Jacket Length

[Jaxenro]

I usually wear a 46R, 45R if I can find it. The 44R's I try just seem too tight at the shoulders and the jacket feels confining. The 45's and 46's fit at the shoulders but usually the waist needs to be taken in some and the sleeves shortened. The problem I have is length most guides say when the hands are down at the sides the bottom of the jacket should roughly come to mid finger (you should be able to curl the fingers around the bottom edge of the jacket) with most of mine it comes closer to the finger tips so probably an inch too long maybe even two inches. I always have the sleeves tailored and the waist taken in but have avoided shortneing the jacket both for the expense and thinking it might end up odd.

So is the extra inch to two inches odd? I actually don't mind shightly longer I tend to think the trend lately towards shorter looks a little odd. Where jackets generally longer in years past? I have studied some pictures and they looked longer then

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

I have no problem with my jackets being an inch or so longer. The fashion amongst youngsters seems to be that the jacket hardly covers their arse but I like mine that bit longer (it's cold around here)

 

[Jaxenro]

being older I have more to cover

 

[tropicalbob]

Whenever I see a young guy these days in a suit, I immediately think of the old comedy gags where a guy would get caught in the rain or fall into a lake and would pop up later with the suit having shrunk two or three sizes. But, yes, suit jackets are much shorter than in the past. Of course, nothing lasts forever (especially in fashion) and soon jackets will plunge down to the knees; everyone will then have to buy all new clothes. I can't help thinking that in a few years today's styles will look as silly as, say, some of the more outlandish Seventies styles.
One thing to take into consideration, though, is your own body shape. Taller and thinner guys with longer legs can generally wear longer jackets and still look good, while shorter guys generally look better with shorter jackets. Best thing to do is ask someone whose opinion you trust. I'm 5'9" and 160 lbs. and generally look for a jacket length of 28 1/2 to 29 inches (38 short).

 

[Jaxenro]

I don’t really want to follow modern trends but make my own style within the rules of fashion. The only people I see who I know think my ratty old corduroy sports coat from goodwill is drsssing sharp.i Work from home so no office and I don’t need to meet with people. I dress up for church but jeans and sneakers are acceptable there. If I wear a blazer and tie people ask me if I’m preaching that week.

So essentially my style is my own for my own enjoyment and I doubt any of my friends would have the slightest idea if a coat was too long unless it was past my knees

 

[Just Jim]

Between the ever-changing dictates of fashion and the reality that most folks don't know what "the rules" are supposed to be, I doubt anyone would notice if your jacket was an inch or two too long.

 

[Jaxenro]

Agreed. The rules I am thinking of are less lapel width and jacket length which change with the season but more traditional ones like no light brown shoes with navy suits or no black suits except formal and funerals