Altering jacket size.

[Bunyip]

Hi guys,
I have. Cafe racer that is way too big. I want to take it around across the chest and waist. Is this able to be done and look good, or am I better off selling it and starting again? It's a 52, but I want it closer to a 48...
Thanks for my help.

 

[robrinay]

If it's possible it could be v expensive and you may not like the results. A professional tailor who has altered by one or two sizes a number of 'bargain buy' suit trouser waists and jacket chests for me for around £30 per item charged £50 to just to re-line the sleeves on an ELC M422A. He explained that leather work is much tougher than cloth -machine needle being gripped by leather/following same holes when reassembling hand sewing linings etc. I would assume that to scale the jacket down and not affect the overall shape would require many leather and lining seams to be opened and re-stitched along with some trimming of panels but of course this is just guesswork on my part as I've never had it done- but I'm sure someone on here will have and will advise accordingly.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Eat more chocolate or buy a new one.

 

[Bunyip]

Good point....I thought for something this dramatic it might be best to start again...

 

[LeFonque]

Hi guys,
I have. Cafe racer that is way too big. I want to take it around across the chest and waist. Is this able to be done and look good, or am I better off selling it and starting again? It's a 52, but I want it closer to a 48...
Thanks for my help.

Hey Bunyip
From personal experience I would suggest you sell and start again. I am in Melbourne and I have tried getting alterations in the past. It has met with varied degrees of success. Never really been happy with the end result.

As a biker I have a whole wardrobe of leather jackets related to varied shape I was at the time.

Toughest result was a beautiful vintage German bike jacket that belonged to my father in law. I had it altered about 15 years ago by a place in Port Melbourne who made an absolute abortion of it. I get into a funk every time I look at it to this day.

I also had to have sleeves shortened on a Alexander Jacket I purchased recently by what is reported to be one of the best leather repairers in the city. Cost me $200 plus they did not get the cuffs matching properly and the stitching was not straight. So much for them claiming to be experts.

So you pay your money and take your chance.

 

[Bunyip]

Yeah, I was thinking that....I got a quote from a leather guy in Melbourne to dye a white perfecto for me, it was going to be cheaper to literally buy a new brown jacket........

 

[armscye]

Shoulder width can't be altered in any practical way. Waists and chest can be, but you need someone with what's called a running foot sewing machine that can sew leather, plus some tailoring experience. Some tack shops have this, some motorcycle shops, and a handful of specialists. I use Dena Hamilton of Great Leather, who has tapered the waists of several of my jackets fairly dramatically, as in this post:


http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...hening-the-Arms-and-Tapering-a-Classic-Vanson

 

[bn1966]

I agree with the above comments. I've had some success with minor alterations such as shortening of sleeves (even with zips moved) by leather alteration workshop (operated by master craftswoman). General down scaling of jackets has been a nightmare & without exception I have ended up moving on the end result. I've now come to the conclusion that unless it's a straight forwards alteration...don't go there.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Yep, like everyone has said, you can have minor alterations done but if its plain too big, its too big. My rule of thumb is, if it fits across the shoulders, you could probably get away with it.

Look for motorcycle leather repairers, there is a great one in sydney, australia if anyone needs one in this part of the world, not cheap but great work.