Leather Jacket Guides

Standard sizes fit most people most of the way, but leather only relaxes a little with wear, so a jacket that's right in the chest and wrong in the sleeves tends to stay that way. A made to measure leather jacket solves that by cutting one of our existing designs to your own measurements. Here's how it works at White Buraq, who it suits and how to measure so the result fits the way you want.

What Is a Made to Measure Leather Jacket?

It sits between two other options. Standard sizes are cut from graded patterns built around average proportions, while fully custom jackets start from a design of your own. Made to measure keeps the design of the jacket you choose and adjusts the fit to your body.

Who Should Choose Made to Measure?

It's worth it when a standard size forces a compromise. Common cases:

• Between sizes: your chest matches one size and your shoulders or waist another.
• Long or short arms: sleeves end mid-palm or above the wrist bone in every size you try.
• Athletic builds: a broad chest and shoulders with a narrow waist, where a standard size fits one and swamps the other.
• Fuller midsections: you need room at the waist without extra width across the shoulders.
• Tall or petite frames: body length is the problem, especially on cropped and biker cuts.
• A close biker fit: you want a snug, tailored look that still closes over a thin knit.

If you sit squarely in one size on our size guide, a standard size is simpler and keeps your return options open.

Which Measurements Should You Send?

Take body measurements rather than copying a size label. Our step-by-step guide on how to measure for a leather jacket shows exactly where each one goes; the key ones are:

• Chest: around the fullest part, under the arms, with the tape level across your back.
• Waist: around your natural waist, or where you want the hem to sit on a cropped style.
• Hips: around the fullest part, for longer jackets and most women's styles.
• Shoulders: across the back from one shoulder point to the other.
• Sleeve length: from the shoulder point to the wrist bone, with your arm relaxed and slightly bent.
• Bicep: around the fullest part of the upper arm.
• Jacket length: from the base of the collar at the back down to where you want the hem.

It also helps to add your height, the size you usually wear and a line on how you like the jacket to fit, such as close to the body or with room for a sweater.

How Do You Measure Accurately at Home?

• Ask someone to help, since measuring your own back and shoulders is hard to do accurately.
• Use a soft tailor's tape, not a metal one.
• Wear a thin T-shirt or the layer you'll usually have under the jacket.
• Stand relaxed with your arms at your sides; don't hold your breath or pull your shoulders back.
• Keep the tape snug but not tight, so one finger slides underneath.
• Measure everything twice and write down the unit, inches or centimeters.
• If a number looks very different from the size you normally buy, measure it again.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Measuring over a thick sweater, which adds inches you don't want in a close fit.
• Letting the tape slope down across your back on the chest measurement.
• Measuring the sleeve with a locked, straight arm, which comes out short once you bend your elbow.
• Rounding every number down to look slimmer, or mixing inches and centimeters in one email.

Biker and cafe racer cuts sit close to the body, so they show the difference a precise fit makes, from a tailored biker to a lambskin cafe racer:

Men's Black Leather Tailored Biker JacketWomen's Black Lambskin Cafe Racer Leather JacketMen's Black Leather Asymmetrical Biker Jacket

How Do You Order a Made to Measure Leather Jacket?

1. Choose your design on the product page.
2. In the size options, select "Customise Size (made to measure)".
3. Complete your order and note your order number.
4. Email info@whiteburaq.com with your order number and your measurements. Send it right after ordering so nothing is waiting on you.
5. Your made-to-measure jacket ships within 3–7 business days.
6. Express delivery takes 3–5 business days in the US and 5–8 business days elsewhere.

For what happens between checkout and your doorstep, see our guide to what happens after you order.

What Should You Know Before You Order?

• It can't be returned. Made-to-measure pieces are cut for one person, so they can't be returned. Check every number before you send it.
• Leather relaxes a little. A close fit softens with wear, so don't add extra room just in case.
• Plan for layers. Say in your email if you want room for a sweater or hoodie underneath.
• Allow for timing. Add the 3–7 business days before shipping to the delivery time if you're ordering for a trip, an event or a gift.

How Should Your Jacket Fit When It Arrives?

Try it on over the layer you measured in and run through these checks before you wear it out:

• Shoulders: the seams sit at your shoulder bones, with no overhang or pulling.
• Chest: the jacket closes smoothly and you can slide a flat hand inside.
• Sleeves: they reach the wrist bone with your arms relaxed and don't ride far up when you reach forward.
• Hem: it lands where you asked, and stays below your waistband when you raise your arms.
• Movement: you can cross your arms and sit down without the back feeling tight.

New leather feels firmer at first, especially across the shoulders and elbows, and softens and shapes itself to you with regular wear.

Should You Choose Made to Measure or Fully Custom?

Made to measure changes the fit, not the design. If you want to change the design itself, such as the collar, pockets or color, you're looking at a fully custom jacket. Those are quoted from $199 to $499 through our custom leather jackets page, and custom pieces can't be returned either. Our guide on how to design a custom leather jacket walks through that process.

FAQ

Can I return a made to measure leather jacket?

No. Made-to-measure and custom pieces can't be returned, which is why accurate measurements matter so much.

How long does made to measure take?

Made-to-measure pieces ship within 3–7 business days. Express delivery then takes 3–5 business days in the US and 5–8 business days elsewhere.

Can I change the design as well as the fit?

Made to measure adjusts the fit of an existing design. For design changes, request a fully custom quote instead.

Should I measure in inches or centimeters?

Use whichever unit your tape shows most clearly, label it in your email and keep it the same for every measurement.

A made to measure leather jacket is the simplest way to get a design you love in a fit that follows your body rather than a size chart. Read more on our made to measure page before you order.