Size Guide — How a Leather Jacket Should Fit
Leather jacket fit is decided by three measurements — chest, waist and sleeve — taken over the kind of clothing you will wear underneath. This guide explains the measurement method, gives the size tables for our men's, women's and unisex styles, and covers the two fits that confuse buyers most: cropped and oversized.
How to measure
Chest: measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms, keeping the tape level and close but not tight. Breathe normally and measure on the out-breath. Waist: measure at your natural waistline — the crease where you bend sideways — not where your trousers sit. Sleeve: from the centre of the back of your neck, over the shoulder, to your wrist bone, with your arm slightly bent. Torso length (for cropped and long styles): from the base of the neck down the back to your natural waist (cropped jackets) or to the knee (long coats). A flexible tape and a mirror — or a second pair of hands — make all of this easier.
Men's sizes
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest (in) | 34–36 | 36–38 | 38–40 | 40–42 | 42–44 | 44–46 |
| Waist (in) | 28–30 | 30–32 | 32–34 | 34–36 | 36–38 | 38–40 |
Women's sizes
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust (in) | 30–32 | 32–34 | 34–36 | 36–38 | 38–41 | 41–44 |
| Waist (in) | 24–26 | 26–28 | 28–30 | 30–32 | 32–35 | 35–38 |
The unisex Varsity Letterman is graded on the men's table; women take their usual size for the relaxed fit or one size down for a closer fit.
How a leather jacket should fit
Shoulder seams should sit at the edge of your shoulders; sleeves should end at the wrist bone; a waist-length jacket should finish around your belt line. You should be able to zip the jacket over a light knit and raise your arms without the hem riding up dramatically. Genuine leather relaxes by roughly half a size across the first weeks of wear — so "snug but I can move" on day one becomes "exactly right" by week three. If a new jacket feels loose on day one, it is a size too big.
Between sizes, cropped fits, oversized fits
Between sizes: size up if you will layer knitwear or prefer a relaxed fit; size down in close styles (cafe racer, moto, racing) only if you will wear the jacket over tees and dresses. Cropped: the hem must land at your natural waist — compare your back length measurement with the garment length on the product page; taller wearers may need a size up for length. Oversized: our oversized patterns are graded to be oversized at your usual size — take your normal size for the intended proportion, one down only to moderate the volume.
Still unsure? Email us your measurements at harisleadgen8+ironhide@gmail.com and tell us the style you are considering — it is the most reliable sizing tool we have.