new member, new jacket recieved but advise needed

[kdodd29]

first thanks to everyone. I had tracked the forums on this site for all the advise and reccomedations given to others for ordering and researching the best jacket for me.
I have recieved the LC predistressed cowhide, i am very pleased. I had pre ordered the reccomended leather dressing before hand and as suggested it's being treated as i type this.
About alterations however. I am a 40 reg and shoulder seams do come to wear they should but it's a little snug around the chest and bicep area. Was curious about how much 'give' these jackets have. I have inquired with Wested about this but have yet to recieve a response. ( i had just emailed them over the weekend so....)
As i explained to them, i have owned jackets in the past that felt snug at first but proved to be the size i needed after some wear. Likewise i have bought jackets that fit great right off the bat and then over some wear have become a bit too big, 'droopy' in the shoulders and torso area.
If alterations are needed, for the veterans on this site, what is your experience as to what could be done? it is a jacket that has been treated, and i may need to go to a 42 reg. Can this be done?
or, if there's very little 'give', have i just learned a 400 dollar (i'm in vancouver) lesson. keep this currrent jacket as an unworn collector's item and when i'm in the finiancial position to order another one.....do so.
thank you in advance to anyone who can help.
:!: :

[Indydawg]

In my experience, there will be a good bit of relaxing and breaking in with the leather, so you will see some "loosening" of those rather snug spots.

But I don't know "how" snug it is, so what you should do.....don't really know. Peter will take it back and remake it if you need him to.

Later!
Indydawg

[kdodd29]

i have since 'buffed' the treatment and got another look at it on. i think your right, it'll be fine. the pecards really softens the leather it feels like it's already starting to give in shoulders, width of the arms and chest as i give it a bit of 'workout'. (putting it on extending, crossing my arms, kind of thing). My previous jacket i was used to wearing was more a 3/4 length looser fitting jacket, this is more intended to be a bit form fitting. for anybody like i was. just doing research at this stage before purchase don't worry if it feels snug in spots. After a good treatment and about 3 days of letting it sit,the dressing will darken it up a little bit (losing a little of that initial distressed look when you first opened the bag) but it makes the cowhide almost feel like lamb and personally i like that the 'distress' looks a bit richer in tone and more subtle. I'm sure over time as the dressing settles even furthure more and more of that distressed texture will return.

[Indiana Joe]

I have recieved the LC predistressed cowhide, i am very pleased. I had pre ordered the reccomended leather dressing before hand and as suggested it's being treated as i type this.
About alterations however. I am a 40 reg and shoulder seams do come to wear they should but it's a little snug around the chest and bicep area. Was curious about how much 'give' these jackets have.

After wearing a couple of different Expeditions [lamb, goat, deer (thanks, 'Dawg)] sized at off-the-rack 40R I ordered my Wested pre-distressed cowhide at a 40R. As Dakota Ellison, whipwarrior, and Indydawg can attest--it was too small. I tried on Indydawg's 44R Wested and it fit me just right so I re-ordered my Indy jacket. It may sound funny but my 44R Wested pre-distressed cowhide fits like my 40R Gibson & Barnes pre-distressed cowhide. I'm not sure if it's British sizing versus U.S. but whatever it is, that's my experience.

I.J.

[kdodd29]

i did look up the 'expedition' models. How do they differ? (asking for a future purchase possibly) ......coming from somebody who owns both that and what i ordered being the first thing and the first in my circle of friends; ie: you seem to be personally familiar with many of the promenant members and builders of this forum.
40 comfortable to 44...WOW that's a huge leap of comfort.
i have to say for myself and the jacket delivered to me based upon the measurments given it's proving to be more than fine.
maybe they cut them different now or i got lucky but there's no way a 44 would fit. hence my interest in the fit of the expedition and the comparisons you can make. Obviously it sounds like the sizing is to be considered but as it's lauded as a high end Indy jacket.
as an owner what can you tell me?
appreciate your attention and time

[Indiana Joe]

maybe they cut them different now or i got lucky but there's no way a 44 would fit. hence my interest in the fit of the expedition and the comparisons you can make. Obviously it sounds like the sizing is to be considered but as it's lauded as a high end Indy jacket.
as an owner what can you tell me?
appreciate your attention and time

I'm not sure why my experience with the sizing of these two jackets is what it is. Perhaps someone else may have some insight.

I realize you mentioned sizing but in order to keep this from becoming another Wested versus Flightsuits thread---maybe I could direct you to a few previous threads that could shed some light on this precariously volatile subject.
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1798
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=522
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3996
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3058
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4758
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1851
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1398
http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1113

At least that should get you started. Cheers!

I.J.