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Bill Kelso Roughwear 23380 Review
- Thread starter Greg Gale
- Start date
Greg Gale
Well-Known Member
Thanks! I wish there was a Levi's model that is like a 511 - not skinny fit, but rather slim, but high rise like a 501. I tried a couple of 501s but they just look too baggy on me.Great jacket Greg. You can jump instead of your favorite 511 into 501 or any other jeans with a medium or high (not low) rise and this nice jacket will visually look even better
mulceber
Moderator
Have you considered looking at some selvage denim? There are enough different cuts that you could likely find some jeans that are relatively tapered but that have a high rise.
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mulceber
Moderator
Like Kermit, I have a pair of Momotaro's (in my case, the 0605-V), and they fit the criteria you mentioned pretty well: relatively high rise, tapered, but not too tapered. They're not baggy at all, but it's not hard to get them on, even thought they don't have any elastic in them.
Brettafett
Well-Known Member
Classic!
Bremspropeller
Well-Known Member
That would be my preferred fit, too!
Congrats on the jacket, dude! Where'd you get the officer's pants? They're SH, too!
Greg Gale
Well-Known Member
Thanks they’re from ‘sofmilitary’ - a British webshop. Budget, but pretty good quality.
flyincowboy
Well-Known Member
This russet jacket is definitely awesome. you look great
Greg Gale
Well-Known Member
I've spent the last month wearing my 23380 all day every day. It's so cold here compared to Indonesia that I've been wearing a jacket all day inside the house too. So I had a chance to break it in a little, give it some wear. Now that I'm heading back, I'm leaving it behind at my mom's place, and today I switched to my 27752.
From the start the 23380 felt like it was stiffer, I thought it was because it wasn't broken in, but now I see that the 27752 is made of a thinner hide. It makes it drape like a dream, so easy to wear. I wish my 23380 was like that - not that I can complain much. What also struck me is that my Size 42 27752 feels really baggy after a month in the 40Long 23380. There is just so much extra room inside, it really is a size too large. I don't feel anything pulling even when I wear a C-2 Sweater underneath. On one hand it makes it look way less sharp than the 23380, but also really, really comfortable. Especially combined with the aforementioned thinner and more supple hide.
The 23380 is getting pretty comfy too, but in a different way. Like when you wear the perfect pair of leather gloves, they perfectly fit your hands, but you also 'feel' the leather, just a little pull, in a good way. It surprises me that 2 jackets that are so similar can be so different, and I guess I'll keep both for now. One doesn't make the other irrelevant.
I still prefer the trimmer russet 23380 though.
From the start the 23380 felt like it was stiffer, I thought it was because it wasn't broken in, but now I see that the 27752 is made of a thinner hide. It makes it drape like a dream, so easy to wear. I wish my 23380 was like that - not that I can complain much. What also struck me is that my Size 42 27752 feels really baggy after a month in the 40Long 23380. There is just so much extra room inside, it really is a size too large. I don't feel anything pulling even when I wear a C-2 Sweater underneath. On one hand it makes it look way less sharp than the 23380, but also really, really comfortable. Especially combined with the aforementioned thinner and more supple hide.
The 23380 is getting pretty comfy too, but in a different way. Like when you wear the perfect pair of leather gloves, they perfectly fit your hands, but you also 'feel' the leather, just a little pull, in a good way. It surprises me that 2 jackets that are so similar can be so different, and I guess I'll keep both for now. One doesn't make the other irrelevant.
I still prefer the trimmer russet 23380 though.
warguy
Well-Known Member
Greg, I admired both of those jackets in the video you recently posted, so much so I pulled up the BK site and took a look. I for one think both look great on you. I have very similar problems, as I think technically I am a size 41. Some size 40 jackets just feel too restrictive, while some size 42 jackets feel too large on me. I also have two A2’s in my inventory, a Russet ELC Monarch and a Seal ELC Star. The Star is cut trimmer and I just love the feel and look of the jacket and typically wear it with a t-shirt, and rarely layer. The Monarch is definitely roomier, especially in the mid drift like your 27752, but it is very comfortable, never pulls and I can wear a sweater or sweatshirt with it no problem. I like the more athletic look of the trim Star and tend to go to it more often, but love the Monarch in its own way as well. It is a nice problem to have!
Greg Gale
Well-Known Member
Last day, as of tomorrow the only jacket I'll see is my Bronson L-2a until December. Maybe I need to see a shrink, but it is a sad moment parting with these beautiful jackets for such a long time. Therefore I did one last experiment, I wanted to see how the russet color works with my M1937 pants - I have a soft spot for these, because it seems that in the 4th Fighter Group most people flew in those, rather than ODs or Pinks - see photo below. It has a less 'uniformy' look, and more 'in-action' or 'in-cockpit'.
Note to self: if I'll ever want to go to an airshow like this I'll have to invest into a better M1937 repro.
Note to self: if I'll ever want to go to an airshow like this I'll have to invest into a better M1937 repro.
Flightengineer
Well-Known Member
Great jacket Greg, you really look like a guy from the 40s on this photo
Greg Gale
Well-Known Member
Thanks, I just need a haircut and a good shave
