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Can someone measure their size 38 / 36 Half belt jackets for me?

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
Hello folks,

I am working on a custom leather jacket and I need some help communicating with the maker. We are talking about final measurements for the jacket and for my own frame of reference, I would like to know what the measurements are on original jackets.

I am between sizes 36 and 38, so if someone has any half-belt jackets in those styles and can provide me with measurements of them I would appreciate it.

Looking for:
Shoulders
Chest (Flat)
Chest (circumference)
Arm (Shoulder seam to cuff)
Length (Top of shoulder seam beside neck to hem)
Waist circumference
Hem circumference

Thanks kindly in advance!
 

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
Either will help, the trouble I am having is that the seller communicated a set of measurements to me with allowances based on my body measurements.
The allowances seem EXTREMELY large to me, but the maker assures me that because of the thickness of the cow hide being used, it is warranted.

The measurements they gave to me are as follows:
Length - 26 "
Chest - 50"
Shoulder - 20"
Sleeves - 26"
Waist - 47
Hip - 46

I want to compare them to other jackets size 36/38 and see how they 'measure up' ;)
I can get him to tweak the measurements at this stage.
 

dwilson

A-List Customer
Messages
320
Location
LA
Either will help, the trouble I am having is that the seller communicated a set of measurements to me with allowances based on my body measurements.
The allowances seem EXTREMELY large to me, but the maker assures me that because of the thickness of the cow hide being used, it is warranted.

The measurements they gave to me are as follows:
Length - 26 "
Chest - 50"
Shoulder - 20"
Sleeves - 26"
Waist - 47
Hip - 46

I want to compare them to other jackets size 36/38 and see how they 'measure up' ;)
I can get him to tweak the measurements at this stage.

Tagged value is kind of arbitrary depending on the maker but there is no way a 50 inch chest would be tagged as a 38 by anyone in their right mind. But saying "I'm a 38" doesn't communicate a ton since I'm generally a 38/40 but I need to account for my wide shoulders and relatively small waist so I need to look at the measurements for that. Its always better to measure a shirt or jacket that fits well and start there as a template.
 

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
I understand all this.

Assume that I have taken a specific garment that fits me well and have measured THAT and sent it to the maker before all this.

I need some measurements from other people of jackets that are roughly size 38, or that people who are roughly size 38 wear for a basis of comparison so that I have something to work with. It's really what is left to me besides going out and buying an original for this specific purpose, but then I wouldn't be getting a custom ;)
 

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
I gave the size range because my assumption is that the ears of the people who know their size will prick up and they will just be happy to show off their cool stuff while measuring it ;)
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,944
Location
London
Either will help, the trouble I am having is that the seller communicated a set of measurements to me with allowances based on my body measurements.
The allowances seem EXTREMELY large to me, but the maker assures me that because of the thickness of the cow hide being used, it is warranted.

The measurements they gave to me are as follows:
Length - 26 "
Chest - 50"
Shoulder - 20"
Sleeves - 26"
Waist - 47
Hip - 46

I want to compare them to other jackets size 36/38 and see how they 'measure up' ;)
I can get him to tweak the measurements at this stage.

If those are inches this would be too big for me and i am 6'2 180lb and wear 42...
 

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
If those are inches this would be too big for me and i am 6'2 180lb and wear 42...

Yeah, this is my thought too. That's why I am looking for some frame of reference to have perspective.
I have cotton garments I can measure but leather is a different animal (haha)

It's inches really strangely recorded. Let me try and interpret them to you.

Length - 26" (Inches, top of shoulder at neck to hem)
Chest - 50" (Inches, total circumference under the arms)
Shoulder - 20" (Inches, across the back from shoulder seam to seam)
Sleeves - 26" (Inches, length from top of the shoulder seam to cuff)
Waist - 47 (Inches, Circumference)
Hip - 46 (Inches, Circumference)

so my interpretation of this is that it mostly the same size all the way down but with a slight taper.
Keep in mind there are cinches, so it can probably be pulled in about 5" at the waist.

For reference I am 5'9 and 140 lbs and wear about a size 38, but a slightly oversized 36 can fit well too (Modern sizing)
 
Last edited:

Will Zach

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,837
Location
SoFlo
I am 5'9" and #145, and my ideal jacket is shoulder seam to shoulder seam 17.5, p2p is 21, sleeve is 24, hem is 19, zipped up and laid flat. I wear 38 in modern sizing.
 

Jin431

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,912
Location
Bay Area CA
I'm a true size 36. 5'5", 140-145".

Shoulders 17-17.5 depending on leather thickness
Chest 20-20.5" for a trim fit and also depending on leather thickness (21" for layering)
Arms length (definitely depends how long your arms are)
Length 22-23.5" depending on look/pattern of the jacket and how you prefer to wear your jacket. I like mine short so there you go.
Waist circumference 17.5 for trim/18.25 for layering
Hem circumference 17.5 for trim/18 for layering
 

tamz0r

Familiar Face
Messages
80
i have an aero 1930s half belt size 36 and chest is 20.5", back length 23, arm length 24.5, shoulders 17
 

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
Alright everyone, thank you for the measures.

What I ended up doing was taking these measurements and tweaking them, then giving these to the maker.

length of jacket to be 24 ( 61 CM )
sleeves to be 25 ( 64 CM )
Shoulders: 18 ( 45CM )
Chest: 40 ( 100CM )
20” pit to pit
Waist: 36 ( 91CM ) uncinched buckles
33” (83CM) buckles cinched tightly
Bottom: 39 ( 100CM )
Neck: 15.5”

Hopefully this will result in what is close to a standard side, but slightly adjusted for my body.
 

Will Zach

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,837
Location
SoFlo
There is such a thing as chest circumference ease. That is the difference between your actual chest circumference and the jacket circumference under armpits. I like mine to be 4 inches. My chest circumference is 38" unexpanded and I like my jacket chest width to be at least 21" or 22" (measured flat) if I want to layer. I'd suggest you measure your chest circumference and talk to the maker about chest ease.
 
Last edited:

Seth Byrnes

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
US / Canada
Will,
I am familiar with ease/allowance too. I think the maker tried to hedge at this but he had some difficulty with translating the notion so he was calling it "Losings". I think at this point we have figured out our communications.

We were going back endlessly about the sizing and he seemed to be getting frustrated, so I compared these measurements to a jacket I wear that fits me nicely and tweaked them slightly. I am hoping the result will be as I respect, thankfully it is a paypal transaction so if he botches it I can likely get some portion of the price back.
 

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