FIVESTAR LEATHER A2 JACKET

[Ep_1979]

Which contract?
Looking again at my measurements I’m maybe closer to a 41 so that’s why im
Not sure, I’ve spoken to Shawn on email and I think XS seemed closest and matched the measurements of a jacket I have at home that fits well. I’m only nervous as I have a Wested jacket 38 that fits well, it’s hard to tell if I should size down a little as the leather may loosen over the years but don’t want to make it too small, or too large!

shawn is super helpful and offered to have it custom fit but I don’t want to make changes just for the heck of it and getting it all wrong

Hi, My build is similar to you and I have a Size 40 Fivestar A2 from Shawn in his bronco pattern. It’s in Seal Goatskin with Olive knits and kaki lining and I love it. I ordered a 38 first and it was too small for me, the 40 is pretty much perfect. Pics below:

 

[catthedog]

Hi, My build is similar to you and I have a Size 40 Fivestar A2 from Shawn in his bronco pattern. It’s in Seal Goatskin with Olive knits and kaki lining and I love it. I ordered a 38 first and it was too small for me, the 40 is pretty much perfect. Pics below:

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That’s great thank you, just what I needed to hear! I’ll go ahead and order. Thanks!

 

[mulceber]

I actually think it would be best to consult with Shawn on this. A-2s are commonly worn a size large anyway: for example, my chest measurement is a 40, but I almost always wear a size 42 in A-2 jackets. This may or may not apply to sizing a Cossack. Shawn will be better able to advise.

 

[JimO]

Chest 40'
Shoulder 18'
Arm 24"
Neck 16"
Waist 34'
Hip 32'

Height 5' 10"

You & I are virtually the same size. Typically, I wear a size 42, M-L jacket, from most manufacturers.

I recently had Shawn make me a size "XS/40" (don't be swayed by this nomenclature) Doniger with virtually the stock sizing which fit very well.

He just made me a Werber with a minor shoulder tweak to (hopefully) optimize the fit. It is in transit and will hopefully arrive next week (according to DHL, it's been stuck in Pakistan for the last 3 days!!) and we'll see if we got it right.

If you go by the 5* chest measurement (in red on the size chart) as a starting point, measure one of your existing jackets that fits, send those numbers & your body measurements and run all of this by Shawn, he'll get you close.

Good luck!

 

[Ep_1979]

I actually think it would be best to consult with Shawn on this. A-2s are commonly worn a size large anyway: for example, my chest measurement is a 40, but I almost always wear a size 42 in A-2 jackets. This may or may not apply to sizing a Cossack. Shawn will be better able to advise.

I agree, definitely speak to Shawn first!!

 

[stanier]

Of course just my opinion but something I'm not getting, is why Shawn puts inch number sizing (cool) on the jackets but sells them by the XS, S, M, L etc malarkey (uncool).

 

[catthedog]

Thank you all, Went for a custom shape in the end, sent all my sizes and sized up a varsity jacket that fits me perfectly to get the cut (as I’m going for a 30s A-1/Cossack style)
Shawn was great, cannot fault the service, excited to see the jacket now! Fingers crossed I’ve sized it up right!

 

[ButteMT61]

Of course just my opinion but something I'm not getting, is why Shawn puts inch number sizing (cool) on the jackets but sells them by the XS, S, M, L etc malarkey (uncool).

All things being equal, tags with numbers or S, M, L, etc. are all worthless, but I'd rather have a number, a la 48 than XXL inside...the lettered sizing reminds me of mall jackets.

 

[stanier]

All things being equal, tags with numbers or S, M, L, etc. are all worthless, but I'd rather have a number, a la 48 than XXL inside...the lettered sizing reminds me of mall jackets.

My sentiments exactly

 

[Smithy]

Guys, just an idea here but maybe some of the guys with collections of originals can possibly consider helping Shawn out with regards to new contract repros?

He's got the Doniger but that collar is a bit of a divider in terms of opinion. I reckon one of the RW contracts would be a great addition to his line-up or something similar - one of those classic contracts which are easy-ish to wear for most folks.

Dozens of detailed photos and detailed and precise measurements and Shawn might be able to put another, more "popular"contract on the for sale list.

This is just an idea but if this could help Shawn and us get another contract repro out there to pick up it sounds good to me.

 

[mulceber]

It’s funny you should mention that, Smithy. I just emailed Shawn last week to offer to take pictures and detailed measurements of my Cable 27753 and United Sheeplined. He took me up on the offer, and I emailed him a big stack of photos and measurements over the weekend.

 

[Smithy]

Well done mate!!!!

That's the kind of thing we need to happen. We're lucky that we have a maker who is so open to giving us what we want and bending over backwards to do it, and so malleable to criticism, advice, and feedback. It just makes sense that the more we help him the more this will come back for our benefit.

That new B-3 demonstrates what is possible and how quickly Shawn is improving. If we can get a couple more A-2 contracts on the board and at the quality and accuracy he's starting to hit, and obviously at a fraction of what others are asking, then we're in for a treat.

 

[mulceber]

I agree. It would be great if others could step up as well. A Rough Wear contract would be great. Maybe an Aero or Perry as well. It's really not that hard. Shawn sent me a list of what measurements and photos he needed, so I laid the jacket out on the ground, and I held the measuring tape in position while @Nnatalie snapped photos. It was about 35 photos of each jacket, although I probably could have sent fewer and it would have been fine.

Honestly, even if people have the same original contracts as I do, but in a different size (I had sz 42 of both), it would still be great to send the measurements. Having a sense of how each jacket contract scales will improve Shawn's accuracy.

 

[MrBlue]

I imagine making a new contract must be quite difficult, because of the variation in sizes from say a 36 to a 48.

But then Shawn knows all of that anyway I guess.

What do people think about his chrome tanned leather vs other veg tanned leather?

 

[ausreenactor]

It’s funny you should mention that, Smithy. I just emailed Shawn last week to offer to take pictures and detailed measurements of my Cable 27753 and United Sheeplined. He took me up on the offer, and I emailed him a big stack of photos and measurements over the weekend.

Great work!

 

[London Cabbie]

I must say that overall, I am quite happy with what I see. The 1.2mm goat looks more than durable, and substantial for the vintage 'Leather Windbreaker' it replicates. I am confident from the other jackets ordered and received that my requested measurements were followed precisely on this one as well. Instead of the poly / rayon the original lining appears to be, I went with comfortable 100% cotton in both the body & sleeves. I asked for it in a 'nice blue', and I think that 5-Star obliged well. I continue to be impressed with 5-Star's jackets for the $$, and Shawn's attention in seeing that my customization requests are completed.

I've liked the original Gordon & Ferguson "Field & Stream Goatskin Leather Windbreaker' of this design since I first saw it on eBay and saved the pics. It wasn't in my size, but I was hoping another may come along. Fast-forward a few years, and one still has not surfaced.. Luckily, I think that 5-Star's rendition will do me nicely now. Thanks Shawn!!


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EDIT: Here's a couple pics of the original sent to Shawn to use as a reference:


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Have you got fit pics...?

 

[MrBlue]

I've been looking at photos of FS's jackets - they really look good!

Thinking of ordering a Werber in Goatskin. What is the opinion of Shawn's Werber?

I know Werber's usually came in HH and not Goatskin.

 

[mulceber]

I've been looking at photos of FS's jackets - they really look good!

Thinking of ordering a Werber in Goatskin. What is the opinion of Shawn's Werber?

I know Werber's usually came in HH and not Goatskin.

My advice would be either to get a Doniger or wait until one of the two contracts I talked about in my last couple posts become available (which will probably be in the pretty near future?). To my knowledge, Shawn didn't have any originals to take measurements from for the Werber, so it's not a very close repro.

 

[MrBlue]

My advice would be either to get a Doniger or wait until one of the two contracts I talked about in my last couple posts become available (which will probably be in the pretty near future?). To my knowledge, Shawn didn't have any originals to take measurements from for the Werber, so it's not a very close repro.

Reading this thread, I really like how A) the community has helped Shawn improve the accuracy and quality of his products, B) Shawn has been willing to listen to feedback without taking offense.

I'd almost volunteer to be a guinea pig to improve the Werber, but it still isn't cheap!

 

[mulceber]

Yeah, the ideal would be for someone who owns an original Werber to get Shawn the information, as that would be much more accurate and much quicker, but finding someone who owns one and wants to share could be tricky: Werber contracts were all pre-war, so the numbers were low. All of the contracts combined totaled under 10,000 jackets. There's probably someone on VLJ who has one (maybe multiple), but they very well may not feel like spreading the information about their jacket around.