Wested Das Boot/Doctor Who Leather Jacket

[themeinside]

Good day all

I have started a similar thread at Gallifrey Base,

Basically I'd like peoples thoughts/opinions/photos of the jacket in question, and for the whole Wested company all together.

Is it worth going down there, as its only an hour, and £13 on the train for me to get there- or is ordering it online fine?

Also, for £20 you can get some custom specification- no one has yet mentioned how far the custom spec goes- is it purely length, sleeve length, chest size etc, or is it more comprehensive then that; ie- all that plus SA lapels etc?

Will it be the same extra £20 if I went down there and ordered it in person?

Thanks

 

[Zombie_61]

If I were you I'd contact Wested and ask them these questions.

Regardless...speaking from personal experience, there are at least two benefits to making a trip to their shop. First, it gives you the opportunity to meet the people you're buying from. E-mails and phone calls will often work out okay, but there's nothing like face-to-face interaction. Putting a face to a name makes the transaction less impersonal for both parties. Second, you would be able to try on a jacket or two to see if an off-the-rack item suits your needs. And if you do need a custom-sized jacket, having your measurements taken by the people who will be making your jacket increases the chances of it being a perfect fit the first time around, and it's much easier to discuss the various options available to you.

I've only made one purchase from Wested, but it was a very positive experience. A couple of years ago I bought one of their Indiana Jones jackets--a custom-made "Raiders" style jacket in Novapelle (a mildly distressed cowhide). Visiting the shop was not an option because I live in the U.S., so I submitted the measurements they required through the form on their website. Gemma handled a minor credit card problem quickly, and I received the jacket two weeks later. My first thought was, "A custom leather jacket from Swanley to Los Angeles in two weeks? Nahhh, there must be something wrong," so I immediately inspected the jacket thoroughly. They made a change to one of the measurements I sent them without consulting me first, but they were right in doing so and I received exactly the jacket I wanted.

I rather like their Das Boot/Doctor Who jacket, and if I had the money to buy one I wouldn't think twice about doing so. My only problem would be deciding between black and brown. :confused

Hope this helps!

 

[Risu]

I'll be leaving for London in a week and if I can find the time, I really want to go to their shop for specifically those reasons. I love my Indy jacket from them as well, so I don't doubt the quality of their work at all. Plus, I think they fixed their inaccurate lapel problem a while ago, but I might be mixing them up with somebody else.

 

[kenobibale]

i have had some great experiences with wested, they are all top people. i bought 2 indy jackets from them and i also bought their doctor who jacket. if i get time ill take some pictures and post them, but honestly its a lovely jacket, i got the brown version as i wasnt concerned with screen accuracy and it looks very nice in person, the pics on the website dont do it justice, but it is not a dark brown but im sure you can darken it if you wish. as for the coat itself im not sure how accurate it is as i said i wasnt too concerned about all the details, but it certainly looks the part. the only negative thing i have against it is wested advised me on getting a large, im a 42 chest, and when its buttoned up its not too bad but when worn open it just feels like im swimming in the thing, that is were actually going to the shop would have payed off. but other than that it is one of my favourite coats, and like most coats we would chase after on this forum, they are all unique and no one will have one like it, unless of course they know what to look for

but i say go for it

 

[Risu]

That's just how double breasted coats are. I have one that fits really snug when buttoned, but it feels and looks huge when it's open, it's just how they fit. Definitely looking forward to pics of your coat, I'll be getting the distressed brown when I place my order and dying it darker.

 

[Zombie_61]

...i got the brown version as i wasnt concerned with screen accuracy...

Actually, the jacket Eccleston wore on the series was brown (one of 'em, anyway), so yours is more accurate than you think:

Also, Risu's right about double-breasted jackets; 'tis the nature of the beast. Some people can pull the look off, others (like me) can't. I'd still get one if I could though.

 

[Cythusly]

It's actually a black coat that was heavily weathered, not brown. The lighting in that part of the episode made it look more brown than it was.

 

[Zombie_61]

D'oh! You're right, my mistake. The jacket looked more brown than black in most of the photos I'd seen.

It does bring a question to mind--if a black leather jacket is weathered to the point that most of the black is gone and the natural brown of the leather shows through, is it still a black jacket? :confused

 

[Risu]

The Wested black jackets are made with chrome tanned leather, which doesn't distress down to brown. The only way to get an accurate color is to get the distressed brown and dye it over. I'm not sure how comfortable the average person would be with doing that, I don't have a problem with it because I know the dyes really well.

As for the look, I like it quite a bit because it hides disproportion. :lol

 

[Doh2]

I give Wested high marks. I have their lamb Indy and they got it right the first time. I got it about 3 weeks after ordering (to Los Angeles) but if I could've taken the train to their shop, all the better.

 

[Risu]

I just went over my finances and it looks like I have enough to either buy one of these in their shop or place an order for a custom when I go in. I'm pretty psyched. Now it's just a matter of whether or not I can fit the detour into my trip. Anybody care to share details on the cost and time/what rails to take, etc. to get from roughly the London Eye area to Wested?

 

[Kt Templar]

Give them a call before you go to make sure that Peter is in. If you go to Wested it'd be nice to meet him!

As for getting there...

English - Journey Planner - Transport for London



You'll need to take a taxi from Swanley to the shop, but it's not too far.

 

[Risu]

How far is the taxi ride? I've heard they're ridiculously expensive. Is it walkable?

 

[Kt Templar]

Looking at the map it's 2 maybe 3 miles. The cabs there shouldn't be crazily expensive they are minicabs rather than black cabs. You can agree a price in a minicab before setting off. I'm guessing less than £5.

 

[Risu]

Awesome, thanks!