Leather Facings

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Wed May 30, 2007 4:34 am

Hi all,

For my first Indy Wested, I had inner facings on the jacket. For my second, I had it without any.

Now, I really much prefer the overall drape of the second jacket, and also how much more comfortable it is without facings. Considering that I seldom use the zipper, it also makes ripping the lining (the main reason for the facing) obsolete.

That, and the fact that the movie just looks much more 'authentic' w/o facings, since it basically just stiffens the whole front.

And finally, yes there is a point to this post: Is there a way to remove the leather facings after the fact? Or would it be much better to simply buy another one instead...?

Thanks!

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:13 pm

i sent that question out to wested months ago and never got a reply. i really liked my goatskin jacket but hated the leather facings. perhaps your tailor can give you a faster response.

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Wed May 30, 2007 9:24 pm

I like the leather facings in my Wings, but now that I know that there not SA I kindda wish they weren't there.
Oh well.

Nevermind, I like the facings.

Lao Feng · Post by **Lao Feng** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:04 pm

I like the facings...I wish G & B used them...they make a real difference in protecting your jacket if you really knock the heck out of it out there in the "real world."

CM · Post by CM » Thu May 31, 2007 10:15 pm

Yeah, I like the facings too. Why wear a toy jacket for a film set when you can wear a real one for life? Besides... if the drape is that important, you need to go out and obtain Harrison Ford's shoulders and chest too.

Cheers - CM

djd · Post by **djd** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:58 am

I guess it depends on what you want I guess. For me, I want a SA jacket. I have other leather jackets that I like to wear but I want an Indy jacket to look as much like an Indy jacket as possible. If I didn't I'd join a flight jackets group or something. That's why I'm here....

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:20 pm

After having an authentic lamb with facings, and one without facings, I can honestly say that leather facings are best left to those who throw themselves off cliffs.

What that means is that unless you're going to take your jacket to some extreme sport situation (mountain climbing, hardcore bike racing, etc) where your jacket is at peril, I would go without facings. Also, if you WERE to get into a situation where your jacket is going to get scrapped badly, leather facings should be the last of your worries!

I personally find that the only real downside to not having leather facings is the zipper- I'm told (and I don't doubt) that occasionally you might get your jacket lining trapped in the zip. However, if you're careful, this shouldn't be an issue. Another thing is the wavy zippers that supposedly occur over time, but with both owners of facings and those without reporting it happening to them, what causes the waviness seems to be up in the air.

The one main difference that I find differentiates jackets with facings and those without is just the stiffness that accompanies it. Screen-accuracy not withstanding, I strongly believe that going WITHOUT leather facings makes for a much for flattering jacket. When you have leather facings, it just makes the front super-stiff, and add to the fact that the pockets add a degree of stiffness to the front of the jacket, you'll wind up with a jacket that tends to flare outwards at the waist. The end result is a bell-shaped reverse-taper to the jacket.

Going without leather facings just seem to make the jacket drape closer to the body in a more complimentary manner. And if you trust yourself not to get your clothes stuck in the zipper, then you should be fine. Besides, if you're worried about having your liner stuck in the zipper, think about it this way: how many times have you gotten your shirt stuck in the zipper? Or certain other things for that matter...

Just an observation I made.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:48 pm

I personally find that the only real downside to having leather facings is the zipper- I'm told (and I don't doubt) that occasionally you might get your jacket lining trapped in the zip.

I think you meant 'the only real down side to NOT having leather facings et.al......"

If you have facings, you DON"T get your lining trapped in the zip, nor are you prone to wavy zippers.

Regards! Michaelson

Garzo · Post by **Garzo** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:31 pm

I think Wested has done away with the leather faces. I received a horsehide jacket last year and it came with leather facings. I recently ordered a new lamb jacket and, without specifying anything about the facings, it arrived without them.
I hadn't thought much about it and appreciate the leather facings for the extra toughness, but the new jacket does drape quite nicely without the extra leather, while the horsehide is a bit stiffer (although it is horsehide).

Is it a fact that Wested has stopped adding the leather facings, or was it for some reason that I don't know about simply left off my jacket?

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:13 pm

Michaelson wrote:If you have facings, you DON"T get your lining trapped in the zip, nor are you prone to wavy zippers.

Thanks for the correction about the lining and the zip, Michaelson, BUT your second part... Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a wavy zipper also known as a 'Demon Roll'? And if so, I quote:

Michaelson wrote:The 'demon roll' seems to appear, regardless of the presense or absense of facing to the zipper.

viewtopic.php?t=17714

And to Garzo, I must also add that I recieved my jacket (with facings) on March of this year. Maybe if you don't specify facings or no facings, it's a crapshoot as to what you'll get?

Speaking of facings though, I wonder if you request facings of 1/2" to 1", will act as a compromise by making the jacket "drapey", while at the same time keeping the liner away from the zip?

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:45 pm

indy89 wrote:Nevermind, I like the facings.

Forget what I said earlier. I don't care for the facings either

ANZAC_1915 · Post by **ANZAC_1915** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:35 am

I got facings (on new Wested) and had asked for them.

I like them. Peter thinks they're better for everyday use --- on the drape comments, hard for me to tell without a faceless jacket to compare. Front looks great on me. The back, not so much.

VP · Post by VP » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:34 pm

Castor Dioscuri wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a wavy zipper also known as a 'Demon Roll'?

No, Demon Roll is when the other side of the jacket turns on itself, http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?p=259037#259037

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:17 pm

Thanks VP. I've been away from the site.

VP's right. It's a different problem all together.

Regards! Michaelson

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:15 am

I stand corrected! Thanks for clarifying that, I always had those two terms confused.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:51 pm

I personally don't like the facings and will never own another Indy jacket with them. If Peter says the make a difference them I'm sure they do. However, I've got an A-2 that came into the family almost 40 years ago. It doesn't have a facing and the liner is worn in a few places, but along the zipper isn't one of them.

The facings effect and not for the better IMHO, the drape of the jacket.