Freewheelers and Co.
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@Chiba:
Looks great MCL. For the sake of science, what are your (bodily) measurements?
Thanks!
Not exactly certain, I'm usually a 40R in American suiting, 5'10" 165lbs. Large usually in Iron Heart. 25" arms.
Keep in mind, the fit is definitely generous–the 17 would be a better fit on me, but these are cut pretty slim, so if you want a vintage CPO fit you probably want to upsize once (this being a 2x upsize). I may try to shrink it down but I don't mind the fullness of the fit, wore a sweatshirt under it tonight and was cozy in 9 degrees Fahrenheit.
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I'm surprised you can wear the 17.5. I'm 6'2", 185lbs. and I think the 17.5 would be big for me. The 17 fits me well, great for a smaller sized overshirt.
My feeling is that FW sizes these as 'slim-for-an-overshirt'. In other words, about as slim/small as you can go and still be considered an overshirt. Their Hammersmith, on the other hand, is sized as an overshirt.
P.S. I think the only way you'll get shrinking with this is with some hot water. (or with a dryer, but I would be very leery of going that route). But the guys at DR did say that a wash can result in marginal shrinkage….
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Just did a hot soak for maybe a half hour with minimal agitation and spun it through the drier on high heat in a cotton pillowcase to inhibit pilling. I now have what I would call a vintage-correct CPO overshirt fit–not the slimness that Freewheelers intended, but the fit I was looking for, room for layering but no longer feel like I'm swimming in it.
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I didn't do any measurements. I think the fabric might have a slightly softer hand, and the satin taping may have a few more ripples from the asymmetrical shrinkage of the different thread materials, and the buttonholes are a bit tighter, but ultimately it's the same shirt, just a trimmer fit through the body and slightly less length. I'll be wearing it tomorrow and will post a fitpic.
Incidentally, if anyone ever wants to experiment with shrinking wool, you could probably ease into it a bit more than I did with a spray bottle and a drier.
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I'm glad it shrank up for you! I am very curious what the length measurement is now.
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I'll measure. Not a ton different, still a long shirt, but the body cinched in perfectly.
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Post hot soak and dry CPO:
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I still have no clue how that fits you… We're damn similar height and weight and my only fw shirt is a 15!
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Yeah I am too @grandmasterben I usually am a 16.5, this is a full size up, and by the way Japanese. It's just kind of a weird cut and then I abused it.
Pants are the Swedish serge cargos Iron Hearts. They're terrific.
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They're awesome. The Baker pants dropping soon are made out of the same fabric–it's a doozy. It really evos with a lot of character. As far as functional pants go, these are tops. They afford a wide range of movement and the way the pockets are designed is really nice.
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Hmm, maybe I should have kept the 17.5. Really glad it worked out though. My 17 should be here this week.
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My 17 arrived today and is perfect. Pictures soon. I love this shirt!
