Club Obi Wan

Hello everyone. Brand new here. Well, been reviewing posts for a couple of weeks. I am female, with what some believe to be an odd love for all things Indy. My sex comes into it in a moment.

I still remember seeing TOD oh so long ago, the first time around. I don't think I breathed until I left the theatre. It had a HUGE impact on me. My current profession is Indy-related.

Anyway, I got all obsessed all over again when the Blu-Rays came out. My quest for things Indy began with a Magnoli Professor Diary. Which I love. Then I started surfing around and found out about all the other things I could get. Next was the jacket. I joined COW and found out all kinds of wonderful things. But most of what I found out related to men, and men's sizing. So I write this post mostly in case there are other women surfing around the Internet who really, really want their very own Indy jacket. I know other women on COW have posted pics and some information, and it was helpful. But I really wasn't clear on women's sizing.

Long story shortish - I bought a G&B Expedition because they sell women's sizes. And I couldn't be happier. It's a beautiful jacket. Fit is perfect. Makes me feel Indy-like. And has triggered a newfound desire to get more Indy stuff. So I wanted to thank you COW members for wonderful information. Especially Tundrarider for your Expedition pics and distressing suggestions.

I will post a pic when I can figure out how to do it.

Cheers

Welcome aboard! I think you'll be quite happy with the durability and quality of the G&B--good choice! To echo Tundrarider, it would be great to see photos of your jacket. I've been curious about what the women's size might look like for my wife, so I'd be curious about your thoughts on the fit. And it's good to have an anthropologist on the board to boot!

Best wishes,
Nebraska S.

First, thanks to Tundrarider who indeed sent me exceptional instructions.

Second, as promised, here are the pics, and, as suggested by Tundrarider, a bit of a review.

So, the choice to get the Expedition (in goatskin), as I said, came about for a few reasons:

1. The glowing reviews by people on COW - extremely helpful.
2. The fact that they carry (or make) women's sizes. This was paramount as I had read about the sleeve length thing, with respect to the shoulder drop on some of the Indy jackets out there. Being female, my arms tend toward the shorter end of the scale than most men's, and I didn't know how to measure properly. I also wasn't sure about fit in other areas that differ between the male and female anatomy - like the chestage area, and the child-bearing hips (on women).
3. From any pic I had seen the Expeditions were well-made and incredibly beautiful.

So I took a chance and just ordered my size. PM me if you want height, weight, size. Otherwise a lady doesn't tell.

I live in Canada, so I stressed over shipping and duty/taxes at the border. I need not have worried. Shipping was faster than expected, especially on the Canada Post side. No offence to them, but they did lose a book I ordered recently. Shipped on November 13th, received on the 20th. There is no duty since the jacket is made in America (the Free Trade agreement finally worked in my favour - or favor for my American friends). I'd characterize the taxes as a-ok - just GST (5%). So no nasty surprises. And Canada Post delivered right to my door. Luckily I was home, or I'd have spent a sleepless night. And I'd already been wound up waiting for the delivery.

The Expedition arrived on Tuesday morning. I had to go out right away, but I did manage to open the box and the plastic bag. Oh, that heady scent of new leather!! I could see immediately how well made it is. I also had a bit of a similar to reaction to Tundrarider (see his fantastic post on naturally distressing a goat expedition). It was shiny, really shiny. But I knew from the previously mentioned post that this won't last. I put it on, a little worried it wouldn't fit properly. But it did!! It fit perfectly. I have to say the size for women is absolutely true to size.

So far I wear it constantly at home - I work from home for now, so that's been great. And I have slept in it for a couple of nights. It actually feels like being wrapped in leather-scented warmth. It is far lighter than I expected. I owned an A-2 that I had the sleeves shortened on many more years ago than I care to count. Three things bothered me about that jacket (which is probably why I leaned so heavily toward buying a woman's size outright): the chestage area was a little snug, there was a distinct scent that was just slightly unpleasant I believe was a combination of the cowhide and the metal used for the zipper, and it felt heavy. The Expedition does not feel heavy at all. The leather feels incredibly sturdy, for sure. But the jacket itself is remarkably light. And I cannot get over how good it feels on.

If anyone has specific questions they'd like answers to, just ask. Otherwise, here are a few pics:


- with Magnoli's Professor Diary

And a couple of me - these are the closest thing I have to Indy-wear for now...



That's it for now, other than my obsession continues. A Magnoli bag is on its way. I used to have a fedora - bought one of the "official" versions when they first came out in the 80s (that's 1980s for you young ones), but my mother threw it out. Probably wouldn't fit now anyway. Still .

Cheers,
Juli

It suits you quite well--thanks for sharing!

Best wishes,
Nebraska S.

Tundrarider wrote:The guys (and gals) around here are going to be falling over themselves, clamoring for pics of you and your jacket.... Michael

G&B has a way of meeting you at your point of need! Enjoy the jacket!

Oh, and if you are looking for a Last Crusade likeness/close enough, USW Legend in cow is a quality choice for $200. With a few tweaks, this thing would give any spec'd out LC jacket a run for its money.

Don't be a stranger, Julie? I get tired of lookin' at Tundy and Mitch all the time!

Good luck in your gear quest. Lots of folks in here have been there and done that and don't mind linding advice if needed.

Thanks Nebraska and Texan Scott. Plan to have a few adventures in the jacket. And I'm interested to see how it wears and distresses - all natural for me.

Juli

Welcome aboard!

You've made a great choice of IndyGear right out of the gate.

I had no idea G&B offered womens' sizes. Hmm, have to think this one over for my Bride.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Tundrarider- Thanks for making me feel so welcome. While tempted by the more worn look of other Indy jackets, I think I have found my true love. Thanks, though, for the "warning" about the dark forces of the Indy jacket-verse . I can see how one can lead to another, and another, and another as long as the $$ lasts.

IndianaJeff- She'd be one lucky bride, as far as I'm concerned. As I said, they fit true to size, on this woman anyway.

Texan Scott- I will admit to going to the site and looking at the jacket you mentioned. But that's it. No further. I will not give into that temptation. I will not.

Great meeting everyone. Thanks for the welcome.

Juli

....who you callin' 'ol..?

....then there's the jackets from the original maker, and Magnoli put up a shingle...USW is still in the hunt...Keloso is as close as it gets...Todd's is nutin' to sneeze at...best made is the one u got...so many great jackets and only one back!

Texan Scott - Can't say I disagree at all. So many gorgeous jackets out there.

Just to clarify - when I said that reading COW helped, I mean it. What helped most was reading about how, despite loving the jacket you currently have on your back, it's never entirely perfect. Kind of like buying a house. There's never one house with everything on the wish list. It's always a compromise in one way or another. And the Expedition was as well in that I love the distressed look of some of the jackets out there. I will forever covet the Tony Nowak jackets.

So to all of you so generous with your reviews and pictures and comments, a heart-felt thanks. They made me realize I needed to decide what's important to me in this moment. All the discussions about SA vs. SR also helped a lot. Again - there seems to be no perfect Indy jacket out there (don't jump on me for that one) - only the perfect one for me in this moment. Kind of zen-like and adult. Hmmm.

So thanks to all of you. I'm not sure you know that what you write here does have an impact on other people's lives. Maybe not a huge one, like finding the lost ark, but still. It's significant.

Now, I've got a whole bunch of other gear on order thanks to all of you feeding into my new disease/hobby. Once it arrives I'll post pics and reviews in the appropriate places (I hope). Oh, no new jackets. I'm taking Tundrarider's advice for now and breaking this puppy in for a while before even thinking about going after the next one. Which reminds me, the pillowcase treatment worked great. Much more comfy than sleeping in the jacket. And kind of oddly comforting as well.

So here's to all of you

And you've found the real value of this place - "You came for the gear, but you'll stay for the people."


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

And a well-loved doggie he is. So it's safe to assume the quilt is on your bed... Which means doggie is on your bed... Where you sleep... Which means...

If I may indulge in a moment of mutual admiration, I enjoy reading your posts as well. Always well articulated and a joy to read.