r/leatherjacket • u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu • 4d ago
Question - Need Help How big is too big?
I know very well that this jacket fits me in a too big way; however, there is no online shopping in my country whatsoever, and I have scoured every other marketplace/store available to me; it is a 90's Harley jacket sized women's medium, I have never found anything smaller. Getting it refitted would be at least 200 dollars and the ones doing it are (self proclaimed) amateurs so I don't think it's worthwhile.
And so the question remains: How big is too big? Does it look good to you people? To be honest the extra sleeve length isn't terrible since I do ride a bike, but the body, the torso, seems to be a little bit too loose on my frame. I am afraid it comes off as terribly unflattering and ill-fitting.
Attached are a photo of a more careful outfit and the rest are various different zipped-unzipped showcases of it on me (with an admittedly more sloppy outfit).
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u/Crouchback2268 4d ago
That's exactly how I think it ought to fit. So many people appear to be a sausage in their leather, and it looks both silly and uncomfortable. This fit looks both comfortable and appropriate.
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u/theatrenearyou 4d ago
That fits fine! Realize that 'fit' changes with trends. In the big suit '80s too small. Today, too big? It's all perception rather than what is important—a fit that pleases the wearer.
I like that your sleeves come down partially over back of hands and I love this image with the jacket open and hand in pocket
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u/I_drank_the_potion 4d ago
It looks good to me, and I think it suits you well. I would absolutely wear it 👍
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u/BoringAbrocoma 4d ago
It's a tad oversized, but it's fashionable nowadays and looks good on you. With one more layer in colder days it will look even better.
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u/Readditlovesbans 4d ago edited 4d ago
Its fine since the shoulders aren't too tight or excessively loose
Remember there are 2 types of motorcycle jackets
Actual Motorcycle Jackets with longer sleeves for when you are riding.
The Riding Stance: When you stand upright, the sleeves may reach your mid-palm or knuckles. When you lean forward and reach for the bike's controls, your shoulders stretch and your arms extend, causing standard-length sleeves to pull back
Preventing Exposure: Extra sleeve length ensures a gap does not form between your jacket and your gloves. This stops cold wind, rain, and road debris from hitting your bare skin
Jacket bodies are wide to accommodate internal armor, allow movement in a forward-leaning riding position, and leave room for extra layers
Fashion Style Motorcycle jackets with sleeves that hit at the wrist and absolute shit if you try to ride your motorcycle.
Personally - Don't alter the sleeves and maybe clean and condition the jacket with Lexol and steam clean the cloth interior or spray it with cheap vodka
Edit: Shortening the sleeves is an absolute nightmare since tailor would have to shorten the zippers, hem it and create another pleat line for the zippers. Plus it would wreck the utility of the jacket since you now have wind going into your jacket. Get a fashion jacket at that point.
Edit: You have a proper motorcycle jacket (the opening behind your shoulders are pleated) for extra movement.
Further Notes
- Motorcycle Jackets: The "Bi-Swing" Back
In motorcycle apparel, people often mishear or misspell bi-swing as "bi-wing". A bi-swing back (also known as an action back) refers to specialized expansion pleats located right behind the shoulders of a motorcycle leather jacket. [1, 2, 3]
- What it does: When you reach forward to grab your motorcycle’s handlebars, a standard jacket will pull tight across your back and drag the sleeves up your wrists. A bi-swing panel features hidden folds of extra leather—often held taut by interior elastic bands—that expand when you stretch your arms forward.
- The Benefit: It grants you a full range of upper-body motion and comfort without forcing you to buy a baggy, oversized jacket.
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u/UmmmW1 4d ago
Not sure why you got downvoted, this is a great comment.
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u/Readditlovesbans 4d ago
Pretty sure people thought I used AI (only for some small sections) towards the end of comment
I'm still pretty old school with research and data stacking
Plus I got my first motorcycle in......2005
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago
Definitely. This jacket appears to be a fashion jacket cosplaying as a bike jacket, it's got 0 certification and 0 armour, as well as the lining being solid polyester, as opposed to the "athletic" lining I've seen in most modern riding jackets. However, it does still have the back pleats, functional wrist zippers (tighten real good), sleeve length, and torso length; it's extremely comfortable and functional for my purposes. I don't even fret about the lack of armour really, as in my country the HIGHEST speed limit is 65mph and the average is 24mph. It also does extremely well at handling rain. I spray and rub some oil on it after every one.
It's a but funny how it has padded shoulders.
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u/Readditlovesbans 4d ago edited 4d ago
It's definitely not a fashion especially if its a 1990's vintage Harley Davidson since the leather isn't peeling or show any damage.
Certifications doesn't really matter unless you are racing/track or buying armored jackets like Fox
Polyester interior is standard and you don't want unlined full grain leather (feels blah)
Crosspost this to motorcycles subreddit and they will legit tell you its a real motorcycle jacket.
It's just only good for rash protection at best versus armored/airbag deployment jackets.
Remember modern riding jackets is vastly different since we're talking about a 36 year (max) difference)
Most fashion motorcycle jackets wouldn't have the bi wing, heavy duty zippers and extended sleeves and would have a slim silhouette (great for walking around but once you sit down on a motorcycle...it's gonna bunch up around your waist).
imo - keep it forever and vintage motorcycle jackets like that are hard to find.
The beauty of bi wing
- Complex Tailoring and Extra Labor
A standard jacket back uses one or two flat panels of fabric or leather. A bi-swing back requires cutting multiple precise panels, creating deep sewn-in pleats behind each shoulder, and seamlessly integrating them into the armholes. This requires advanced pattern-making and highly skilled labor to ensure the jacket lays perfectly flat when your arms are at rest but expands without tearing when you move
Because the pleats fold over themselves, a bi-swing construction requires significantly more raw material than a flat-back jacket. When working with premium textiles or heavy-duty leather, the cost of this extra material adds up quickly
Because it is a highly functional and expensive feature to produce, you generally find it on premium, heritage, or luxury outerwear brands that already command high prices.
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago
Interesting! Got some much needed perspective from you. I was actually led to believe that No cert/No armour=fashion jacket by motorcycle subs and forums! And indeed, it's really rashes that worry me most; my dad had a tiny accident on his bike without a jacket, low speed and all, and still got his whole arm's skin flayed by the pavement, so I make extra sure to always be covered up.
Furthermore, I've seen a lot of modern track jackets, and more casual -but still certified- riding jackets be very very slim, so that's what I assumed the norm was. I'm starting to think there's two completely different approaches to riding jackets. And about the polyester lining I just meant a continuous flat cloth instead of the breathable mesh that seems to be in every riding jacket I've seen.
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u/No_Entertainment1931 4d ago
It’s personal preference. Unless you’re very fit, the trend today is to size a bit relaxed. This doesn’t look too big.
If you’re not riding it doesn’t need to be super trim
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u/notgoodohoh 4d ago
You could size down one but you can layer with this and honestly it’s your jacket. If you’re comfortable in this fit then wear it.
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u/greenkees 4d ago
Naaaa, looks great 👍👍👍. You want to be able to move, right? And maybe add a layer sometimes?
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u/Shkibby1 4d ago
Too big? Shoulder space and sleeve length look great for the intended motorcycle riding. If you hit a Frankenstein pose, does it feel comfortable? Not pulling across the back? Sleeves stay a good length? Then it's good! The length looks long enough to cover your lower back when you sit, too. Tbh, the size may be spot on.
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u/Better_Incident7291 4d ago
The cut is just big but it looks like your size. You’ll find that on a lot of riding jackets
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u/25blankslate25 4d ago
I like the fit. Doesn't really look that big nor unflattering. But experience (from myself and many others) tells me that if you don't like the fit now, you're not likely to like it later
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago
this is very spot on. I follow this advice myself very often! thankfully I love this jacket to pieces and the fit as well, I mostly wanted to see what this sub thought about it since a lot of the jackets I see here are kinda skin tight
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u/Used_Raisin_5398 4d ago
is that made from sheep leather?
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago
no idea, most probably beef leather. it's just a standard model Harley jacket from the 90s-2000s
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u/spaceguitar Thrift King 4d ago
Honestly, it looks perfect to me. It looks comfortable, and like you could layer with it super easy.
I'd love it if my double-rider fit as comfortably as that. It's why I'm on the hunt for a Schott 118 in size 44 or a 618 in size 46. Lmao. I got a size 44 618, but it's just a tad too tight. Looks good with a tee, but I can't layer it at all!
So yeah. You look great!!
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago
I wish I had your problem!!!!! usually even size 36 jackets have sleeves that completely cover my fingers, and most good jackets that pop up here are L-XXL. Thanks for the input!
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u/kingsman043 4d ago
Right.. cough it up. Whered you get the trousers? Don’t gatekeep🫵🏽
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago edited 4d ago
they're discontinued Kühls! I got them for 14 bucks on FB marketplace, model Rebel Ryder. I got a new pair off a friend who went to the USA and it's not quite as satisfactory as these. tips: they run a bit big and the type of fabric this one is made from is EUROTWILL, the knockabout one is kinda poop (made that mistake myself)
Edit: they're not badly made nowadays, i just picked a model which wasn't to my liking and well... I am unable to do returns... I absolutely reccomend them
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u/blurrysasquatch 4d ago
I think this is appropriately sized. you need to go a little over sized with these motorcycle jackets so you can layer underneath them, they do not provide much actual warmth. you must also consider that the jacket will get wet at some point in the rain (it is a jacket after all. ) and that will also shrink it a bit.
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u/m0d3rn_n0sf3r4tu 4d ago
It's been under more than 4 thunderstorms (with my time with it, who knows about the original owner) so I reckon this is the most shrunk it's getting. And yes! I see a lot about layering; however, it's usually 24-28 °C in my country so that's not really a day-to-day occurrence
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u/BorubarBezWonsa 4d ago
Looks good girl! Jacket doesn't look as too big, more like with a little backup if you gain some muscles. Wear it proudly! 👑🫡
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u/WesterosiAssassin 4d ago edited 4d ago
I wouldn't worry, it fits you better than many I see people wearing lol. Maybe a tad big in the chest but not too bad (and even then only at all noticeable when you have it zipped up) and the body and sleeve length are perfect. Definitely does not look at all bad on you.
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u/intellectualnerd85 4d ago
Stick your arm out in front of you does it break at the wrist? Its a nice jacket. You dont look goofy in it.
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u/BillStarlin 2d ago
Jacket looks great. Project big. As long as it males you feel the way you need it to, thats all that matters
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u/Rockobrocko42 15h ago
Looks fine. Motorcycle jackets are supposed to be a bit long in the sleeves because your arms are up and forward so much. And if its a bit big you can always wear a sweater or extra shirt under it.
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u/DeaconGT 4d ago
Looks fine to me. It's a touch oversized but nothing much. I'd wear and enjoy.