My Wested Jackets

[Ragingblues]

I bought my first Indy jacket, directly from Wested. It's a dark brown goatskin, Raider's model:












My second jacket was purchased from our friend G-Mann, and is a dark brown lambskin Wested, also a Raider's model. I got a great deal from a great guy on this one, and was able to have a jacket to distress:









Here they are together:





Ken

[Stefana Jones]

Very cool jackets, they seem to adapt to any way you want to dress, either casual (with a t-shirt) or for a dressier look (with a shirt and tie).
I own a WESTED also (cowhide) I've got it thru ebay from a guy who bought it less then a year before and found it too big for him (size 42). Fortunately it fits me just fine !! The neat thing is that it was delivered within a week after purchase.

[Ragingblues]

Thanks Stefana!

They do change looks with you pretty well, which is why I waited until I had two... to do any distressing. I didn't have the heart to take away some of the other uses the jacket was giving me.

Great deals on gear are always something to be happy about. Having it delivered so quickly was a nice bonus too.



I would like to see your cowhide Wested sometime, if you have a photo handy... and of course, don't mind sharing it.

Thanks again,

Ken

[Deleted]

Absolutely gorgeous!

Of couse, the jackets aren't bad either!

Ken, I am envious! Some day I will own two jackets. It will be mine. Oh yes. it will be mine...

[Ragingblues]

Thank you kindly!

One day you shall indeed have two jackets... and the sun will shine just a little brighter for it.

Ken

[pagey]

Very nice looking jackets you've got there - and a good job on the distressing, it looks very authentic.
I'm also a fan of dark brown for the Raiders jacket. My third Wested (below) is a dark brown goat which I've distressed just a little - natural use will do the rest. In fact it's already aging a little.
I couldn't be happier with this jacket. I tried lamb and cow and they just weren't what I was looking for. The goat, and especially in dark brown, is exactly what I was after.

[Ragingblues]

Pagey,

First off, let me offer a hearty welcome aboard to you! I think I speak for everyone here, when I say that your work on Indy hats has always been highly repsected. Checking out your whips, I would have to say that the attention to detail is just as high. I hope you will enjoy this crowd of folks, as everyone here is entertaining and friendly as well. Thanks much for checking out the site, and deciding to post. Please feel free to ad vendor links and post about whatever is on your mind.

Now... the jacket.... It looks great, and the fit is dead on for you as well! Very tasteful amount of distressing on it , that you could still wear it anywhere and not look weird doing so. I couldn't do that with my distressed one, unless I took all the Fuller's Earth off. That hat is a classic "Pagey" bash too, from the ones I have seen before.... very nice job!

Thanks again for posting,

Ken

[jweaver]

Long time no see Pagey. I glad you decided to joing us over here!

Your jacket looks great. I've been wanting a second one for a while now and the dark brown is gonna be the way I go!

[pagey]

Thanks fellas for the welcome - and thanks Ken for the invite. It's nice to be here - I really like the look of this place

[Deleted]

Pagey, wonderful to see you here!

I have missed you and your posts.


Warm regards
Canyon

[jweaver]

How long have you had that jacket Pagey? It really looks like its broken in nicely. How easily does the dark brown goat age? I've heard a few different stories about it.

I've had my authentic brown goat for about a year and a half and its really just now begining to show some minor wear. Becuase of this, I'm tempted to get lamb for my next jacket, but I've heard it so smooth it looks like plastic.

[indianatone]

Hey Pagey, good to see you around. Welcome.


J_Weaver, Lamb is deceptive in that it "feels" like plastic/leather because it's so light. To look at a nicely broken in lambskin jacket, you'd think it was a typical, heavier leather jacket (visually.) The difference is that "we" know it's lamb so we automatically assign that trait to it. How many of us thought Indy's leather jacket was a cowhide leather-type bomber when we first saw the movie and didn't have the information that it was lambskin? I did. As the lambskin ages and loses that "new, soft, smoothe sheen, it looks more like a good, sturdy, leather jacket. I'm glad I have a lambskin and a goatskin. I really like them both.

[pagey]

jweaver said:

How long have you had that jacket Pagey? It really looks like its broken in nicely. How easily does the dark brown goat age? I've heard a few different stories about it.

I've had my authentic brown goat for about a year and a half and its really just now begining to show some minor wear. Becuase of this, I'm tempted to get lamb for my next jacket, but I've heard it so smooth it looks like plastic.

My jacket is almost a year old. As I say, I did distress it a little. A subtle attack of acetone just to slightly lighten a few areas - and a little sanding here and there. In addition I wet it a few times and crumpled it up and sat on it as it dried. Plus I got drenched wearing it in Venice. MOst importantly, I NEVER hang it up - I just toss it in a corner.
in my experience the goat is a very tough hide, but lends itself to manual distressing very well. A little distressing seems to open the door to natural aging. I personally wasn't taken with my lambskin - it just felt too flimsy. But it's personal choice in the end

[Deleted]

Argh, I've gone and forgotten to say "Great jacket, Pagey!"

[jweaver]

Thanks for the reply Pagey! Tone thanks for your reply also. I 'don't know where I got the idea the lamb looked like plastic. I'm tempted to get a lamb jacket next just because I already have a goat. But its really such a tought choice.

[indianatone]

jweaver said:

Thanks for the reply Pagey! Tone thanks for your reply also. I 'don't know where I got the idea the lamb looked like plastic. I'm tempted to get a lamb jacket next just because I already have a goat. But its really such a tought choice.

It's hard not to see the lamb as one of those vinyl/pleathery 80's jackets that were so abundant back then. The finish and pebbling is so miniscule when it's new, it could pass for vinyl. It's one of those jackets that looks better the less you preserve it. The pebbling becomes more pronounced, it starts to lose that feel about it. But it's one of those "adapt to it" types when new.
As for goat, I've got a DB goat as well and that thing just feels trustworthy. The lamb hasn't let me down in times when I thought it would, though. I wouldn't be happy with one and am glad I have both.

[indianatone]

These are my two. Basically, these up are here to show J_Weaver the difference between 80s fit and regular. There really isn't that big of a difference except for the yoke being higher (and slightly more snug) on the 80s fit. The picture quality isn't fantastic, but these are for the seams on the yoke.
The sun just washes most everything out currently anyway.
I'll take some more that give 'em a better view.

Lamb Regular (Authentic Brown)


Goat 80s fit (Dark Brown)





Current temperature. ;D

[jweaver]

Thanks for posting that, Tone! I can definitely see that the 80's fit has more taper to it. It also seem to fit a bit better in the shoulder area.

[Ragingblues]

Now let me see, taper in the hat bad.

Taper in the jacket good.

Okay, got it.

Tone, if you are wearing those great looking jackets in 118 degrees of sauna like heat, you are absolutely one tough dude! I would be melting right out from under the jacket!

Nice shots,

Ken

[indianatone]

admin said:

Now let me see, taper in the hat bad.

Taper in the jacket good.

Okay, got it.

Tone, if you are wearing those great looking jackets in 118 degrees of sauna like heat, you are absolutely one tough dude! I would be melting right out from under the jacket!

Nice shots,

Ken

;D ;D
Tough? No. Sweaty? Yes. I can get off two or three shots before I begin to melt. LOL!

[Prof.Wex]

Hey RB, I was looking at your goatskin wested and wondering what size it is, and whether it was a Raiders or TOD..It seems to fit you perfectly. I'm also wandering what the chest measurement is from underarm to underarm.
I like the look of your wested more than mine. Since I'm about to order my 2nd wested I just want to get my size right this time. My first is a (Raiders-40 regular) with no special options, but its a little big on me. I guess I can only go smaller, a 38 regular maybe. I'm just afraid a 38 might be to small, Ive emailed Gemma and asked her but she just keeps sending me westeds sizing chart. I guess the real question is, do I get another 40 reg. with the 80s fit ?, or just go a size smaller.

[indianatone]

Sorry, I know this question is for RB, but ProfWex, could you post a pic of how your current Wested looks on you? That'd most likely help the folks here size up the best opinion on how to go about ordering your next one.

[Ragingblues]

Thanks very much profwex!

The non distressed goatskin and the distressed lambskin jackets are based on a 44R. Both are supposed to be a Raiders cut, BTW. I ordered the goatskin from Wested and specified certain sizes and options. I bought the lambskin from G-Mann on a heck of a good deal. This one was made more to the actual 44R specs, and was a hair too big and sleeves a hair too long. I wet it and did the drier deal, which shrank it down to a better fit.

You could ask for a 40 with the 80's cut, or base it on a 40 and specify certain measurements to be what you think is too big on your current jacket. How much room do you have inside the jacket for thick shirts, sweaters, and do you want that sort of room? Some people are fine with a jacket that fits snug enough (like the movie) that they can't wear a sweater or even thick shirt under it. Other's want a functional jacket size with extra space. Since this would be your second jacket, I'm guessing you want more of a snug look, like the film.

Does any of this help or just add to the confusion? it shouldn't be so hard to order a jacket should it?

Ken

[Prof.Wex]

Hey RB,
this information certainly helps me, After reading some specs on the 80 fit I decided that would work. I'm also going to request 1 piece underarm gussets. I know now thats whats wrong with my first wested. I have that extra material in the underarm area. I'm also asking for the TOD jacket for the extra length. so now I'm confident in placing my order. Thanks again for the help. No more headaches here.

Indiana Tone,
I will certainly post pics of all my jackets, but my camera is on loan to my sister right now. I should get it back this week. I know I love pics to..

Sincerely Prof.Wex

[Ragingblues]

Hey, very glad to be of any help. I didn't even think to mention the underarm gussets... but then again, I don't have them either. I'll bet they do help some with arm mobility, as that can be even worse with a jacket that's too big. A larger jacket size will bring the bottom of the sleeve even lower, which will restrict even more movement.

We'll certainly keep our eyes peeled for photos of your new jacket when it arrives!

Ken