Indy costume - a question of fit...

[deathscythe]

I'm getting ready to put an Indy costume together, and I just wanted to find out how some of the items from different places fit. Some sellers run a bit bigger or smaller. Just let me know if these questions have been answered elsewhere...

Ok - this is what I'm getting:

*Jacket - Wested. I've read that they are pretty good about going by your measurements when you ask them to, but I thought I should ask. I pulled up the archived thread for the specifics for a Raiders jacket.

*Boots - Aldens. Footwear can vary in size to a suprizing degree from one company to another. Do they tend to run bigger or smaller?

*Fedora - Adventurebuilt. What is the best way to order one of these so it will fit really well?


Also, any advice or experiences as to where to get the pants and shirt would be greatly appreciated. How do the Magnoli shirts fit? I'm leaning toward getting one of those.

Thanks,
-ds

 

[Darth Niob]

You could get the shirt from ABdeluxe (Marc). Its very accurate and fits very well. I have one myself.
The pants you could get from Wested or searching for some of Noel Howard. Sometimes you are able to get them second hand.
If you are not a member there you should have a look to the COW (Club Obi Wan) forum...its a great place for all questions about Indy's gear.
Hope this helps....good luck:thumbsup

 

[jts1031]

*Jacket - Wested. I've read that they are pretty good about going by your measurements when you ask them to, but I thought I should ask. I pulled up the archived thread for the specifics for a Raiders jacket.

*Boots - Aldens. Footwear can vary in size to a suprizing degree from one company to another. Do they tend to run bigger or smaller?

*Fedora - Adventurebuilt. What is the best way to order one of these so it will fit really well?

I just received a horsehide jacket yesterday from Wested. As long as you take your time and give them accurate measurements, you'll be okay.

The Aldens, people will say, run a half size larger than what they are stated. Disregard this. You'll have issues down the line with fit if you order a half-size smaller. Please, have your foot measured professionally, and not by someone at footlocker, and order that size.

The hat, just measure around your head, above the eyes and ears, approximately where the hat will sit. Everything else will take care of itself. But you will have quite the wait on the hat, at least a year. The boots should be pretty quick, and I got the jacket two weeks after I ordered.

 

[Tobias_DK]

Right of the bat, if you're concerned about your economy you might not want to order stuff outside the US. You know, taxes and shipping etc.

But buy quality and you cry only once I say.

Regarding information you might want to check out Club Obi-wan, if you don't know it already.

Jacket: Just send wested all your questions, I've gotten very good responses from them and I've asked them an embarising amount of questions
Wested as a size chart on their website.
For measurements, be relaxed and measure around your chest right below the armpits (no need to blow yourself up, wested will add room for breathing for you)
Sleeve lengh is from the top of the shoulder to aproximately one inch below the wrist)

Boots: Aldens, no questions about it.

Hat:
http://www.penmanhats.com/ - Penman is located in the US and makes some very good and afordable hats.
Adventurebilt apparently makes the best of the best though, but they're also very expensive. Measure around your head aproximately where the hat would rest, a bit above the eyebrow usually.

For the shirt, I think Magnoli shirts are pretty good, but the adventurebilt shirts are better. (yes they make the shirts as well, also the gun holster. Drop them a mail and ask for availability)
I got one of the AB shirts. It's really cool.

But for all the measurements, you should visit a professional who can help you. Don't go for the big store as they usually won't help you unless you buy anything. Look for smaller tailors, they're usually much more friendly and helpful.

And if you havnen't allready go here and join.
http://indygear.com/cow/

 

[Onkelpsycho]

If you dont want the adventurebilt deluxe hat you can get the henry. Its a cheaper version of the hat, but still a great piece and a lot better than other hats... It will come unbashed, so you have to do it. But you can also tell marc or Steve that you want a bashed henry, so they will do it for you...

 

[bendingoak]

The best thing to do is ask the vendor. I sent west two sets of measurements. One of mt true measurements and then a set of a jacket that fit me well.

As for Aldens. I'm sure if you contact them they will send you in the right direction.

As for Steve's Adventurebilt hats. Send him a true head measurement taken with a tape measurer. Don't take it your self have someone like a friend take it for you. Steve's hats like mine are custom made and makes the hat to fit. They are not a sized hat but a custom fitted one.


I would go with the AB shirt.

 

[WinstonWolf359]

My Wested jacket fit perfectly, and all I provided was the exact measurements they asked for on their order form. If you already have a jacket that fits you well, measure off of that to get things like sleeve length, neck to shoulder seam, etc. Even with the Dollar to Pound ratio being what it is I don't think you can find a custom-made Indy jacket made in the US that beats Wested's price.

I'll second the notion that you should have your feel professionall measured before buying a pair of Alden's boots.

And again, no real mystery about measuring for a hat either. Measure right above your eyebrows where the hat will sit, and provide that measurement to your hat maker.

I've bought several hats from HatsDirect, and they've all been great. They have a very reasonable price and they ship extremely quickly. If you're looking for a custom made hat at a great price I'd also recommend Penman Hats as well. But I'd hurry before the waiting list on those is years long.

 

[jts1031]

Even with the Dollar to Pound ratio being what it is I don't think you can find a custom-made Indy jacket made in the US that beats Wested's price.

For that matter, you can't find a quality leather jacket for what Wested charges. I paid $250 for a horsehide jacket. Vanson or Schott would want twice that for a horsehide, and not necessarily a custom job either.

Another option for the hat is Peters Bros. I've ordered three hats from them over the years. They've all been exceptional quality for a steal of a price and dead on accurate as far as bash.

 

[Friskythehutt]

Hands down the best jacket you can buy is a Tony Kowak. You will not be disappointed.

 

[deathscythe]

Wow - thanks for all the responses!

I filled out a registration over at COW, but am still waiting for a response. I can't wait to see what I can learn there!:cool


I had a few additional questions about the Wested jacket -

-I know that the original was lamb, but I've heard some good things about horse-hide jackets. What is the real difference? Is there a visible difference, or is it just a difference as far as durability goes? I've had a lamb jacket in the past, and it seems to be a pretty soft leather. Does the horse leather just take more of a beating, or last longer?

-Also, is the "Custom 'ROLA' Jacket" on the custom made page basically a jacket with all the details outlined in the archived thread? Is that "THE" jacket to get as far as absolute screen accuracy? One of the reasons I ask, is because I remember the archived thread talking about having a cut different than the current standard Raiders jacket, which is thinner. I have a pretty thin build (36 inch chest, 6 feet tall), but I wanted to know if this is really only going to fit a human twig.

Thanks again,
-ds

 

[WinstonWolf359]

Which leather seems best is a personal thing, so I'm sure you'll hear lots of advice on the pros and cons of all the various leathers available.

In my opinion Indy's leather jacket has a particular look that has a lot to do with the lightweight leather used. My jacket is lambskin, and it is super soft, and fairly lightweight, but it still feels solid and substantial. It IS leather, after all. It is so comfortable it feels like a second skin, and it's warm, but not stifling.

I'm not sure there's anything about my jacket I think could be improved by using a heavier leather, but I live in a fairly warm climate, so it's already only a two-season jacket for me anyway, and I've never been drug behind a truck, so I've never really worried about durability either.

Wested's "off the rack" Raiders jackets are probably more accurate in the tiny details, so if you plan on counting stitches it's probably a better idea if exact screen accuracy is your primary goal. Wested will take some requests on the custom jackets that might make it closer to an exact replica, but I've heard they can be a little hit or miss on getting every detail right.

As for fit, if you order a custom jacket and double check all of your measurements you'll get a jacket that fits you correctly. Keep in mind you can tweak those measurements if you're looking for a closer or looser fit too. I personally think the whole skin-tight fit for Indy's jacket is more of a myth than anything else. To me the jacket doesn't look nearly as small or tight on Harrison Ford as many people seem to think it was.

 

[jts1031]

Not a lot to add beyond what Winston has already said. There is a drastic difference in weight between lamb and horse. Horse is a much heavier skin, and more durable. But along with that comes a much longer break in period. The jacket won't drape the same either, and may not look "right" to you. I picked horse for the durability aspect. I had a Wested lamb and the skin had started to tear at the lower point of the side-entry pocket on both sides. As for the fit of the custom, the only real difference is it tapers more toward the waist. You still have plenty of breathing room in the chest area.

-I know that the original was lamb, but I've heard some good things about horse-hide jackets. What is the real difference? Is there a visible difference, or is it just a difference as far as durability goes? I've had a lamb jacket in the past, and it seems to be a pretty soft leather. Does the horse leather just take more of a beating, or last longer?

-Also, is the "Custom 'ROLA' Jacket" on the custom made page basically a jacket with all the details outlined in the archived thread? Is that "THE" jacket to get as far as absolute screen accuracy? One of the reasons I ask, is because I remember the archived thread talking about having a cut different than the current standard Raiders jacket, which is thinner. I have a pretty thin build (36 inch chest, 6 feet tall), but I wanted to know if this is really only going to fit a human twig.

 

[Onkelpsycho]

If you order at Wested you should get the other stuff too, there is a really nice offer for a set (jacket, shirt and pants) and you can get a belt there, too...

Good service, but if you want to order something from AB, you can get the shirt there, too. I think they got holsters, too and also the boots sometimes...

Parts and peaces (belt/gloves/whips, etc.) is available and todds.

So, 3 orders and you are finished, great thing, I think...

 

[WinstonWolf359]

If you haven't checked out Todd's costumes yet, I'd highly recommend him:

toddscostumes.com

I've purchased a shirt, gun, holster, bag, belt, and whip holder from him and everything has been reasonably priced, top notch quality, and his customer service is excellent.

Indy Magnoli's costume pieces are also very nice. I have a Crystal Skull set of shirt and pants and I like them very much. All of his pieces are custom made so there's no worries on fit. Again, I just gave him all of the measurements he asks for, and both the shirt and pants arrived perfectly tailored.

Wested's pants are also pretty nice, and right now no noe else is offering pants in a cavalry twill that is as accurate as theirs, but since you're ordering off the rack sizes they will probably require a little tailoring to get a perfect fit. Wested's shirt, however, I really can't recommend. Fabric, color, and style are all a little too far from ideal.

 

[bendingoak]

I would go with Westeds washed goat.