THE FIT:
There is no industry standard for grading size; any one size we offer may likely not be the same as another of the exact same size made by a different company. We ask you to provide accurate measurements for chest, height, waist, shoulder width, sleeve, arm length and back length so we may evaluate your dimensions with respect to the measurements of our goods. Your measurements plus your personal input regarding the clothing you wish to wear under the jacket and the type of fit you desire (i.e. rather loose/blousy, trim/tailored, oversized, longish) will help us have the highest probability for getting the size you want on the first try. If you are unsure how to obtain these measurements, most fine men's/women's shops or tailors will provide this service free of charge. Our size evaluation will only be as good as the measurements you provide - please take them carefully and accurately. Measurements should be taken in inches. Please DO NOT attempt to guess your size in our jackets. No jacket can be two jackets in one. The best look is achieved wearing a shirt and undershirt or a medium weight sweater with undershirt; the goal being a trim, sleek look. If the application of our jackets is with multiple layers of clothing, then the original look will be compromised. When purchased oversized, please keep in mind the jacket will fit NOT trimly but LOOSELY when fewer clothes are worn. Once you have ascertained all the required measurements, you may phone, fax or mail the results to us. Phoning is the best method for establishing size, as this allows the customer and ourselves to fully review all details and address any relevant questions. You may use one of our order forms to write down your sizing details on, though not mandatory. If you wish an order form, these come in the Golden Book reference catalog, or you may request a form to be mailed or faxed to you. A Frequently Asked Question on fitting, along with reply, follows below:

I wear a size 42 in most jackets and a size 44 in some others, what size would I take in an Eastman A-2 or Buzz Rickson MA-1? What is a good fit?
Size depends on your height, chest, waist and sleeve measurements, as well as what you plan to wear under the jackets and how you want the jacket to fit. If you supply accurate measurements and input on the fit you want, experience has proven that we will have a very, very high likelihood of getting you the correct fit the first time. No industry standard exists for sizing and grading jackets and we do not have the omniscience that would enable us to determine the subjectivity of how you may want the jacket to fit. Some customers have been weaned on very loose, oversized clothing that has become all-too popular in the last 20 years, and thus they are not familiar with how something like the A-2 leather jacket should fit and, more importantly, feel when worn. Additionally, many buyers rely not on their own opinion on how they look in a garment but feel inclined to get approval from friends and family, some or all of whom may be likewise plagued with the loose-fitting disease. We have customers with identical body measurements and yet they may purchase jackets from us two or three sizes apart! As a rule here, if the jacket squares up nicely on the shoulders when worn with the sort of clothing you will wear most of the time, falls about 1" - 1 1/2" below the beltline (if a waist-length jacket), allows you to reach into pockets and recover keys, wallet and change without discomfort or pain, as well as take normal strides while walking, then this is very likely a good fit and how the jacket would likely have been worn when originally issued. Using the test where one draws their arms across their chest as a barometer for snugness will almost certainly produce some binding in an A-2 jacket of the correct size, and thus push you further up the sizing scale into a very large A-2 jacket. A true 1940's A-2 jacket has no bi-swing action back (as found on the USN M-422A or G-1jackets, USAAF B-6, Tanker jacket, etc.) and is not cut for such a great range of movement as experienced when doing the arm-crossing act. If you can get that sort of movement range without binding in one of our A-2's, then it will surely be rather loose and sloppy when you aren't drawing your arms across your chest in front of you. What makes more sense, having a jacket that looks great and feels fine during 90% of your activities, or only when you cross your arms in front of you? Do you walk around with your arms crossed in front of you? The choice is yours and we will gladly oblige all tastes, but do try to get the look originally intended in a vintage flying jacket.

JACKET SIZING:

Please fill in results on "ORDER FORM" if you have one, or simply note on a sheet of paper when phoning, faxing or mailing the order in. You may also print out this page for reference.

A) CHEST - Measure high under armpits, spanning the widest part of your chest, bring tape around for one 360 degree complete measure.

B) BACK LENGTH - Measure from nape of neck (at collar seam) to 1 1/4" below BOTTOM of belt line. This is where a waist-length jacket should fall. If you desire a longer length, please mention how much longer and we can see which of our sizes would be close.

C) SHOULDER SPAN - Measure across back in a straight line, from edge of shoulder to opposite edge of shoulder.

D) ARM - Measure from top edge of shoulder to bottom of wrist bone.

E) SLEEVE - Measure from nape of neck to shoulder edge, then down arm to bottom of wrist bone.

F) WAIST - Measure 1 1/2" below your navel for a complete 360 degree measurement.

G) HEIGHT - Total height in feet and inches.