I could work from home in sweatpants and slippers, I suppose…nah!

Conveniently cut off my smug grin and my slippers!

Rare day off for the 421-IND yesterday.

Today, Ed is mostly wearing…

@Ross said in Iron Heart Japan Fit Pics - and other great images from Japan…:

Not sure I can pull that one off quite so cool…

So…@Alex very kindly reached out to me yesterday, and a little over 24 hours later, I have the sample on my back!
The phrase ‘standing on the shoulder of giants’ never felt more apt, bearing in mind the forum legends that have previously put sample items through their paces, as well as the legendary status of the 12oz hickory, as used on the IHSH-07.
My wife gave the fit a nod of approval, so there is no excuse not to wear it continuously for the new few months and see what desk surfing does to the elbows! Straight into a conference call this afternoon, with garage clearing duties and a tip run scheduled for the weekend - I’m showing it the high life from the off!

Interestingly (?) the pocket tabs are grey compared to the red of the IHSH-07 - everything else is the same as the 07 as far as I can tell, but obviously there may or may not be changes by the time the production run comes in.

@Denman-John - they are the Viberg Service Boot BCT in HRWN Oak Chromepak - on the 2030 last E fit, to be precise. Lovely boots - recent purchase, so very few miles on them so far, but will be my go to for the coming months.

So, it took more back and forth than your average tennis match, but thanks to @Shaun @Graham @Bailey and @JamesB, as well as a final nudge from @FlavourFade - we got there! Of course, the fit is spot on, just as you said it would be!

Why do I feel like I’m cheating on the 421-IND though?

Just prior to the party, my wife and myself spent a week in Italy - Tuscany and Liguria, to be specific.
We haven’t visited either of these regions previously, so we decided to bear the crowds and largely seek out the ‘greatest hits’ the area has to offer - hoping we’ll get the chance to go back in the future to get off the beaten track.

We stayed in Florence (Tuscany) for the first few days, which is a wonderful place to wonder round, see the sights, people watch, and generally eat and drink well.

Ponte Vecchio:

Piazzale Michelangelo (view from):

Opera Duomo (inc. view from the bell tower):

Piazza Santissima Annunziata:

Piazza Signoria:

We spent a day out visiting Pisa (see the tower, move on, type of place):

Then on to Lucca which is a beautiful walled city from the Renaissance era with a circular central piazza:

We then stayed a few days in La Spezia - ultimately, this is a fortified port town, but was a nice base for a few days:

From La Spezia, we visited Porto Venere:

We then spent a couple of days visiting the villages of Cinque Terre, although the weather restricted walking the (somewhat perilous) trails between the villages:

It’s definitely a tourist hot spot, so not for everyone, but we had a wonderful time there.

I’ll add a separate post in the next day or so with thoughts and recommendations based on information we were provided and/or gleaned from the week, in case anyone is travelling in the area.

Contemplating whether to go 666 or 777 when the ducks restock…
IHSH-303

Hope you’re well, Reuben. @neph93

@AdamC - no, no! You’re in a mini-battle for 4th with @Steve and @Alex!

Anyone know how to take decent shot of OD denim? ‍️

@AdamC - it’s tough fighting to catch up those of the crew that know football ahead of me, at the same time as holding off those that don’t below me!

So, it took more back and forth than your average tennis match, but thanks to @Shaun @Graham @Bailey and @JamesB, as well as a final nudge from @FlavourFade - we got there! Of course, the fit is spot on, just as you said it would be!

Why do I feel like I’m cheating on the 421-IND though?

Can’t remember who it was we saw at the weekend…

It’s a bigger flex on the front than the back…

The dog went bat shit crazy when we let her out in the garden last night - turned the lights on to see what the fuss was about…

Guessing the dog scared the bejesus out of the hedgehog (hence being balled up), so I left it in peace to recover.

Apologies for the the multi-post - the system couldn’t handle all the photos in one go…

Don’t forget the production version will have different snaps…

Today is the 47th wear of this amazing shirt - in the last 63 days. It has had 2 x 30’ low spin washes.
Where it tightened up post-wash, it has generally eased back out with wears (chest and waist).
The back length and sleeve have shortened by 0.5” to 0.75” since new - that will be down to creasing as much as the wash process, as I do spend too much time sat down at my desk.

Comparing the lower and higher wear areas, the definition in the indigo and white has definitely changed - the indigo has slightly dulled the white, and the white weft is more prominent within the indigo. There is a blue sheen in certain lights, but it is difficult to explain and/or photograph.

Low wear:

High wear:

I’ve not babied the shirt at all, so whilst I’m not hitting it with hard labour everyday, it’s had it’s fair share of dirt, grime and a little grease thrown its way. The hickory has definitely become softer (more pliable) with wear, although it was never ‘crunchy’ in the first place. It wears so well - It’s perfect for this time of year (moving into the UK spring) with just an undershirt/tee. I was wearing it with an overshirt in recent (colder) months, or with a jacket/vest when outdoors.

I’ll dump a bunch more photos, but safe to say this CPO is an exceptional piece - but then you always knew it would be…