How to figure out how much to shorten sleeves on leather jacket

[polarWhite]

I understand that once a new leather jacket has been broken in, the sleeves will shorten a bit due to folds and creases mostly formed around the elbow.

Currently, the sleeves are a bit long and I am wondering how much break-in should I do before determining if I need them to be shortened and if so by how much.

Also, since the leather is thick and stiff (steerhide and horsehide), what's the best way to figure out how much needs to be shortened? It's not like I can simply fold the sleeve up to the desired length.

Finally, speaking of desires lengthy, if I don't plan to use it as a riding Jacket
(I decide to stick to my gortex armored gear for riding), are the sleeves supposed to rest on the wrist bone or further down?

Attached are pics of where the sleeves rest currently.

Thanks
PW

 

[RDS]

Firstly, there isn’t any absolute prescribed length for sleeves and it’s really all down to personal preference.
What one person regards as too short someone else might think perfect, while another says too long. There are those who want the cuffs to end at the wrist joint, some to have them fall between wrist and thumb joint and others prefer them even further down.
Personally I think the sleeves on your two jackets look fine and I’d be happy to leave them as there are. However, I certainly wouldn’t do anything at all about reducing their length until both jackets have had a lot more regular wear. As they have zipped cuffs any alterations are a little less straightforward (and consequently more costly)

 

[barnabus]

are the sleeves supposed to rest on the wrist bone or further down?

There's no "supposed to". Wherever they're comfortable and you think it looks right.

 

[Bennarion]

Don't jump to conclusions. Time will tell and your opinion will change.

 

[Will Zach]

On the Schott, the sleeves might indeed be a bit long. They are resting below your wrists, and, being stiff, might push the shoulders up. That is what would bother me if this was my Schott - the shoulders are pushed up. But I am not sure if this is due to the sleeves. Maybe you can open up the sleeve zippers so the sleeves hang freely, and pat the shoulders down with a damp rag. See if the jacket shoulders conform more to your body. Then check where the open sleeve cuffs fall on your hand. That might give you an idea by how much (if any) to shorten. The Vanson looks good.

 

[polarWhite]

On the Schott, the sleeves might indeed be a bit long. They are resting below your wrists, and, being stiff, might push the shoulders up. That is what would bother me if this was my Schott - the shoulders are pushed up. But I am not sure if this is due to the sleeves. Maybe you can open up the sleeve zippers so the sleeves hang freely, and pat the shoulders down with a damp rag. See if the jacket shoulders conform more to your body. Then check where the open sleeve cuffs fall on your hand. That might give you an idea by how much (if any) to shorten. The Vanson looks good.

Good observation. You are exactly right, the zipped up sleeves being too long push up the whole sleeve which in turn push up the shoulders.

As you recommend, I will unzip them and let them hang and then mark accordingly at where I want them to rest. Probably between wrist bone and thumb bone.

Thanks!

 

[Will Zach]

Good observation. You are exactly right, the zipped up sleeves being too long push up the whole sleeve which in turn push up the shoulders.

As you recommend, I will unzip them and let them hang and then mark accordingly at where I want them to rest. Probably between wrist bone and thumb bone.

Thanks!

I would also recommend the trick of wetting and patting down the shoulders. Wet leather is remarkably pliable and able to conform to the body, particularly if allowed to dry with jacket on.

 

[polarWhite]

I would also recommend the trick of wetting and patting down the shoulders. Wet leather is remarkably pliable and able to conform to the body, particularly if allowed to dry with jacket on.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Monitor]

Don't do it!

Most, maybe all leather shops will treat the alteration as cutting off an inch of the sleeve ends while in reality, correctly shortening zippered sleeves couldn't be any more complex & difficult.

The tailor has to account for the tapering of the sleeve so that both zipped and unzipped, the sleeve opening would still correctly fit around your wrist, all of which requires a creation of an entirely new sleeve pattern which NOBODY will do.

Lastly, the entire balance of the sleeve will get thrown off and you'll end up with a butchered jacket with a sleeve hole that's either too wide or even wider, one that you won't ever be able to sell for any acceptable amount of money.

So don't do it. They look great, anyway.

The sleeves, however, won't ever shorten on their own.

 

[RDS]

Thanks for the tips!

Also, as the jacket’s are worn and the sleeves become more pliable they’ll lose some or all of the stiffness which may be pushing the shoulders up.

 

[polarWhite]

Don't do it!

Most, maybe all leather shops will treat the alteration as cutting off an inch of the sleeve ends while in reality, correctly shortening zippered sleeves couldn't be any more complex & difficult.

The tailor has to account for the tapering of the sleeve so that both zipped and unzipped, the sleeve opening would still correctly fit around your wrist, all of which requires a creation of an entirely new sleeve pattern which NOBODY will do.

Lastly, the entire balance of the sleeve will get thrown off and you'll end up with a butchered jacket with a sleeve hole that's either too wide or even wider, one that you won't ever be able to sell for any acceptable amount of money.

So don't do it. They look great, anyway.

The sleeves, however, won't ever shorten on their own.

Thanks for the warning and I am also aware of those issues that you mentioned.

But if I were to proceed with the shortening, I would do it with Schott and Vanson and they confirmed that they would remove the zippers, shorten the sleeves properly and reinstall the zipper. In other words, it should not look butchered but instead more like having sleeves from the smaller sized jackets mating with the body of the bigger sized jacket.

I will likely first break in the jackets first and see what happens before deciding what to do. But based on many feedbacks posted, perhaps they are fine the way they are.

 

[polarWhite]

Also, as the jacket’s are worn and the sleeves become more pliable they’ll lose some or all of the stiffness which may be pushing the shoulders up.

Good point! Sounds like the first course of action is to break it in!

 

[cbez]

Depends on your preference. I had my iron heart jacket shortened and they're my perfect length for walking around, but short now for driving, motorcycle etc.

 

[AHP91]

The jacket and sleeve length look perfectly fine and good. I am always of the opinion that I’d rather have sleeves a bit too long than too short. It is a jacket after all.

If you’re in a highly acclaimed punk band, maybe short is good. Whatever works for you.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Wear it for at least one year first before you go forward with any alteration. It's easy to go shorter but once you cut the leather its very difficult to extend it...

 

[Bennarion]

I will likely first break in the jackets first and see what happens before deciding what to do. But based on many feedbacks posted, perhaps they are fine the way they are.

This is the right decision!

 

[Edward]

I wouldn't touch them, tbh. They look fine to me. Too long if you want the Joey Ramone look, sure, but look at photos of Joey once the boys were a bit established: soon as he could afford it he had jackets that were long enough for his frame...

 

[cbez]

Have to disagree. If they're long and stiff enough that it's pushing the shoulders up, they're too long.

You can get away with it on softer leathers, but some are never gonna be right.