Club Obi Wan

With all this talk about the newest Indy jacket offering, and the different aspects of design AND functionality.....

Which do you prefer to own and wear?

A jacket that looks exactly like the film jacket, even if it hinders movement, and uses things like the easilly broken nickle zip?

OR

A jacket that looks darn close to what is seen on screen, but all the functionality, durability, and wearability is there?

Over the years, Wested , G&B, and USWings have made changes to the original design to make it an everyday jacket, and not just a prop.
Something that could be used in the real world, and not just for Halloween,or for a mannequin.
I personally don't mind small variences, like the lower yoke, the brass zip, etc. I like knowing the jacket will wear comfortably, and not have the feeling I'm wearing a tuxedo jacket.
What are your thoughts on this??
'Blues

This sort of defines what I see in agent5's discussion a while ago about whether or not you think you're wearing a costume when out and about.

In my opinion, if a piece is not 'functional' , but worn for appearance sake in terms of 'screen accuracy', it's costume. If functional, it's 'gear' for daily use, and therefore NOT a costume piece.

Pretty cut and dry for me.

Regards! Michaelson

Definitely functionality. I'm not about to buy $700 worth of "dress clothing" that I can only wear on Halloween.

I'm with Floribama.

Yeah, it has to be functional because I wear this stuff. I am too old to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced just for a look. I want it to look screen accurate, but little details that make my life easier like the quality of the zipper and size of the pockerts, or fuctionality of the lining has to aid in making me comfortable. Nobody is going to see that stuff or really care anyway. And if someone started getting close enough to me to check that stuff out, I would probably dot their eye for invading my personal space.

If you guys want functionality why don'y you go buy a regular, common leather jacket?
The indy jacket is how it's supposed to be and has to stay like this.
Anything other than a screen acurate jacket IS NOT the Indy jacket, it's just similar to indy jacket.

I vote for screen accuracy.

PLATON wrote: Anything other than a screen acurate jacket IS NOT the Indy jacket, it's just similar to indy jacket.

That's fine with me. In the case of Wested, it's the closest you're going to get to an Indy jacket, by that logic, and I ain't complainin'.

PLATON wrote:If you guys want functionality why don'y you go buy a regular, common leather jacket?
.

I have several types, and wear them, thank you very much.

Regards! Michaelson

[quote="PLATON"]
Anything other than a screen acurate jacket IS NOT the Indy jacket, it's just similar to indy jacket.quote]

By that definition, only one of the actual jackets used in the the films would qualify. Even the best researched replicas (agent5 G&B etc) are not EXACT.

I voted for functionality, because I'd like to be able to wear the jacket without it making me feel miserable, but also I'd like it to last longer than a prop jacket. Lastly, I like the jacket functional because hey - I like to keep warm in the winter.

In Christ,
Shane

Those jackets do NOT keep you warm in any winter other than the kind you and I get here in Cali! Try an Idaho or New York winter in a Wested! Don't worry, I'll come down with a bucket of hot water to thaw you out.

Hey man, as long as it keeps me warm in Cali - when I go to London this December (yeah, it'll be summer there... ) I'll have somethin else under it, but still. That's fine too. I think if it was thinner than it is now, I'd be a little chilly in CA too.

In Christ,
Shane

Strider wrote:Those jackets do NOT keep you warm in any winter other than the kind you and I get here in Cali! Try an Idaho or New York winter in a Wested! Don't worry, I'll come down with a bucket of hot water to thaw you out.

whoah, whoah tabernac!! I live thru Ottawa winters in just my Westeds!! I don't even OWN a parka or ski jacket! I'll wear the lambskin to a certain degree, then when it hits REAL cold, go with the cowhide. Natch, it's best to wear an undershirt with the Cabelas (nip chaffing, y'know) but keep in mind that Ottawa winters are as cold as -30 celsius, and summer is as hot as +40 celsius...so my Westeds really get a workout! And come thru with flying colours! Not to mention the heck I run'm thru with my Geocaching!

New York winter??? HA!!! That's t-shirt weather 'round these parts, mister!!

You're right, but that's because you're from there, and you're accustomed to the cold. We're from Cali, where our winters are shorts and flip flops sort of weather, with a tank top or a thin white t shirt. Such a dramatic climate change kicks our butt.

I'm not sure there's really a dilemma here.

As far as I can tell, most of the features of the jacket don't involve trade-offs between practicality and screen-accuracy.

The only features I can think of based on my memory of the threads are zippers, lining, and leather.

I think people have accepted nickel as an acceptable compromise between brass and aluminum, and the lining is more of a climate and personal preference issue, and not that big of a deal anyways since the lining is hidden. Leather, on the other hand, is something that has and is still being discussed, but I think it's been argued that lambskin isn't that delicate, and it's used in regular, 'purely functional' leather jackets anyways.

Personally, since I live on the east coast and don't do extreme sports with my jacket, I'm perfectly fine with accepting a nickel zip and reducing my jacket to 99% screen accurate. And the only person who would be able to see that missing 1% is agent5 (run when you see him).

And as long as you're running from Agent5, you'll be keeping warm, so the leather won't matter anyway!

I suppose depending on where you live, functionality is differently defined... somebody who lives in Arizona might only wear their jacket on Halloween, and for that it's perfectly functional, even if it is 100% screen accurate.

In Christ,
Shane

very true!

Strider wrote: Try a New York winter in a Wested!:

Done it. It holds up rather well. Never got cold. ####, I've worn it through 2 feet of snow before. (Not recommended to those who normally live in Cali. )

Ditto. I live on an exceptionally windy hill in upstate new york, and I wear my Wested out all the time. I just put a sweater on underneath, and wrap a scarf around my face with only my eyes showing. put my AB on my head and a pair of gloves on my hands and I'm set. Quite warm, except around my eyes.

As for the poll, I prefer functionality. I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend if my Wested breaks, so I want it to be as durable as possible. And hey, we all know it's what Indy would have worn, if he were a real person and not just a character brought to life by Harrison Ford. :junior: -IJ

That's what I'm saying. Scarves and sweatshirts and what not. Go with a t shirt and a wested with a cotton/satin lining like I did in Idaho, and tell me how you feel.

milesfides wrote:I'm not sure there's really a dilemma here.

As far as I can tell, most of the features of the jacket don't involve trade-offs between practicality and screen-accuracy.

Actually, I'm not referring to the jacket's offered today, I meant the options people ask for that would change the patterns offered, to make the jacket more screen accurate. For example, higher yoke, nickle zip, tighter 80's fit, etc. Todays offerings ARE more functional than the first offferings, I just see alot of people with laundry lists of changes, that inlcude things that may not make them very comfortable to wear.
This pole is more to see what people want in their ideal jacket, if they could have it made the way they want it.
'Blues

Strider wrote:That's what I'm saying. Scarves and sweatshirts and what not. Go with a t shirt and a wested with a cotton/satin lining like I did in Idaho, and tell me how you feel.

Heck, try that in a TENNESSEE winter, and tell me how you feel!

Not me!

Regards! Michaelson

IndyBlues wrote: A jacket that looks exactly like the film jacket, even if it hinders movement, and uses things like the easilly broken nickle zip?

I think that you’re confusing the original cheap aluminum zipper with today’s (or yesterday’s for that matter) nickel zippers. I doubt that most people would want a broken zippered jacket (like some of the originals). Even if a zipper was broken and had screen time (who knows), it wasn’t supposed to be broken within the confines of the story.


(The following is not directed at IndyBlues or anyone in particular)

Actually, within the confines of the story, there’s no way that “Indiana Jones” as a person would be walking around in a lambskin jacket period. Lambskin was chosen strictly because of the hot locations that the movie was shooting. Although a lambskin jacket is technically screen accurate, from a character point of view it is inaccurate. I like lambskin, but I’m a wuss.

As far as the little details go, I would say chasing them is fine, but unless you have a similar physique to Harrison Ford and are roughly the same size, what’s the point? The jacket is not going to look the same on you anyway. All those nitty gritty details need to change anyway to suit your size.

During WW2 the A-2 flight jacket was made by at least 20 different manufactures and all of them were slightly different from one another. Is one more “accurate” than another? It might be different if you could get your hands on one of the ones that HF wore. Until that day happens though, it’s doubtful that the collective here at COW could ever decide on “what’s right”. Deciding on “what’s right” is fun for individuals, but keep in mind that it’s also a headache for the vendors. Cheers

Back in the day, even PETER referred to lambskin as his 'summer leather'.

Regards! Michaelson

Great point, Rund. I should have included that as part of the screen accurate option. I also didn't know about the better nickle zips that are out there. I agree that Indy wouldn't have worn lambskin in real life.
I'm aware that it was for the climates they were filming in, altho ANY leather must have been grueling in Tunisian heat.
'Blues

Well, CJ, you just gave me chills reading that....and I'm originally from Ohio!!!:shock:

I, too, have worn a lambskin Wested with snow on the ground, and sub freezing temps.....but layered over a sweater...long sleeve shirt....long johns...and STILL froze my rear end off......but then that's just me.

Regards! Michaelson

Oh...I ATE my veggies....I just moved from the Northern regions to the Southern regions, and my blood has definitely thinned.

The goatskins are DEFINITELY warmer. I own one.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:I'm originally from Ohio!!!:shock: Michaelson

Ahhh...the land of Milk and Honey! Whereabouts?? I grew up in Warren (by Youngstown).

I wore my TOD HH last winter in MI, and I layered and I was still cold. I had to really layer (fleece vest over long sleeve shirt) to stay out for any length of time. The jacket was really stuffed underneath. That's why I ponied up for an Aero with blanket wool lining-now that should be warm.