Club Obi Wan

I just got a 'Raiders' lambskin jacket. (my wife actually got it for me on eBay - not the expensive one which caused so much commotion here a little while back.)

Anyway, I do love it - but I have some concerns about the sizing. The seller assured me that it was an unworn Raiders jacket, with Raiders collar, dark brown in color. The color is definitely OK, and it doesn't look like it was ever worn. But I'm not sure about the length, or the collar. Maybe someone out there can measure their jacket, and see how it stands up. I want a Raiders jacket - the shorter, the better. So, for those of you with Raiders jackets, how's this sound?

The size is marked 38.
Sleeve length (from shoulder to sleeve, flat) 23"
Storm flap length: 24 1/2" (this is all the way up to the collar, including the stitched-on part that's attached to the jacket at the top of it)
collar width: 3" (at the tips)
the pockets are about an inch and a half away from the bottom of the jacket.

You tell me: does that sound normal? I like my jackets on the short side, anyway (maybe rest an inch or so below my belt - and I wear my pants somewhat on the high side). Maybe this is just my reaction to a jacket that isn't cut like the other jackets I own (mostly 40s and 50s gabardine ricky jackets). But it seems a little long for me. Is this something Wested could alter? I mean, could the reduce the length of the jacket from the top instead of the bottom?

I was very excited to get the Wested (it took a long time to arrive)...I'm maybe a little bummed about the length (though I still can't bring myself to take the jacket off). Can someone help?

It's not a 38L? My 40R Expo has the 3 inch collar tip, 23 1/2 inch sleeves, and 1 1/2 inch pocket placement but the storm flap is 23 1/2 inches.

My 44R Wested has the 3 inch collar tip, 23 1/2 inch sleeves, and 1 1/2 inch pocket placement but the storm flap is 22 1/2 inches.

So, I wonder if you got a 38L?

the size is marked 38? my wested doesn't have a size marked in it. i would think a custom made jacket wouldn't have a size marked inside of it. hmmm.

My Wested just has a small red 44.

I custom ordered mine about 2 years back and it has a size in it ( 38 ). I think thats normal to find. Then again thats 2 years ago...

Isn't every wested a custom in fact? I have 2 and both have size tags inside.

The jacket would have been made to the specs provided by the original buyer, who may have had a longer back.

The length can't realistically be changed now without remaking the jacket.

Mine has the size tag also, and I remember it was an option a few years back to have it put there.
Also, the Raiders jackets are supposed to be short. The bottom should fall about 2 inched below the waist line. I had the same concerns when I got mine in 2001, as I was not used to a leather jacket being that short.
Enjoy your jacket, and I hope you have many adventures with it.

The measurements sound correct. The website lists the back length at 23 1/2" for a size 38. I do not think that includes the "stitched-on part that is attached to the jacket at the top of it." I wear a 38 as well and that same piece is 24" on my jacket.

I made the horrible mistake of ordering a jacket that was 22 1/2" because I like the look of the jacket at the waist. The leather actually shrunk a bit - due to breaking it in - and the jacket had to be given to my wife because it was too short Of course, I got a new one out of the deal so I can't complain.

About the size tag... Since Wested custom-manufactures each jacket, they could theoretically put any size tag on a jacket. For instance, I could order a Raiders jacket in a size 38 - Chris King-style (slimmer fit) or in an extra blousy fit and they could both arrive with a size 38 tag even though they fit way different.

Wested puts the size tag in the jackets because they have to start from
a standard size pattern for all jackets.

If you wanted say a size 44 R, with some mods, its still made from a size
44 R pattern, and thus will come with a size 44 label.

I had Peter add an extra inch to the front part of my Raiders jacket so
I would not experience the ride-up that everyone suffers. It worked out
perfect!

Now, my jacket is a size 44R, except for the that extra inch. The
sleeves are 23.5 inches long, and the storm flap, with the extra inch
added is 24.75 inches. Thats from the very bottom of the jacket, all
the way up to the very top of the storm flap. The back length is 26.0
inches from the bottom of the collar to the bottom of the jacket.
The collar is 3 inches wide at the tip just like yours. The chest measures
about 24.5 across the front.

It sounds like yours is defenately a size 38 long. I had an inch added
to my storm flap on purpose, and its the same as yours, and my jacket
is a size 44R, then you did indeed get a size 38L with shortened sleeves.

Either that, or the guy that sold you the jacket didn't know he had
a Temple of Doom style jacket. Thats the only other reason your jacket
would be that long in the body. Either its a long size, or TOD jacket.

Flathead

This jacket's supposed to be a year or two old...if that's relevant.

The seller claimed there were no alterations made to the jacket, that it was indeed a Raiders model...here's a link to a photo of me wearing it. You tell me: Raiders or TOD? (there are probably some fedora photos there too.)

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictu ... 4288165787

Peter emailed me and said no, he could not alter the length at this point. I'm kind of on the fence here...I love the jacket but I wonder if getting one that's a little shorter might not suit me better. Of course, I can't send it back...I'd just have to sell the jacket outright, and I don't know if that's worth the trouble..

Your jacket is indeed a TOD because you can clearly see its longer than
a normal size 38 Raiders jacket.

Its a nice looking jacket! It fits you great, the sleeves are perfect, and
the extra length actually looks good on you.

I would keep it!! Its a great looking jacket on you!

Its much better to have one that you think is slightly too long, than to
have one thats slightly too short!! If the jacket is indeed "new" like you
said, as you wear it, especially in the car, the front will get some wrinkles
in it, and it will "ride-up" sligtly anyway, so your jacket is actually just
the right length for you.

I specifically asked for extra length in the front of mine for just those
reasons, and I am glad I did.

Your jacket looks great!!

Flathead

Thanks for the kind words, Flathead. To be honest, it's not so much that I don't like the extra length...it's just that I think I'd like the shorter more. Like I said, all of the jackets I normally wear are short, 40s/50s style wait jackets...and I was looking forward to having another of that style.

I'm thinking now about just biting the bullet and buying another Wested, this one in Authentic Lamb, that's a Raiders-length jacket. That way, the jackets will be two different colors, leathers, lengths, etc. - I'm trying to convince myself it's not pointless to buy another!

by the way, here's a link that makes it a lot easier to see the photos:

http://public.fotki.com/havershaw/wested_jacket_photos/