SCOTTeVEST Milan Leather Jacket

It’s been almost two years since Julie reviewed
Scott Jordan‘s
first venture into the world of luxury leather outerwear, the

SeV Three.0 Limited Edition Leather Jacket. That black Napa interpretation
of his popular 3.0 jacket was a major upgrade from the usual microfiber, polar
fleece and cotton blend staples from the
SCOTTeVEST line that we all have come to recognize. Just about everyone with
gadgets on the brain wanted one for Christmas – including me.

Even though that leather jacket turned out to be quite a success in its
original form, Scott has never been one to rest on his lapels, err I mean
laurels. From the moment the Three.0 LE jacket’s review was posted on this site
and others across the internet, Scott began gathering feedback from reviewers,
potential customers and customers alike. The jacket I will talk about today is
the culmination of two years of input and development, and it is part of his new
line of
Version 4.0 Products. As the SeV website attests, the
Milan is "intended
to be the best of the best!"

Is it? Well let’s take a look…

These pictures of the Milan (being modeled by the invisible man) are the
first introduction most people will get to this jacket…

 

Pictures courtesy of the SCOTTeVEST site

…unfortunately, those pictures can’t even begin to convey the sensory
overload that accompanies actually handling one. The indescribably yummy smell
of well tanned leather combined with the buttery soft texture of chocolate brown
Napa are the first things noticed as the coat is unwrapped. The lucky
recipient’s next impression will be of how light and supple the jacket is.
Unlike the European style racing jackets to which the Milan pays homage, the
leather is not at all heavy or stiff. The Milan is, dare I say…cuddly
and soft. Described as "lightweight" on the SeV site, the Milan is essentially
two layers – the Napa leather and the silky nylon lining. Of course, one could
also call the SeV pocket infrastructure as an additional layer, because it is
that pervasive.

As it is not a heavily insulated coat, the Milan is perfect for three-season
wear. Layers of clothing may be added or subtracted under the jacket to adjust
how much warmth is needed, based on the day’s forecasted temperature.

My first request after Scott had introduced the Three.0 LE was that he make a
jacket in brown; my next was for a more fitted model. The chocolate brown Milan
addresses my requests very nicely, not only by giving the color I requested, but
also by incorporating a more streamlined fit and sleek appearance. Since the
Milan is not really a woman’s coat and since it is designed to camouflage
multiple gadgets, it is not quite as fitted as I might have liked.
However, I have also come to the realization that I probably should have
requested a small. The jacket is generously cut, which is great for those that
will be wearing multiple layers of clothing under theirs. Because of our mild
winters I can generally get away with just wearing a turtleneck sweater.

 
This is the medium jacket, which was slightly too big, and
thus slightly longer & bulkier than I would have preferred –
It looks like fall, doesn’t it? Would you believe that it was
92º when Steve took this picture?! <groan>

 

Added later – the small jacket & its much better fit

Of course, like every other SeV article of clothing, there is more to the
Milan than its style, color and the softness of its leather. The Milan is a
veritable gear bag disguised as a stylish article of clothing. Hidden within its
soft folds of chocolate lambskin are the following:

• 41 hidden pockets
• SeV’s patented PAN
• ZIP-PIP
• Hidden Epaulets
• DCC+
• The ability to hold a Camelbak® system
• HangingPockets™

• Change Pockets

• Side Seam Zippers

• DeepPockets™
• Bottle holders
• CollarConnect™
• Collar Loops
• An eyeglass chamois

• 9 Pen/Stylus Pockets

• 2-Way Front Zipper
• Magnetic Pocket Closures

• Elastic battery holders

• Weight Management System
• A key holder
• Secret Pocket
• Back Pocket

• Back Pocket Access
• Earbud Pockets

• Magnetic Cuffs

• Sleeve Pockets

• MyMemory™
 

I bet that some of the features
on the list had you wondering what in the world I was referring to, so let’s
take a top to bottom look at the SeV Milan…

Unlike the previous SeV leather jacket, whose collar stood three inches tall,
the Milan has a short and stylish 2" stand up collar. This collar is stubby
enough that it will not rub the bottom of your chin if you have a short neck,
and it looks great with turtlenecks, tee-shirts and traditionally collared
shirts.

Note that all of the zippers on the jacket’s exterior are
situated in a seam line, and the seams act as good camouflage for the subtle SeV
logo on the antique brass finished zipper pulls.

The interior of the collar is lined in a material that looks and feels like
Ultrasuede; it is very soft to the touch, and it feels good on the back of my
neck. A grosgrain ribbon loop attached to the bottom seam of the collar serves
two purposes: it is there for hanging the coat, but it is also a handy place to
pull from when opening the collar to expose the hidden Personal Area Network
(PAN) pathway for mobile phone earpieces or digital music player headsets.

This is the PAN pathway to which I was referring. It is held shut with a
small piece of Velcro.

Here is one last look at the collar, which shows that there are actually two
elastic loops on each side of the neck. This system allows the user to assign a
single headset per loop – even if there are multiple headsets for multiple
devices.

On both the right and left breasts, there are shallow pockets which have been
built into the seam. These pockets are "PAN enabled", which means that they have
reinforced openings which will allows wires to be threaded from that pocket to
another, or to the elastic loops in the collar. There is a detailed
explanation
on how to wire a SeV product here, which will help those who are unfamiliar
with the process. These breast pockets are approximately 3" deep x 5" wide, so
they are suitable for carrying small digital music players, pagers, business
cards, keys, loose change, memory cards, any small items that can be easily lost
or that the wearer wants to keep nearby. Because of their close proximity to the
magnet in the following pocket, it would be better not to chance carrying any
credit or ID cards with a magnetic stripe – this includes certain hotel keys.

There are also two chest pockets on either side of the Milan. Right inside
the zipper is Scott’s pocket magnet system that allows the pocket to be left
unzipped, yet securely closed. These pockets are actually quite deep, measuring
approximately 8" wide and 9" tall. Because of Scott’s Hanging Pockets system,
heavier items can be added and these pockets will be supported from above,
as well as from the side. Why is this a good thing? Because it keeps the pockets
from sagging inward when the wearer is carrying a PDA or GPS unit, for example.

The bottom two pockets are placed in the traditional position, but once
opened they are not typical by any means.

The first thing noticed when the right or left pocket is opened is a fairly
large patch of the soft loopy side of Velcro. This is what Scot is calling the
Detachable Cargo Compartment Plus (DCC+) system, which allows the user to attach
anything that needs to be kept immediately handy – such as a wallet with badge
or a gun holster. These pockets also take advantage of the Hanging Pockets
system, so fairly heavy items such as a gun, camera, or portable keyboard may be
carried here without causing an unsightly lump or drag.

Underneath the DCC+ patch however, is a "whole ‘nother story", as we say here
in Texas. The pocket has a zipper which can be left open to create a larger
cargo area, or it can be zipped up to create a separate and stable pocket. I
mention "stable" because the furthest interior pocket is actually designed to
hold a water or soda bottle, should the wearer need a place to keep one stashed.
There is a band of elastic included for securing taller items kept in that rear
pocket. There is also a PAN opening in this pocket, so if something heavier that
requires wiring is being carried, it can hook right into the jacket’s network.

Here is a spy shot of the right pocket’s interior – it is virtually identical
to the left…

…except for the addition of a tethered keychain. I think this is a clever
touch, because it would be easy to lose a small set of keys in a jacket with
so many pockets.

Here’s one of the shots where it is obvious that the jacket is a little bit
large on me, however the basic lines should be evident. The jacket hangs a wee
bit lower in the back, which I really like, and it has zippered side vents which
I really love.

 
Note that the side vents are opened in this shot – that is why
they the sides are not hanging quite as straight as they would have otherwise.

This is the rear of the jacket, laid flat. There are three pockets worked
into the back panel, and each one is integrated into a seam.

The large back pocket measures approximately 15" wide and 8" deep. It would
be a great place to carry files, a magazine, a wired battery pack or other large
flat items. Getting into this pocket is not very easy while wearing the jacket,
it is one of the few that the wearer would need to remove the jacket to access,
or ask a buddy to grab whatever was needed. This pocket is also PAN enabled. I
am waiting for the day when someone places a CPU in this pocket, powered by one
of Scott’s solar
panels, which is wired to a touch screen built into or tucked into one of
the sleeves! But I digress…

On either side of the large back pocket are two smaller zippered pockets.
These pockets are a great place to stash a pair of gloves, a pair of handcuffs,
whatever – and they are easily accessible by the opposite side’s hand. They
might also make nice hand warmers for someone that is giving the wearer a hug.
;0)

Here is a better shot of the 4 1/2" zippered side vent. Did I mention that I
love this feature? I did? Well, let me just say it again – I love this feature.
Adding side vents allows the jacket to go from sleek while standing to comfy
while sitting in about two seconds.

The left sleeve has a built in 6 1/2" tall x 4" wide pocket, which is a great
place to stash business cards, ID and credit cards with magnetic stripes,
magnetic hotel keys, sunglasses, or any other small item that the wearer wants
to keep immediately handy.

Both the right and left sleeves have surprisingly deep pockets right above
the cuff. The 5" long zipper is worked into the seam right in front of the tab
cuff, and it is about 7" wide. This is another good place to stash small loose
items that could otherwise be easily lost.

The jacket’s cuffs are a little bit different than I have seen before, as
they use both a single snap and a magnet tab closure system. The cuffs on the
medium sized jacket measure 6 1/2" inches, which should be large enough for
anyone, including those (like me) that enjoy wearing big watches.

The tab is held in place by a strong magnet…

…past which is a snap. There are 5 1/2" vents on each sleeve which will
also facilitate larger hands, cuffs, watches, etc.

Well that’s the exterior – now let’s take a look at all of the pockets on the
right side of the Milan…

Starting at the top – there is a small mesh pouch sewn into the inside
placket which is perfect for holding an earbud when it is not being used.
Directly to its side is a secret, zippered, PAN enabled pocket which measures
approximately 7" tall x 4 1/2" wide pocket. This pocket would be perfect for
holding a cell phone, pager, smaller PDA, or any other item that the wearer
wants to keep secure. It is very hard to see, but there is a PAN slit
approximately 1" back in the fabric directly under the collar.

Notice the two pen or stylus pockets built into the placket?  There are
two more directly underneath as well as the same four slots on the opposite
side’s placket – the wearer will never again be able to say they forgot their
pen.

Directly to the side of the top pen and stylus slots is a 4" x 4" pocket
which is kept closed with a magnet. This is a great pocket for shorter items
such as some cell phones, pagers – anything that won’t be harmed by close
proximity to a magnet. Inside this pocket is a secret zippered 4" tall x 5" wide
pocket that is so hidden, I almost didn’t find it! This would be a great place
to keep small items that the wearer doesn’t want anyone to find.
Christmas money or secret receipts, perhaps?

In this picture, it is easy to see the four pen / stylus slots, as well as
the top of the pocket system I am about to dive into…

A SeV branded leather pull-tab secures the panel on what I consider the SWAT
pocket. Check this out –

When the side zipper is undone, a large DCC+ patch is revealed. Let’s say
that the wearer is in law enforcement, and they have their gun holster attached
to the DCC+ with Velcro. They would have easy immediate access to their weapon
by ripping open the unzipped flap held by magnets. Notice all the squares sewn
into the fabric? Each one houses a magnet – which means that even when the
pocket is fully unzipped, the pocket will stay firmly in place – until the
wearer needs to quickly reach in and whip something out.

Anti-gun lobbyists – quick, look away! Here are some pictures of
Steve’s polymer full-frame Smith & Wesson Sigma 9mm in its Velcro holster, which
just happens to fit very well on the DCC+.

 

I should mention that if you will be carrying a gun, then it would be best to
get the correct size jacket, and not go down a size as I want to, as the gun
adds considerable bulk depending on its size. Bear in mind that Steve’s Sigma is
a full size weapon, small-frame guns would be less bulky.

I told you this jacket was roomy! Steve wears an extra large, but when he saw
the DCC+ system, which I tried on with gun installed, he had to give it a
try too. <Cue the SWAT theme music!>

 

Okay, enough of the side show! Back to the pocket…

Deeper down in that pocket are two elastic loops which have each been
stitched so that they will hold up to four AA or AAA batteries. Once again, this
entire pocket is supported by Scott’s Hanging Pocket system, so that heavier
items will be supported without dragging everything down.

In front of the easy access SWAT pocket is a 9" wide by 7 1/2" deep, tight
mesh pocket that allows the wearer to store small items which need to be kept
secure, but at the same time seen.

The last item on this side is the owner’s name tag. Fat lot of good it would
do anyone to fill it out, though. If you lose this jacket and it fits the next
person that finds it, I guarantee that it will never be seen again.

Now we come to the left side of the jacket…

Once again, there is a small mesh pocket made to hold earbuds when not in
use. Directly to the side of this pocket is a hidden 11" tall x 6" wide zippered
pocket which uses Scott’s Hanging Pocket system so that heavier items such as
PDAs, Binoculars and GPS can be stored inside without weighing the pocket down
or making it sag in awful directions. Included in the pocket is a nice lagniappe
– a SeV eyeglass cloth tethered to an alligator clip at the end of an elastic
cable. Now the wearer will never again have an excuse for smudged sunglasses.

Once again, there are four pen or stylus pockets built into the placket. On
this particular garment, the TEC label is located inside. I’ll state once again
that there are no logos or branding evident on the exterior of the jacket – with
the exception of the tasteful zipper pulls.

There is a PAN enabled SWAT pocket on the right side also, perfect for
lefties.

Directly in front of the SWAT pocket is a PAN enabled zippered pocket that
reveals an interesting secret when opened – there is a long strip of Velcro
which allows the pocket to be divided into two smaller pockets when needed.

Directly in front of the divided pocket is a clever mesh system that includes
yet another pen or stylus pocket, as well as two divided pockets secured by
zippers. These pockets are perfect for carrying memory cards or other small
items that need easy access.

Next to the divided zippered pockets is a 5 1/2" tall x 4" wide mesh pocket
with a flap that is kept in place by a small patch of Velcro.

Here is a shot of the bottom of the jacket, and the magnetic tab which
finished the bottom of the zipper area.

I gotta tell you – the ONLY things that I might change on the Milan are the
slightly wider cuffs. It’s a men’s medium, but the wrists feel extra large on
me. If I could gather them in just a tiny bit more, then I would be happy
with every aspect of this jacket – but bear in mind that my wrists are 5 3/4"
inches, so this would probably not even be be an issue for most men. Even
with the wider cuffs, the Milan is now my favorite jacket. So yes, if you run
into me in the cooler months, you’ll get an opportunity to pet my jacket.

Christmas is coming, and I can’t think of a better gift to give or receive
than the SCOTTeVEST Milan. It is the perfect marriage of form and function for
all gadget lovers, and it is a jacket that anyone with gear to carry would be
thrilled to own.