have time or/and any possibility to think about such minor things then.
So, it's not a question of purpose at all, it's just a question of taste and preferences if we talk about repro's fit. Me personally prefer trim-fitted contracts. Somebody could prefer relax- and roomy-fitted contracts and oversized fit (like mentioned above H. Ford as an example of that roomy fit). That's O'k)
P.S. Every time when I've been looking at H. Ford wearing his oversized A-2, I've been thinking how weird it looks on him. I've no idea why he wears his A-2 in such strange manner/fit/size or something. Of course, I know that he's not just an actor but is a pilot, but I still don't like his fit at all. It's just my humble opinion and just my taste. Somebody could think different and it's O'k too. Different tastes are O'k. I actually think that H.Ford just don't care what me personally or any other people think about his fit)) He wears his A-2 just the way he like. That's it.

His purpose and fit was what I had in mind not USAAF aircrew of seventy -five years ago, and his jacket is more a modern take on an A2 than a repro. Aircrew just wore what they were given and the many pictures from the time showed that much of the time the fit would be thought very odd today. But they weren't wearing them for show it was a uniform. I've posted a few pictures of very badly fitted wartime jackets myself of other forums when the well worn subject of authentic fit has arisen.

But for his purpose as an amateur pilot wanting to be comfortable then his roomy fit is fit for his purpose. If anybody else wants to wear one in a way the fondly believe is a 'war time fit' that's entirely their own prerogative and they won't get me telling them they're wrong. But I know what kind of fit I find more comfortable, and actually I don't think his jackets look weird at all. I think the very tight ones do. But as you almost said each to his own....

 

[Greg Gale]

Yesterday I went to a photo shoot for the cover of my new single that's going to be released soon. These are not the selected winners and also quite raw, but I thought I'd show you what the size 40 looks like on me when I'm striking more natural poses than standing in attention in front of my iphone with a timer.

 

[johnwayne]

Looking good to me Greg, thought it was John Mayer with a cleaner cut image!! Again, that A2 looks a good fit to me.

 

[stanier]

Looks great Greg in both these new shots and the shots where you have period uniform on. Enjoy your jacket! Your body shape matches the ELC Star well and no need for the leather potato sack look .

 

[Steve27752]

Yesterday I went to a photo shoot for the cover of my new single that's going to be released soon. These are not the selected winners and also quite raw, but I thought I'd show you what the size 40 looks like on me when I'm striking more natural poses than standing in attention in front of my iphone with a timer.

View attachment 5289 View attachment 5290 View attachment 5291

It's a good fit on you. I take it that you will be wearing it on stage etc?

 

[Smithy]

Absolutely perfect fit Greg. You're whippet thin just like they were back in the day so that jacket couldn't fit any better. If there was a thumbs up smiley thingy I'd post that too.

 

[Brettafett]

Smart. Wear it in good health Sir. Looking forward to catching at Duxford

 

[dmar836]

Nice. So what's wrong with the 40 again? I think it's perfectly fine. Just don't get into the habit of shrugging your shoulders or hunching over hoping that your sleeves don't ride up. I've done that when I'm self conscious about something I'm wearing that I've made. Chest out, shoulders back and let the sleeves do what they want!
Dave