A womens biker jacket is shaped differently from a mens one, not simply scaled down. It is narrower at the shoulder, shaped through the waist, shorter in the body, and the armhole sits in a different position. Buying a small mens jacket instead usually gives you the right chest measurement in the wrong shape.
One point of honesty first. Leather Outlet makes jackets in the Harley Davidson style. We are not an authorised dealer and our jackets are not licensed products. Everything below applies to any womens heavyweight biker jacket.
What Actually Differs Between Mens and Womens Cuts
- Shoulder width. Narrower, and the seam is positioned further in. This is the difference you notice first and the one that cannot be fixed later.
- Waist shaping. A womens jacket curves in at the waist and back out over the hip. A mens jacket runs straight down from the chest.
- Body length. Shorter, ending at the hip bone rather than below the belt.
- Armhole position. Set higher and further forward, which is what allows free arm movement on a narrower frame.
- Sleeve length and taper. Shorter overall and narrower through the forearm.
- Bust allowance. Built into the front panels so the jacket closes without the front pulling into horizontal lines.
A small mens jacket has none of these. It will hang straight where it should curve, sit long in the body, and the armhole will bind. See Harley Davidson Women Jackets.
Riding Fit for Women
If you ride, the jacket needs to fit correctly in a riding position rather than standing upright.
Put it on, zip it fully, then lean forward and reach out as though holding the bars. In that position:
- The jacket should lie flat across your back, not pull tight or bunch.
- The hem should still cover your waist rather than riding up and leaving your lower back exposed.
- The sleeves should still reach your wrists once your arms are extended forward.
- The armholes should not press under your arms.
Because a jacket cut for this position is designed to fit close when standing, it will feel slightly snug across the shoulders when you are upright. That is correct rather than a sign of the wrong size.
The Five Fit Checks
Shoulders. Seam on the edge of your shoulder bone. Heavy cowhide has no give here and it cannot be altered afterwards, so this decides your size.
Bust. Zipped over a t-shirt with a flat hand of room. If the front pulls into horizontal creases, size up. Strain across the front puts constant stress on the zip.
Waist. The jacket should follow your waist without gripping. If it is belted, the belt sits at your natural waist.
Sleeves. To the wrist bone when standing, or slightly past if you ride.
Length. At the hip bone. It should not ride above your waistband when you raise your arms.
Styles Worth Knowing
Classic biker. Asymmetric zip, wide folding lapels, belted waist. The most recognisable and the one with the most presence. Cut close. See Women Biker Jackets.
Racer or cafe style. Band collar, straight zip, minimal hardware. Slimmer and quieter, and easier to wear off the bike.
Studded biker. The same close cut with stud or spike detailing across the shoulders and lapels. See Womens Studded Leather Jackets.
Vest. Worn over a jacket or hoodie for patches and warm weather riding. Sized quite differently, which our guide on leather vest sizing covers.
Armour
If you plan to fit shoulder, elbow or back protectors, the room needs to be at those points specifically rather than across the whole jacket. Sizing the entire jacket up to make space leaves you with a loose jacket everywhere else, which is both less flattering and less safe.
Tell us when you order and we will allow for it in the right places.
Breaking In Heavy Cowhide
A proper biker jacket uses cowhide around 1.2 mm or heavier, and it will be stiff for the first two to three months of regular wear. It relaxes by about half a size in total, softening first at the elbows and shoulders.
A jacket that feels comfortable and broken in on day one is usually either too large or made from a thinner hide than a riding jacket should use.
Getting Your Size
Take bust, shoulder, sleeve, waist and body length over a t-shirt. Our guide on how to measure yourself at home walks through each one, and the numbers go against the Size Guide.
If your bust and shoulder point to different sizes, take the shoulder size and let us adjust the rest. Every jacket is made to order in XS through 5XL with a custom option at no extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can women wear a mens biker jacket?
It can be done, but the shoulder width, waist shaping, armhole position and body length will all sit in the wrong place even when the chest measurement matches. A womens cut fits considerably better.
How should a womens biker jacket fit?
Close to the body with the shoulder seam on your shoulder bone, a flat hand of room at the bust over a t-shirt, and the hem at your hip bone. It should feel slightly firm when new.
Why does the front pull across my chest?
The jacket is too small through the bust, or it is a mens cut without bust allowance built into the front panels. Horizontal creases across the front mean constant strain on the zip.
Do I need to size up for body armour?
Not overall. The room needs to be at the shoulders, elbows and back specifically. Tell us at the point of order so it goes where it is needed.
How long should a womens leather jacket be?
At the hip bone for most styles. It should not ride above your waistband when you raise your arms.
Why is my new jacket so stiff?
Heavyweight cowhide takes two to three months of regular wear to soften, giving about half a size in total. That stiffness is a sign the hide is genuinely heavy.
Are your jackets official Harley Davidson products?
No. We make jackets in the Harley Davidson style. We are not an authorised dealer and our jackets are not licensed items.
Finding Yours
Buy a womens cut rather than a small mens one, prioritise the shoulder measurement, and test the fit in a riding position if you ride. Browse Harley Davidson Women Jackets and Women Leather Jackets at Leather Outlet, and check the Size Guide before ordering. Made to order in real leather, XS to 5XL, free worldwide shipping.
0 Kommentare