Short Guys and Jacket Length

kronos77 · Nov 12, 2015

For you guys on the shorter side, could you tell me how long your jackets are. I am interested in the shorter style jackets like the cafe racers, highwayman, cossack, etc--measuring from collar seam to bottom in the back.

Letting me know about how tall you are as well would be a great help.

many of the usual guidelines, such as an inch or so below the belt or just above the pockerts are not always helpful as people wear their pants different ways. I am trying to get some real concrete guidelines.

Thanks

strokes1251 · Nov 12, 2015

I have everything from 22 to 25.5. Im 5.8 ish 5.9 with boots 6'2 with clown shoes

lol 24.5 and 25 is the best lenghth for me, anything below that and I might use a sweather underneath. Hope that helps.

GraceNote13 · Nov 12, 2015

I'm 5'5" I like my jackets between 23.5 to 24.5". My Aero 1930's HB is 23.5" and perfect for me.

Cyber Lip · Nov 12, 2015

depends on how long your torso is. only way to gauge what you'll like best is to start trying on jackets and measure the one with the length you like best

Gromulus · Nov 12, 2015

Other factors to consider besides overall height. I am 5'7" and have an especially hard time finding stock jackets (and all clothing for that matter) that fit well since I am fairly wide and broad chested with a 14" drop from chest to waist. Almost everything is too big at the waist. It is hard to find short off the rack jackets in a size 46 so I have to make due. I do find that having a large upper body does tend to "pull" a jacket up somewhat (compared to someone with shallow chest/back, no shoulders or traps). Upper arm fit is another issue so with so called "slim" fitting jackets.

While my jackets range in (back) length from 23.5 - 25.5", I generally find a (bottom of collar to waist) length of 24" works best for me. Many jackets that fit well in the back ted to be too short in the front for my tastes. I do not like short jackets that ride up while sitting/driving and I like my jackets to cover my belt completely but still be above the rear pockets.

philosophy101 · Nov 12, 2015

Gromulus said:
Other factors to consider besides overall height. I am 5'7" and have an especially hard time finding stock jackets (and all clothing for that matter) that fit well since I am fairly wide and broad chested with a 14" drop from chest to waist. Almost everything is too big at the waist. It is hard to find short off the rack jackets in a size 46 so I have to make due. I do find that having a large upper body does tend to "pull" a jacket up somewhat (compared to someone with shallow chest/back, no shoulders or traps). Upper arm fit is another issue so with so called "slim" fitting jackets.

While my jackets range in (back) length from 23.5 - 25.5", I generally find a (bottom of collar to waist) length of 24" works best for me. Many jackets that fit well in the back ted to be too short in the front for my tastes. I do not like short jackets that ride up while sitting/driving and I like my jackets to cover my belt completely but still be above the rear pockets.

Jeez, Romulus, with a 14" drop I don't see how you could ever wear anything stock. I'm 5'8" with a 9" drop (40" chest to 31" waist) and thought I had problems!

philosophy101 · Nov 12, 2015

kronos77 said:
For you guys on the shorter side, could you tell me how long your jackets are. I am interested in the shorter style jackets like the cafe racers, highwayman, cossack, etc--measuring from collar seam to bottom in the back.

Letting me know about how tall you are as well would be a great help.

many of the usual guidelines, such as an inch or so below the belt or just above the pockerts are not always helpful as people wear their pants different ways. I am trying to get some real concrete guidelines.

Thanks

I think relationship to the belt actually makes sense, kronos. IMHO, the 1920s-1950s styled jackets were made to be worn with higher waisted pants, as they wore back then. When paired with the below-the natural-waistline pants often seen today, these jackets can look too short. I notice that, Schott (for example) has started to offer longer versions of their classic Perfecto M/C jackets, I believe to pair better with the low-slung jeans that most younger folks wear today. Of course, length also varies according to the style of the jacket (for example, Aero's 1930s half-belt vs. their long half-belt, Teamster, or Hercules models). For shorter styles, one rule of thumb I've used is the jacket should be long enough that whatever shirt or sweater I'm wearing beneath should not stick out below the bottom of the jacket. That's my preference, at least, and others on this forum have said the same. But ... I see lots of people wearing leather jackets with shirt tails hanging out the bottom these days, so clearly there are differences of opinion on style ...

Gromulus · Nov 12, 2015

philosophy101 said:
Jeez, Romulus, with a 14" drop I don't see how you could ever wear anything stock. I'm 5'8" with a 9" drop (40" chest to 31" waist) and thought I had problems!

Yeah, as my tailor said to me "you did it to yourself" (a lifetime of bodybuilding/weight-lifting). I am definitely not a clothes horse but at least my hats fit well!

Graemsay · Nov 12, 2015

Cyber Lip said:
depends on how long your torso is. only way to gauge what you'll like best is to start trying on jackets and measure the one with the length you like best

The rule of thumb that I've heard is to use jacket length to balance your body proportions.

I've got a short torso and long legs, so tend to suit a longer cut. My younger brother is a similar height, but with a longer body and shorter legs, so a waist length jacket would work better for him.

If you're built like Gromulus you can wear anything you like, because no one is going to argue with you!

navetsea · Nov 13, 2015

I'm 176cm real height, with shoes/ boots I would be 180cm
the longest point of my shortest jacket's back is 62cm (it has slightly curved kidney panel) it reaches down past my belt line of my lowrise pants just above or exactly at the back pockets opening
the longest point of my longest jacket's back is 70cm (it has a prominent curved hem back and front) it reaches down past my side and back pockets openings, almost like a suit length.
both work fine, maybe curved hem is real helping here because it doesn't visually cut me in half as with straight horizontal hem.

oak1971 · Nov 15, 2015

5'6" 165 and missing my measuring tape. My riding jacket is a size 48 and I can barely get the zipper over my chest. Waist is about 32-34.

mattc123 · Jan 28, 2016

Resurrecting this thread... anyone around 5'2-5'3 purchase an Aero cafe or board racer? I just placed an order for a 22.25" back length but am worried I sized a little too long...

eugenesque · Jan 28, 2016

It may be hard to visualize based on raw height and jacket length data as people's torso to leg length ratio may differ. Did you try to enquire with Aero?

pauleway · Jan 28, 2016

5'7" - 23" back length, - 24" sleeve length!

Vespizzare · Jan 28, 2016

I'm not a shill, I just think Johnson Leathers is the greatest. The best way to solve your dilemma IMHO would be to call JL and speak to Alan. What will probably happen is he'll UPS a similar stock jacket to you. Then you try it on and take pictures wearing it, email them, and call JL and talk to Alan Then he decides how much to add or subtract in various areas. Just search JL on this board. Plenty of guys, not just me, are super satisfied how their jackets turned out.

A bonus with JL is you can customize it up the ying-yang. You're not being a pest. Alan likes creating custom jackets from a customer's wishes. If you call mucho times, they're always happy to hear from you.

Don't be deterred by their lousy website. They say they're so busy now, they don't want or need too much more business.

Like I say, if don't believe me, just search JL and be prepared for wonderful reviews. Here's a link to my experience with JL:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/my-new-johnson-leather-opus-pic-and-narrative-heavy.77932/

SpeedRcrX · Jan 28, 2016

mattc123 said:
Resurrecting this thread... anyone around 5'2-5'3 purchase an Aero cafe or board racer? I just placed an order for a 22.25" back length but am worried I sized a little too long...

It also depends of your body shape.

For example, I'm 5'2 and usually need a 25.5" back length.

My Aero Sheene with this back length.

Monitor · Jan 28, 2016

^ Man, that Sheen is nice!

kronos77 · Jan 28, 2016

Speedy,

That is odd. I am 5'6" and a 25 length would be too long. It must be the something in style of the cafe racer where the creases or the form fitting lower back takes up an inch or two that would otherwise hang straight down. Not sure.

Or it could be how you wear your pants.

SpeedRcrX · Jan 28, 2016

Not really, I'm not a top model as you can see. So I need a longer jacket to cover my lower back and belly that's all.

navetsea · Jan 29, 2016

I'm 5'7" (176cm) my short jacket's back is 24"
just covering my belt, on the back it is right at the back yoke of my jeans (low rise modern slim jeans)

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