Club Obi Wan

We've all been there. You buy a new jacket, and once received, the euphoria lasts a few days and then the inevitable happens....how does this new jacket stack up to the one as seen on film?

Some of us have spent small fortunes chasing that dream.

What have been some of your shortcomings with your new Indy jacket, and how do you think it best to bridge the 'ideal' with reality?

Story of my life!!!!
I've had SO many jackets over the years, I'm embarrassed. In fact Peter is sending me a free extra something for being such a loyal customer!
There have been a few shortcomings - sometimes the fit, wrong measurements.., sometimes the choice of leather. I've been through almost every hide that Wested offers, some more than twice, and I've come to realise what it is I'm looking for in the leather.
Two jackets really did tick all my boxes, but had to go, because of weight gain and then weight loss!
Actually after 20 or so jackets I've come to realise that:

My favourite jacket maker, for various reasons, is Wested.
My favourite jacket is Wested's Hero
I prefer a very dark brown, because of how it looks on me.
I'm not interested in screen accuracy
I need a leather that is not too heavy, but has some substance
I don't like striated leather
I don't like shrunken lamb.

I have a new jacket in the post - I trully hope it'll be the final Indy jacket. I realise I have said that more than once before!

Close in enough is fine for me. I put mine through #### outside and in the mountains so they are not costume pieces. I prefer it to be longer than the film so it does its job better. And in a TOUGH hide. I don't obsess over collar stands, yokes, draping on the shoulders. Maybe one day, but for now I don't care. The hat is where I really care about detail.


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It`s funny cuz somethings I could care less about like pocket flaps scallops and collar length...but then I obsess about thin yokes and vent configurations! Most all of the jackets that I originally liked later came to glare like a spotlight with either a wide yoke or too heavy of a leather. I purposefully wear it constantly and when those things start to bother me, then I become obsssessed about them and can`t let them go and that`s when I start eyeing another jacket!

Not even Ford looks like Indiana Jones when he's not being lit and shot correctly. So it's futile to find the exact jacket. The G&B ticks all boxes for me and has the added benefit of being well made and hugely robust. There are things that would make it more accurate but I think once you start obsessing over stitches or half inches of pocket placement, you become just another movie nerd with an insatiable fetish. I'd rather embrace the spirit of the film and costume and move on.

+1, CM.....

Regard! Michaelson

I'm at the same place as Whiskyman...for me the pursuit is the hide. We have a number of makers who have a good pattern; Wested Hero, Kelso, Steele and Jones, Todd's. The Kelso merino sheep is incredibly good, but it's one deficiency is it is so soft that the back panel can pull and wrinkle due to the side straps. But it smells so luxurious that can be forgiven.

Peter's description of the old school tanning and the rock tumbling explains the combination of drapiness and ruggedness that has never been completely reproduced.

CM wrote:Not even Ford looks like Indiana Jones when he's not being lit and shot correctly. So it's futile to find the exact jacket. The G&B ticks all boxes for me and has the added benefit of being well made and hugely robust. There are things that would make it more accurate but I think once you start obsessing over stitches or half inches of pocket placement, you become just another movie nerd with an insatiable fetish. I'd rather embrace the spirit of the film and costume and move on.

Well said! That describes me. I want a jacket that says "indy" but not at the sacrifice of functionality. I see alot of really really short jackets. No good for me! I also need gussets. I plan to order an extra long custom Wested LC with gussets soon.


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My love was always for the raiders jacket..it never looked as good in any of the other movies. However..over the years I've struggled to replicate that jacket and even to the point of owning a jacket that Tony Nowak regarded as the closest he came to the original, but yet didn't satisfy me. Now I realise that I need a jacket that LOOKS AS GOOD ON ME AS IT DID ON FORD IN RAIDERS..which means it has to be a different jacket to some degree. Luckily, i think I've worked out what that means in real terms.

Have you tried the new Todd's? It looks a whole lot like this:

+3, CM.

The Raiders Hero is the only one for me as well, Whiskey. Raiders black, relaxed collar/shoulders/overall drape, waist length, long-ish sleeves, and trim fit. I feel fortunate that my 2013 Todd's fits the bill in all categories.

After realizing that lambskin wasn't exactly truck drag durable, I added a G&B for 'every day' wear. The only hiccup with the Expo was that I underestimated its roominess. Ordered a size smaller, and I was in business.

Incidentally, Raiders gear that I do catch myself obsessing about are the fedora, whip, gunbelt, holster, and pistol(s).

Todd's sizig doesn't work for me. Which is a shame, because otherwise his jackets look really good. At one point I owned his first prototype - fit me like a glove. Interestingly it was made of striated lamb. I have a picture somewhere..

I will make my usual public service announcement and ask Todd to please add an inch to his jacket sleeve length. Exceptional otherwise, I agree.

Cajunkraut wrote:+3, CM.

The Raiders Hero is the only one for me as well, Whiskey. Raiders black, relaxed collar/shoulders/overall drape, waist length, long-ish sleeves, and trim fit. I feel fortunate that my 2013 Todd's fits the bill in all categories.

After realizing that lambskin wasn't exactly truck drag durable, I added a G&B for 'every day' wear. The only hiccup with the Expo was that I underestimated its roominess. Ordered a size smaller, and I was in business.

Incidentally, Raiders gear that I do catch myself obsessing about are the fedora, whip, gunbelt, holster, and pistol(s).

Ok fair enough. I do obsess about the guns.


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Interesting question. The reality of the situation is I am not Harrison Ford. I have a similar height but, not only do I have a larger chest but stomach as well. So the exact same jacket style will not fit, or hang, on me the same. So if I buy the same style of jacket what can I achieve? What makes Indy’s jacket awesome? It’s how well loved (and used) it is. If you are going for an exact replica it may be a long battle of not only buying different jackets but hitting the gym and staying in fighting shape (that’s if you are fortunate enough to be the same height and body type as Mr. Ford) How do you get that well-loved look? Same way you got the same look out of that old Denim jacket you had back in high school. Wear it to death. Make it your second skin. Rarely be seen without it on. That’s how you bridge the gap. Or at least how I see it.
My two cents worth
Johnny

Texan Scott wrote:Have you tried the new Todd's? It looks a whole lot like this:

It looks like... Harrison Ford's butt?

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Yeah - for me it is trying to find well fitting jackets for my 6 feet, four inch frame. I am a big guy at 240 pounds but not fat. I usually buy 2xl jackets and not worry about it. With using actual measured sizing, it gets weird as it is not possible to fit in a jacket using my chest size which is 44. I have to go up to a 46, 48 or 50 depending on the Indy jacket. I have different Indy jackets from G&B, Wested , WPG and USW in sizes from 46T, 48, 50, XXLT, 2XL and one in 3XL. They all generally fit me. Some are slim cut, regular cut, and large cut.

After trying out all these jackets, I have decided I like the looser fit in this style with a longer length.

I have never bought an Indy style jacket with the intention of trying to get a certain fit from one of the movies. I just like the jacket style as it has a retro cool look.

Glenville86 wrote:Yeah - for me it is trying to find well fitting jackets for my 6 feet, four inch frame. I am a big guy at 240 pounds but not fat. I usually buy 2xl jackets and not worry about it. With using actual measured sizing, it gets weird as it is not possible to fit in a jacket using my chest size which is 44. I have to go up to a 46, 48 or 50 depending on the Indy jacket. I have different Indy jackets from G&B, Wested , WPG and USW in sizes from 46T, 48, 50, XXLT, 2XL and one in 3XL. They all generally fit me. Some are slim cut, regular cut, and large cut.

After trying out all these jackets, I have decided I like the looser fit in this style with a longer length.

I have never bought an Indy style jacket with the intention of trying to get a certain fit from one of the movies. I just like the jacket style as it has a retro cool look.

My only suggestion would be to go to a vendor of choice and to use a measuring tape to get an accurate fit. Be very selective of the skin type and give them accurate measurements. There is nothing better in the little jacket world than to get a jacket that fits right and looks the part. In the long run it will save you money and prevent from having to ordet so many jackets that are in effect a compromize for value.

Experienced this a lot with my first jacket, a Wested Dark Brown Lambskin from 2006. I love the jacket, but it bore little resemblance to what is seen on screen. Spent years picking up jackets and selling them off. I picked up a Bill Kelso Relic Hunter in Striated Lamb, and I can honestly say this is as accurate as it gets. The BK gets so much right, that it blows everything else out the water. Done and done! There is something a little sad, though, about the quest being over.

Forrest For the Trees wrote:There is something a little sad, though, about the quest being over.

Just put on a few pounds and it starts all over again.

lantzn wrote:

Forrest For the Trees wrote:There is something a little sad, though, about the quest being over.

Just put on a few pounds and it starts all over again.

That's not the plan! Better go for a jog today...

I've never been one to care about SA; I just want an Indy-ish jacket that looks good on me. I think this is difficult to some extent, because those awesome signature cargo pockets kind of accentuate your belly - a feature I don't need accentuated. And the overall cut isn't very slimming.

I also think the hide is critical and not something I was happy with in either of the Westeds I've owned, or the G&B I ultimately returned.

I have owned several Schott jackets over the years which were all soft as a kitten's ear, but strong enough to drag behind a truck as a daily commute. Compared to them, every Indy jacket I've had has felt like a car seat.

Also, my Schott 141 makes me look like a svelte ninja. My Wested makes me look like the box my refrigerator came in. I think that bi-swing back just hangs off me like a tunic.

Honestly, these days I only wear my Indy jacket when I'm doing something messy and I don't want to risk messing up my Schott.

(I know Schott makes USWings' jackets, but they use USW's leather. And the hide is what makes the jacket. Literally.)

It took a few tries, but settled on a Wings Legend in their imported Texas Steer. Wested lamb was way to light weight, G&B's didn't fit me well, Wings Sig series, didn't cut it for me. The Legend fits excellent, the steer is heavier than any of the other manufacturers lambs and goats (my preference for a bit more weight), color is good, nice and dark, but not too shiny, and under $200.00!!!
It only took me to number 6 to be happy, which is a lot less than some, by a long shot!

B

I would have to agree that Indy jackets and most aviation jackets are not very flattering on certain body types. I have a little spare in the middle but have to order jackets larger than my chest size to fit my shoulders and upper arms. This looser fit in the body is actually beneficial.

AdaminNYC wrote:I've never been one to care about SA; I just want an Indy-ish jacket that looks good on me. I think this is difficult to some extent, because those awesome signature cargo pockets kind of accentuate your belly - a feature I don't need accentuated. And the overall cut isn't very slimming.

I also think the hide is critical and not something I was happy with in either of the Westeds I've owned, or the G&B I ultimately returned.

I have owned several Schott jackets over the years which were all soft as a kitten's ear, but strong enough to drag behind a truck as a daily commute. Compared to them, every Indy jacket I've had has felt like a car seat.

Also, my Schott 141 makes me look like a svelte ninja. My Wested makes me look like the box my refrigerator came in. I think that bi-swing back just hangs off me like a tunic.

Honestly, these days I only wear my Indy jacket when I'm doing something messy and I don't want to risk messing up my Schott.

(I know Schott makes USWings' jackets, but they use USW's leather. And the hide is what makes the jacket. Literally.)

Sorry man - what are you trying to say here? You sound like a Schott shill. I'm sure you have a broader plan.

The quest will never stop maybe because the original factory-tannery of leather closed-disappeared and with them the secrets of the quality of the skins showed in the movies...
The most dificult jacket to find(leather-measurements)was for me the Temple of Doom ,a real nightmare,the most easy now is the Raiders,with so many good makers on the market !

ANYC,

Beyond custom made, it sounds like your best bet would be to stay with oversized jackets, such as USW and maybe even G&B? Both of these makers products are known for their roominess.