I have an extensive Schott collection, all vintage, dating from the 70s through the 90s, but I was looking for a jacket with a more modern fit--less bulk in the arms, mainly, something more fitting for someone my age (63) but that would also be flattering to my still-athletic build. My first new Schott was the 673 Moto jacket, which was everything I was hoping for, though initially I wasn't thrilled with where the shoulder seam lay. It was higher up, closer to mid-shoulder, as opposed to falling just past the outer edge, the way vintage Schotts do. But within a few days, the jacket quickly learned my shape, and now I couldn't be happier with the new cleaner, sleeker cut.
One of my favorite winter jackets is the Schott 141, which is a nubuck delivery-style jacket that apparently was only manufactured for one year in the early 90s. Very warm, very rugged--a "fierce" jacket, as one friend put it. My 141 is size 44, and I'm 42/44, so there is plenty of room for layers underneath, but the sleeves are that older, roomier cut, so it looks a tad ... "sloppy" if I wear it without the extra layering. After much deliberation, I decided to give the p673 Storm a try. I ordered a large, and it fit perfectly out of the box, though a tad more snuggly than the Moto. But I did my trick of wearing one layer beneath for a day, and then two layers for the next day, and very quickly the jacket opened up, maintaining my shape while giving me room to breathe and move freely. It is now perfect to wear over just a shirt, or a shirt and a single additional layer. While the 141 will remain my go-to winter jacket, the Storm is now the "neat" everyday fall/spring jacket that I was searching for.
Let's be honest, we don't only wear jackets to protect ourselves from the elements. We also wear them to impress. And the Storm does both exceptionally well. Don't get me wrong, I love black and brown leather, but nubuck really stands out in a crowd. It's rugged but not overly intimidating, the way "biker" jackets can be to some people. It looks great day and night. Wear it running errands, or out to dinner--or through the Apocalypse, for that matter. On top of all that, it smells great, too.
Schott did something that is rare--it updated its jackets without sacrificing the classic vibe (or workmanship) that makes them so sought-after to begin with. I purchased my first Schott in 1981, and here I am, over four decades later, coming back for more.