The style of the jacket determines the length of the jacket. Motorcycle jackets typically have sleeves that extend past the first knuckle so that the entire arm remains covered while it is extended in the riding position. All other jackets should stop at the wrist bone.
In this article, we will discuss the best sleeve length for a leather jacket. We will also go over how the structure of the sleeves affects the length and what to do if the leather jacket sleeves are too long or too short. Finally, we will discuss the appropriate length of the motorcycle jacket which traditionally has extra long sleeves.
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How Long Should the Sleeves Be on a Leather Jacket?
The sleeves on a leather jacket should be no lower than ½ inch past the wrist bone. Any length that extends past the ½ mark is inconvenient. A properly designed leather jacket doesn’t need extra long sleeves to make up for poor mobility.
Having a leather jacket sleeve that extends to the thumb’s first knuckle is way too long. The hands look like they are being swallowed up by the sleeve while they are relaxed by your side. The people who support this idea state that this is ok because it’s rare that the arms stay relaxed on the body’s side. And with the constant movement of the arms, you will never see that the sleeves are long.
But some argue that a shorter jacket is much better because the long, length destroys the overall picture of the leather look. The most common response I hear against longer leather sleeves is that it looks like a child put on one of their parents’ jackets. That’s a little extreme, but I get the idea of what they are saying.
There is a happy medium that is shared by owners of all types and styles of leather jackets. The best length for leather jacket sleeves is somewhere between the wrist and ½ in below the wrist.
A distance of ½ past gives you a little more length past the wrist, so the hands don’t look swallowed up by the sleeves while you’re standing still. And it gives you enough room so that a large area of your arm is not exposed while it is in the extended position.
The Opening of the Leather Jacket Sleeve Determines its Length
The sleeve’s opening circumference plays an important role in determining how long the leather sleeve should be. Leather jackets with tapered sleeves can be slightly longer than normal because the tapered end will rest on the hand’s wrist. Having a long sleeve rest at the hand’s wrist eliminates the look of the hand being swallowed up. Additionally, tapered sleeves that are shorter than normal look longer than they are.
Leather sleeves that have a wider opening need to be fitted to the arm more accurately. A wide sleeve should be no longer than a ½ inch past the wrist.
The Wested Raider worn by Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones movies is a great example of the perfect fit. If you are not familiar with the Indiana Jones series, look at some online leather jacket retailers. It’s not too difficult to get an idea of what the jacket will look like at this length because most stores fit their models with this look.
What To Do When Leather Jacket Sleeves Are Too Long?
Achieving the best fit with a leather jacket comes from trying them on before purchasing, but not everyone has this luxury. If the sleeves are too long on a leather jacket, you should take it to someone specializing in cutting and stitching leather to see if you could get the sleeves shortened at a reasonable price.
I know that your leather jacket is precious and your not going to just let anyone start chopping away on it. To ease your mind, Check out my post on getting your leather jacket tailored. You’ll find detailed information on the entire process and I’m sure it will help you in your decision process.
As a last resort, you can try putting your leather jacket in the dryer to shrink the sleeves. However, I highly recommend you read up on putting a leather jacket in the dryer. Because you will need to be a little cautious so that you don’t ruin the jacket.
The second option would be to wear a long sleeve underneath the leather jacket. The undergarment catches onto the leather and pulls it back slightly, shortening the length. Just choose something that won’t cause you to overheat.
What To Do When Leather Jacket Sleeves Are Too Short?
Trying to extend the sleeves of a leather jacket can be done, but it should be avoided by anyone that does not specialize in working with leather.
Special tools are needed for leather alterations, and you risk ruining a beautiful jacket or spending a lot of money if the person doesn’t know what they are doing. I highly suggest that you read my post on shortening and stretching leather jacket sleeves. There is a lot of useful information there.
Is Rolling Up the Sleeves of a Leather Jacket ok?
It’s ok to roll up the sleeves of a leather jacket if you can do it. It is much more difficult with leather jackets made from thicker and firmer hides of leather that come from cows and horses. However, leather jackets constructed from thinner soft leathers such as lamb and goat are a lot easier to manage.
Some jackets were designed to be rolled up, and there will be buckles and buttons at the end to hold the leather jacket in place once it’s rolled up. If there are no buckles or fasteners to hold the leather in place, you will want to roll it up high past the elbows rather than the forearms.
How Long Should the Sleeves Be On a Motorcycle Jacket?
A leather motorcycle jacket’s sleeves are designed to be much longer than a casual wear jacket that ends close to the wrist. The sleeve end of the leather jacket should rest between the top knuckle of the thumb and the remaining fingers’ top knuckles.
Motorcycle riders (bikers) like to have this length because, during riding, the arms are extended, exposing the forearm for long periods. This is much different from a casual jacket where you may extend your arm out for a brief second.
The extremely long length protects their arms, and some of them have zippers and cuffs on the end so that the wrist area can be tightened to keep the wind from blowing up into the sleeves. A leather jacket has a nice sleek look, but expect the arms to be longer. And if you have short arms for your body type, it will probably be a bigger problem to get the sleeves adjusted.
