First Jacket - Wested Washed Goat!

[DocJ]

Hey everyone,

Based on all the good comments about the Washed Goat, the fact that Peter made the original jackets for Raiders ("original patterns" caveat aside), and the recent rise of the dollar versus the British pound, I decided to dive in and get my first Indy jacket.

It came in about 4 days, surprising me (I am used to waiting weeks for things from Europe), and as I ripped open the package and took out the jacket, I experienced a moment of panic when I saw how "small" it looked, thinking "this isn't going to fit!" I have an A2 Bomber which is huge compared to the Wested, because it is very much a winter jacket (thick lining) and has a lot of room in it.

To my pleasant surprise, however, it fit perfectly, and looks great on me, if I may say so myself. I could probably even have gone down a size and it would still fit ok. It's not as close-fitting as I would like for a Raiders jacket, but that's probably ok because I want to wear it in cold weather and I'll probably need a sweater underneath or an extra liner because it's such a light jacket compared to my A2.

So, without further ado, here are some pics:



I love everything about it, but it seems lighter and "browner" than some of the other washed goat jackets I've seen posted here and elsewhere. I would like to get that darker, almost greyish cast to it, if possible, to make it more Raiders-ish? What's the best way to accomplish that?

[Stefana Jones]

Great looking jacket !

I think it fits you just fine especially if you want to wear a thick sweather underneat for the cold season.

I'll bet that hat is a new Fed IV !

[Tyrloch]

Try using Pecards brown tint and/or leather oil. That should darken up the jacket a bit. I actually mix Pecards brown & black tint to get a darker shade of brown...

~Jace

[GCR]

Awesome jacket, Jasonalun! I have to agree with your assesment that the jacket looks great on you. Congrats!

Everytime I see that washed-goat hide, I want one even more!

As far as darkening the color, brown Pecards (or some other kind of tinted leather conditioner) would probably darken up the jacket a shade or two.

[DocJ]

Thanks for all the kind words, guys! And yes, Stefana, that's a Fed IV (Reg) alright! It's about 5 months old now and really starting to acquire some character. I've sat on it a number of times, rolled it up, gotten it rained and snowed on, and it looks better all the time! The Fed really has my vote as the best all-around Indy hat for the money.

Coincidentally, I'm actually expecting a Fed IV Deluxe any day now, which will be fun to work on since I got so much experience bashing this one. It was my first Indy hat - I had a couple other non-Indy fedoras which were factory-bashed - so I didn't know what I was doing at first. It is supposed to be a Last Crusade bash.

Thanks also for the tips on how to darken it. I'm a little scared to try it, since this is my first (and only) Indy jacket, and I don't want to mess it up! I'll probably try a little spot somewhere in the inner facings and see what it looks like before I go whole hog.

[Tyrloch]

Yup, try an area on the facings or even the collar stand itself -- the collar hides it in case you don't like the color! But I've put basically everything on my jackets -- reg. Pecards, the tinted ones, boot oil, Jay-El dressing -- the only thing that ever happened was the jacket got a little darker, and sometimes it didn't!!

~Jace

[Mr. Fusion]

Looks great, Doc! It really fits like a glove, doesn't it? Congrats on your first Indy jacket. You will really only need one, but it's difficult to resist the temptation to buy another. ;D

-Josh

[DocJ]

Thanks, Mr. Fusion. It fits even better now that I've worn it for a few weeks. I've balled it up, slept in it, scrunched it up many times with my hands, and it has taken on some character, and drapes so much better now! It was kind of stiff in these pics, since it was right from the bag when I took them.

I know what you mean now about the temptation! I have to admit I thought it was a bit crazy when I would see guys with multiple jackets, but now that I have one I'm feeling like I need to get a lambskin to distress a little as a more SA Indy jacket. I love this one, and it is screen accurate as far as its construction (yolk/arm seam placement, pocket size, pocket flap shape, etc.), but the washed goat really doesn't seem to match the Raiders look too well. Perfect for LC or even TOD maybe, but Raiders was definitely that shiny lambskin look, scraped up and worn off in places, of course. But I'm going to have to resist the urge, as I really can't justify a second Indy jacket. I'm already pushing it with my two Indy hats! :-)

[jackyll]

So is the prewashed versions look better for a worn-out look coat?