Club Chair Bulletin #12
Oops! All Outerwear
What’s he been up to?
The A2 Hunt
I was recently a cog in the machine for an absolutely catastrophic fumble. I found an original A2 flight jacket, right size, very good price. Long-story-short, I pushed my luck, rested on my laurels a little too long and it sold to someone else.
Small Favour: If you wouldn’t mind, please share this post, or the club as a whole, with a friend who you think might be interested, it would mean a whole lot. Please also subscribe if you haven’t yet, again, it makes a big difference.
Ah well, it happens, it’s a lesson learned. Ever since though, I’ve had A2 on the brain, so the search is on for a similar deal, or to find a nice replica.
I’ve gotten at this idea before, but it bears reiterating here, the thing with finding a great deal on an A2 jacket, is that it almost certainly will not be listed as an A2 jacket. As such, I’m in the process of scrolling through essentially every listing for “brown leather jacket” on a selection of secondhand platforms in my size. The Trawl as I call it.
These are the sorts of pursuits that make wearing vintage into a hobby, and the sorts of things that mean no matter what clothes I wear I will never be cool for wearing them. I couldn't love it more though.
When I’m doing this sort of trawling, I always think to myself that it would be terribly handy if these popular secondhand sites were to include a way to filter in the negative. Such that I might be able to remove the swathes of fast fashion junk before embarking on my searches. This seems like an addition that would greatly streamline the experience for the mad ones like myself, and quite possibly yourself if you're here.
I’ll come across my white wolf again at some point, and I’ll be sure to let the world know when that happens.
Planning a Wider Jacket Overhaul
This A2 is a component in a wider plan I am building to better develop my jacket selection. For the past two years I’ve been over-dependent on sport coats to construct outfits, and now with a view to transitional looks for autumn, before I break out the Balmacaan, I’m pining for a few staples.
Don’t get me wrong, I still adore my sport coats, but it seems more and more that I’m only ever reaching for one, my gorgeous brown herringbone. The trouble with that thing being so damn perfect is it eclipses other options a fair bit. My gut says it’s time for a wardrobe vibe-check.
Obviously this is due to be a slow process of acquisition and sale, as always the all-in-one overhaul is almost certainly a Bad Idea TM. You can bookmark this bit and come back in a couple months to see what I actually end up doing. In the current plan though, we’re looking at three classic jackets to join the roster: an as-mentioned-above A2, a beat-to-hell Barbour (as mentioned last week), and a classic-of-classics DB navy blazer. The hope is to net some greater versatility both in style and weather resistance.
There’s something to the provenance of classics like these that makes them so damned fun to style. One gets to include easter-eggs of sorts, nods to those who know. Better yet, there are expectations of how they should be worn, which one gets to mess about with.
The search is on for the perfect examples at the right price, I’ll be sure to keep the club posted.
On the Radar
Penfield Trailwear
It’s the outerwear special folks!
When considering heritage Americana with a view to the outdoors, it won’t take long to come onto the gorgeous and prohibitively priced down jackets of Rocky Mountain Featherbed. Of course the price is justified, just out of reach for many, especially since you’re likely to want it on the trails.
The most defining feature of a Rocky Mountain jacket or gilet is of course the Western yoke, done in leather.
Those on a budget might want to look to the far more accessible Penfield Trailwear lines which boast the same leather yoke. We’re still talking real leather here, and our old friend 60/40 but you can expect to pay somewhere between £20-£70 here in the UK. You’ll find shearling lined examples within the upper end of that range too.
If you fancy a beater jacket with the Rocky Mountain look, or to get a foot in the door for less than a tenth of the price, Trailwear is worth a look.
Totally Tubular T-Shirt Recs
Off the back of last week’s article, just a few examples of tubular t-shirts that won’t wipe out your account in the fashion of a Merz or Whitesville, and might even be more of a vibe as a result. You’ll probably know a couple of these at least.
Power Goods - Everyday Tee
With Power Goods, skip the super weight and go for the everyday. Still running pretty heavy at 7.5 oz, but with a slightly slimmer cut, coming in a little over the ideal middle-weight, but still a nice pick. I’d be inclined to size down.
Bronson - “Loopwheeled” Athletic
Not actually properly loop wheeled, rather an approximation thereof, sitting much heavier at 10 oz. With more of a retro fit, these are nice if heavy is one’s preference.
Pro Club - Heavyweight
Listed as heavy but coming in at 7oz, comparable to a Whitesville or Merz 215. Generally more generous in the cut, possibly size down again.
United Athle - 6.2 oz
Pleasantly lighter, fitted, a fine example of the below-best but highly desirable vibe we hit last week.
Time Catcher - Classic Fit Loopwheel
Knit on an early 20th century machine, a fairly standard 7.4oz, and a very nice old-school fit.
Gildan - Heavyweight
Now for what can properly be called a sh*tty tubular tee. Heavy? Nope, not at 5oz it’s not, very tight in the pits, actually pretty damn perfect for the go-to-hell t-shirt look.
Damn, does the A2 in the photo look good!
Also, thank you for the heads up on Power Goods. Never heard of them before, might want to check out!