What up with an extra inch added to the front?

Discuss all of the intricacies of the jacket in full detail

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Walker
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What up with an extra inch added to the front?

Post by Walker »

Hi all,
Still have'nt odered my jacket yet as I want to make sure I do it right. I've seen some threads that mention an extra inch being added to the front of the jacket. Why is this done? I'm almost certainly ordering a ToD which is 1" longer anyway. Should I specify my order to have this added length in the front? Just figured I'd ask the guys in the know.
Thanks,
Walker
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Indiana Texas-girl
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Post by Indiana Texas-girl »

Usually those with protruding or slight beer bellies get it so that the jacket hangs evenly around the bottom and doesn't slant up in a diagonal toward the tummy and part of the bottom of the shirt can be seen.
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Indiana Jerry
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

Ooh...advice, ITG? Back away from them slowly...and repeat after me..."But it looks good on you"... :wink:
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Post by Indiana Texas-girl »

Indiana Jerry wrote:Ooh...advice, ITG? Back away from them slowly...and repeat after me..."But it looks good on you"... :wink:
Oh but the Wested makes a man look all the more better (How am I doing, Jerry?)
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:
Indiana Jerry wrote:Ooh...advice, ITG? Back away from them slowly...and repeat after me..."But it looks good on you"... :wink:
Oh but the Wested makes a man look all the more better (How am I doing, Jerry?)
Just fine, you'll get out of this okay...can you crack your whip behind you while running? :wink:

Start the engines, Jock!
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Michaelson
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Post by Michaelson »

I prefer to call it 'furniture disease'....you know, where the chest has fallen into the drawers? Beer ain't the ONLY culprit! :? :wink: Regards. Michaelson
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Post by binkmeisterRick »

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Yeah, that laugh got me a couple of reponses from my co-workers. :lol: :wink:

bink
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Flattery
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Post by Flattery »

In medicine, we call it "Dunlap Syndrome," ... 'cause your belly dun-lap over your belt. :wink:
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Indiana Jerry
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

Dunlap Syndrome...Furniture Disease... :lol: :lol: :lol:

I rarely laugh out loud, but you guys got me that time - it wasn't the double-team, either, those are both great!
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Post by Indiana Jess »

I guess the ladies could consider them Maternity jackets.
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

But then wouldn't they have to keep adding an inch until the delivery? Hmm...wonder what Peter would say about a jacket w/ a retractable baby-pouch shield...hmm...
Striver
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Post by Striver »

This 1" thing is a real mystery.Some time ago someone on here mentioned wearing a jacket over a Levi jacket (can't remember why). So I tried this with my Raider jacket. The ride up of the Wested at the front was then very evident. So the Levi jacket has an extra inch??.

The Levi jacket looks right on its own and so does the Wested. Quoting M.Python "My brain hurts"...

Although I have invested heavily in The British Brewing Industry over many years I have definately not developed dropped drawers (or whatever - furniture analogy).

Striver
Last edited by Striver on Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Ghos7a55assin
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Post by Ghos7a55assin »

ummm....keep those drawers up, mate. I don't think that's appropriate for a family-oriented site, such as this one!
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Post by jts1031 »

Striver wrote:This 1" thing is a real mystery.Some time ago someone on here mentioned wearing a jacket over a Levi jacket (can't remember why). So I tried this with my Raider jacket. The ride up of the Wested at the front was then very evident. So the Levi jacket has an extra inch??.

Striver
The quick way to check would be to measure from the shoulder seam down the back and also down the front. See what the difference is between the two measurements. It would seem to my memory that I've seen quite a few jean jackets ride light in the front. My Wested fits fine and I did not have the one inch added. Perhaps some people stand up too straight to the point where they are bending over backwards...
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Post by Striver »

I think you're right about straightness of standing. Just checked - my standard length Wested Raider falls about one inch below the bottom of my one and a half inch wide jeans belt - front and back. But if I rock forward or backward SLIGHTLY it makes quite a difference. Similar happens if I rock side to side... Now if I bend over and try to touch my toes then the back rides up.....

No, this is stupid - hang on though...

New Product?: "Get fit with Wested: you too can get a body like Indy's with this 40 minute video."

Striver
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Indiana Jerry
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

Something else odd...if I lean to one side, one of my arms looks longer...hunh...
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Post by IndyBlues »

'Blues
Indiana Jerry wrote:Something else odd...if I lean to one side, one of my arms looks longer...hunh...
Jerry, you are gonna fit into this group nicely. :lol:
'Blues
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

IndyBlues wrote:'Blues
Indiana Jerry wrote:Something else odd...if I lean to one side, one of my arms looks longer...hunh...
Jerry, you are gonna fit into this group nicely. :lol:
'Blues
Thanks, Blues. You guys make it easy to fit in.

Hey, I got another hat! (Probably my last for a LOOONG time, though.)
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Kentucky Mason
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Post by Kentucky Mason »

Indiana Jerry wrote:Something else odd...if I lean to one side, one of my arms looks longer...hunh...
Reminds me of the guy that went to buy a new suit. He wanted a specific one to match his fedora, but the store could only find it in one size. When he tried it on one sleeve was longer than the other. The sales clerk told him this was okay, and all he had to do was lean to one side and the problem would be fixed. Upon doing this the sleeve was right where it needed to be, but now the mans pants were riding up on one side. Again the sales clerk told the man this is no problem, all you have to do is bend that knee slightly. sure enough this fixed the problem right away, but now the coat was no longer hanging correctly. The sales clerk said don't worry, just lean forward a bit and the coat will look great. Sure enough the man leaned forward and the coat fell into place. The suit was perfect! So nice in fact the man decided to wear it home.

Upon leaving the store he passed two ladies and tipped his hat. After the man was out of earshot one lady said to the other, "Isn't it terrible to see a man in such a terrible condition, I just feel sorry for him."

The other woman said, "I agree, but didn't his suit look nice"
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Post by Shishak »

In some cases, the ride-up in front could be a result of how the jacket itself is being worn. Some people tend to wear their jackets further back on the shoulders and this could cause some ride-up. If you wear your jacket so the back of the collar is not up against the back of your neck, it would cause the front of the jacket to come up in front. Also, hanging it on a hanger in this manner would train the jacket to sit further back on the shoulders when worn.

Take a look at some of the pictures on the main site. There's the two Westeds pictured together, and the jackets are hung up pretty far back on the hangers. The picture below that shows a jacket hung with the collar up against the back of hanger.

Then again, if you look at the jacket comparisons at the bottom of the page and look specifically at the side shot, both men are wearing their jacket with the collars against the back of their neck. The one on the right seems to have some ride-up, but the one on the left doesn't. So maybe it doesn't make a difference how you wear it.

:roll: I'll just go crawl back under my rock now.
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

No, no, Shishak, I think you've got a point. Just like leaning to one side to make one arm longer - while that was a joke, folks ought to think about that - are they wearing it back off their shoulders a bit? Does it meet the back of their neck? Good point, glad you brought it up.

J
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Post by jts1031 »

Well, no fears. If the front is too short, it will ride down with wear... And if it's too long, then of course it will ride up with wear...
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Post by FLATHEAD »

Well, no fears. If the front is too short, it will ride down with wear... And if it's too long, then of course it will ride up with wear...
The second part of your statement is correct. The first part however is
way off.

If your jacket starts out too short, it will only get worse with wear.

As leather developes creases and wrinkles, it will get shorter. Just look
at the sleeves as an example. The more your arms move, and the leather
gets creases and wrinkles in it, the shorter the sleeves will get.

The extra inch is usually added because as stated, if you measure from
the tops of your shoulders down your back to your waist, that measurement
is going to be shorter than if you measure from the tops of your shoulders
down your chest to your waist. This measurement is usually about 1
inch different on average. It will be even a greater difference for women
for obvious reasons.

If you check out some of the pictures posted to the main site, you can
see the people who did not add this extra inch have the jacket riding up
somewhat, while those who added it, have the front of their jackets almost
dead even with the back while they are wearing it.

Wested, and most other jacket makers make their jacket patterns with
the front and back panels the same length from the top of the shoulders.

I have added this extra inch to every leather jacket I have ever had,
and that includes a Wested Raiders, my Aero Californian, my Aero B-3
and a few A-2 jackets and a Real McCoys B-6.

And each time, they fit, look, and function much better, and don't look
like cheap mall jackets that ride up in the front.

But the front will never get longer with wear. It will only get shorter and
make the situation worse.

The best way to prove this to yourself is to have someone take a picture
of you, wearing your jacket, standing up straight, from the side. If you
just stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself, you do not get a real
view of how you look to others. If you have a digital camera, use the
auto function, and set it up so you can take a sideview shot of yourself.
I bet you will see a difference between that and just looking in the mirror.

And just for reference, I am 6 feet, 1 inch tall, I have a 42 inch chest,
and a 36 inch waist. I do not have a gut, and I tend to stand up striaght
and not slouch like most people do. So the extra inch is not just for
people with pot bellies, or guts.

Flathead
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Michaelson
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Post by Michaelson »

I think he was referring to the lines used in the old tv program 'Are You Being Served'. Those were the usual bits of advice given when a garment was either to short or to long. :D :wink: Regards. Michaelson
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Post by jts1031 »

Michaelson wrote:I think he was referring to the lines used in the old tv program 'Are You Being Served'. Those were the usual bits of advice given when a garment was either to short or to long. :D :wink: Regards. Michaelson
Quite correct, as usual...
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Post by FLATHEAD »

I think he was referring to the lines used in the old tv program 'Are You Being Served'. Those were the usual bits of advice given when a garment was either to short or to long.
Ahh, that would explain it. British humor sometimes goes straight over
my head...Thus, the flat head...

Flathead
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