FIVESTAR LEATHER A2 JACKET

[Brettafett]

Is this your first A-2? If so, its a good 'un... Fit looks good.
Now, just wear it as much as you can, it will 'loosen' up and 'relax' a bit...
Make sure to take measurements and some notes... So you can refer back to this down the line. Always good to keep a record of such things...

 

[usafchappyt]

With all due respect to the appropriate shaming of my modernist pants choice, I think I'm going to see if I can return or sell this one. Even with my higher waist jeans, the bottom of the jacket covers my belt by barely .5". While yes, this may be the correct vintage fit, I'm not a vintage guy, and I do wear modern versions of khakis and jeans, and I'd like a jacket I can throw on without needing to change my pants so that my jacket will look right. Also, the chest and arms are very constricting. It's great unzipped, and zipped it can look good when standing with arms at my sides, but any movement past that is restricted, and that's in a t-shirt. In the driving position, the sleeves end up my forearms. In a slim sweater or a thicker button-down, reaching forward pulls the jacket up my ribs. I don't expect to cram a bulky sweater under there, but I'd like to wear more than a T-shirt.

In short, it's a $350 jacket I would never wear, which is more expensive than eating the return cost or selling at a discount. I'm going to go one size up L44 and ask for an extra inch on the bottom (or 1.5" over this jacket).

If Shawn can't take the return, someone is going to get a great deal on a like-new unworn horsehide Dubow!

 

[Chandler]

Not a "vintage guy," yet the A-2 is truly a vintage-style jacket. What drew you to it and not another style?

FWIW -- I wear regular cut jeans and chinos all the time and my A-2s still work well with them. So maybe your jacket *is* a little short, but every torso is different.

 

[usafchappyt]

Not a "vintage guy," yet the A-2 is truly a vintage-style jacket. What drew you to it and not another style?

FWIW -- I wear regular cut jeans and chinos all the time and my A-2s still work well with them, so maybe your jacket *is* a little short, but every torso is different.

I mean that in the sense that while I gravitate toward vintage things, in particular, WWII era flying things, and my daily wear clothing leans classic and vintage in style (khakis, or dark jeans and button-downs) I am not a vintage reenactment (no disrespect to those who are) and my clothing tends to be modern interpretations of classic pieces. I wear amazon basics khakis and Levi's. I guess I'm looking for the jacket that works with that. And length aside, width around the chest means this is not the right size for me.

Also my grandpa was a pilot in WWII (his jacket is posted here), so the jacket is a tribute to him as well.

And yes, I do have a very long torso. I have a very hard time finding mountaineering packs that fit my long torso. I have a 32 " inseam, which for a 6'1" person is about 1-1.5" shorter than normal with the equivalent added to my torso.

 

[blackrat2]

Shawn will add extra length to your jacket, just don’t go crazy mad as it will alter the proportionality of the A2 altogether
I added a little on my one when I ordered it as I spend a large proportion of my time in jeans…I normally wear LVC 44 pattern 501’s, possibly not as high rise as some jeans but go well enough with an A2
Have listed mine so have a read of the measurements as it might give you an idea or length?!, I am same height for info

 

[Chandler]

And yes, I do have a very long torso.

That is definitely going to mess with finding a good fit.

 

[mulceber]

And yes, I do have a very long torso. I have a very hard time finding mountaineering packs that fit my long torso. I have a 32 " inseam, which for a 6'1" person is about 1-1.5" shorter than normal with the equivalent added to my torso.

Eh, I don't think that's very long. Those are my measurements: 6'1" and 32" inseam. It means I benefit from having a little extra length in my A-2 jackets when I'm not wearing high-waisted trousers, but emphasis on a little. And that's frankly pretty normal nowadays. Remember, the average height back in WW2 was 5'8". You're dealing with a garment where the proportions were designed for someone who was a good deal shorter than most Europeans/Americans are today.

 

[usafchappyt]

My grandpa was 6'4"! He must have towered over the other guys. He wanted to fly fighther planes but they said he was too tall, but he said that he had sat in the fighter cockpits and would have fit fine. He ended up flying C-47's.

I get the whole thing about slimmer/shorter bodies back in the day. But that's not me. I'd like a jacket that fits like this guy:

The knit waistband hangs up on his hips, with some leather overlapping on the knit hips, and the front zipper hangs a little further down over the fly of his pants. This seems to be a pretty common fit from the vintage photo thread. On mine the leather hangs straight down with the knit waistband barely brushing my hip bones and the front hangs vertically across the front. Any movement and it hops up over my buckle:

 

[mulceber]

Fair! I think a 44 with a bit of added length (honestly, maybe even just a half inch) would be great for that fit.

 

[usafchappyt]

Fair! I think a 44 with a bit of added length (honestly, maybe even just a half inch) would be great for that fit.

Yeah, the 44 is already a bit longer, so I'll work with Shawn to make it 1.5" over this one, in whatever way the math shakes out.

 

[usafchappyt]

Predictably atrocious photography heralds the coming of my size 44 Dubow, scheduled for delivery next Thursday, although the last delivery was three days early. Shawn gave me the replacement at half price, which generously exceeds their return policy for custom items. I sold the original on Facebook at half price so I'm not out any money other than the original cost of a horsehide jacket. Shawn's customer care lives up to his reputation as well as his jacket quality. Those who are nervous about ordering a jacket site unseen from Pakistan should be encouraged to go for it, but tale accurate measurements and discuss fit before pulling the trigger.

Stand by for an in-person review and non-terrible photos next week.

 

[blackrat2]

Good to read
For sure Shawn is all over the customers service and his products are great for the cost

 

[usafchappyt]

My jacket arrived! Somehow DHL express got it to the US from Pakistan in 3 business days.

Non-cellphone photos and a full write-up coming later but in the meantime, here are a couple. It covers my belt all the way and gives me some room to move in the chest and shoulders while maintaining a slim "shirt-jacket" fit, it almost feels a little too slim, but I believe the leather will relax a little, and give me a little more space.

The russet hide is very uniform in texture, and I don't see the variations in thickness that others have complained about. I'm looking forward to seeing how it ages. One thing that I've not seen are photos showing how Fivestar leather ages, mostly just excited fresh-out-of-the-box photos. so I plan on doing periodic photos at a couple of months 6 months, a year, etc. so that those who are interested can gauge how a Fivestar horsehide jacket will age.

For the record, I am 6'-1" 185 pounds, 40" chest and this is a Dubow 27798 size 44 custom cut with the back collar to knit length at 26.6" By the Fivestar charts a 42 should have fit, but I found that too short in body and arms, and narrow about the chest. 44 is what ELC recommends for my body dimensions, and I added an extra inch to accommodate modern pants rise.

 

[blackrat2]

That looks very nice
I have to say that’s a great idea posting up some wear pics every once in a while
Size wise it looks good and despite little extra length, you’ve not gone crazy so it works well

 

[FreddyF9]

View attachment 77599 View attachment 77600
My jacket arrived! Somehow DHL express got it to the US from Pakistan in 3 business days.

Non-cellphone photos and a full write-up coming later but in the meantime, here are a couple. It covers my belt all the way and gives me some room to move in the chest and shoulders while maintaining a slim "shirt-jacket" fit, it almost feels a little too slim, but a believe the leather will relax a little and give me a little more space.

The russet hide is very uniform in texture, and I don't see the variations in thickness that others have complained about. I'm looking forward to seeing how it ages. One thing that I've not seen are photos showing how Fivestar leather ages, mostly just excited fresh-out-of-the-box photos. so I plan on doing periodic photos at a couple of months 6 months, a year, etc. so that those who are interested can gauge how a Fivestar horsehide jacket will age.

For the record, I am 6'-1" 185 pounds, 40" chest and this is a Dubow 27798 size 44 custom cut with the back collar to knit length at 26.6" By the Fivestar charts a 42 should have fit, but I found that too short in body and arms, and narrow about the chest. 44 is what ELC recommends for my body dimensions, and I added an extra inch to accommodate modern pants rise.

Beautiful! Also the fit is spot on.
What leather/knits color combination did you choose?

 

[usafchappyt]

Beautiful! Also the fit is spot on.
What leather/knits color combination did you choose?

Russet horse and mid-brown knits. Standard from FiveStar is dull purple knits, but according to Goodwear, mid-brown is also historical and I prefer that look. The thread is khaki, also historically accurate.

 

[usafchappyt]

That looks very nice
I have to say that’s a great idea posting up some wear pics every once in a while
Size wise it looks good and despite little extra length, you’ve not gone crazy so it works well

Thank you, it is a little longer than the historical pattern, but I don't think the A2 proportion is harmed, and I feel much more comfortable in it.

 

[FreddyF9]

Russet horse and mid-brown knits. Standard from FiveStar is dull purple knits, but according to Goodwear, mid-brown is also historical and I prefer that look. The thread is khaki, also historically accurate.

Thank you very much, I’m also about to “pull the trigger” and buy a FiveStar RW in russet or mid brown HH with mid brown knits. Your pics helped me a lot to better figure out the russet HH color in real life.

 

[B-Man2]

John
The jacket and the fit look real nice . I wouldn’t be too concerned about the slim fit, as you said , once it relaxes it will give you a bit more room and mold to your body. Great selection .

 

[usafchappyt]

Thank you very much, I’m also about to “pull the trigger” and buy a FiveStar RW in russet or mid brown HH with mid brown knits. Your pics helped me a lot to better figure out the russet HH color in real life.

Happy to help. Great side-by-side of russet and mid-brown horsehide here: https://www.vintageleatherjackets.o...qmkHY7lojGR8kYkGceDIw1SuTiSQykSTiQ7PYra8hlGTc