How to measure a jacket correctly tutorial

[Anonymous]

OK, felt the need to show this because apparently there is no certainty about how correct measurements are taken and would like to clarify things and eliminate the possibilities of misunderstandings and disputes.

First of all, you need a measuring tape. Don't come with a yardstick, this is for a different job.

Shoulders. The easiest. Jacket should be zipped up all the way, laid flat on a table, grab the shoulders and pull until leather becomes straight, but without stretching it. Measure from shoulder tip to shoulder tip. (Photo doesn't show exactly what I want, I will post another one later, it's a start though).

Back. Put the measuring tape at the bottom of the collar and making sure the jacket lays completely flat, run it over it until the end of the knitted waistband. Simple.

This is the correct sleeve measurement. Measuring the outer edge of the sleeve. Its maximum length. Don't do it as shown in the photo below. It's wrong.

Wrong! See? One inch shorter.

Chest. Grab the jacket under the armpits and pull until it becomes straight. Don't pull to hard you don't want to stretch it. Again, my photo isn't the best. Left side OK, right side not perfectly straight, but anyway, that's how the pit to pit measurement is taken.


Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

here's a better photo for the shoulders, I wanted the shoulder tips to be visible on both sides (that wasn't the case in the first photo above)

Of course you are supposed to hold the jacket with both hands, but I let go the right side because had to take the photo.

 

[a2jacketpatches]

Thanks, the curve of the arm is a good point, never crossed my mind.

 

[Jaguar46]

The shoulders, back and chest are pretty much how you would expect people to measure. The sleeve length is a problem in that no one ever mentions how they took the measurement. Either way would give me the information I need, but I never see anyone describe "sleeve measurement taken along outside curve of the sleeve". So when looking in ads, I just assume it was done using the straight method.

 

[Anonymous]

The sleeve measurement should be taken starting at the middle of the shoulder (where the shoulder seam would be if there was no epaulet) going down the side of the sleeve until the end of cuff.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks Platon, that's how I do it too.

 

[TankBuster]

Very good post that I hope everyone uses. There's nothing more annoying than buying a jacket that has your measurements listed perfectly, and then getting it and finding it was measured wrong.

 

[Nickb123]

Platon, in about half of the jackets I've owned, the manufacturer counts the front overhang part when measuring the back length. I assume from your picture that your back measurement is 25", not conting the front dip. Is this the correct way?

 

[Rutger]

Good tutorial, I hope everyone does measure this way.

 

[Anonymous]

Platon, in about half of the jackets I've owned, the manufacturer counts the front overhang part when measuring the back length. I assume from your picture that your back measurement is 25", not conting the front dip. Is this the correct way?

Thanks for your question. The back stops at 25", that's the correct way.

 

[GoodTimesGone]

This is exactly how I've measured every jacket that I've sold on ebay and I've never had a complaint about the fit when they received it. I also mention if the jacket is tapered towards the belly region (as in the case of older Schott Perfectos and some USN G-1s). In these unusual cases I'll state something like "I wear size 33 waist and don't have a protruding belly and it's a bit snug on me. If you're any larger it will be too tight".
________________________________________________________________________________
Tom

 

[Who]

Useful tip for all those who aren't sure. The sleeve is the most commonly measured wrong item.

 

[Mr C.]

great post! Use it from ebay!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 1240720884

 

[JDAM]

Nice post. 50% of the time jackets are incorrectly measured. I only just yesterday purchased a nice Goodwear A-2 that had been measured incorrectly.

 

[dmar836]

Bummer. So it doesn't fit as expected?
Dave

 

[33-1729]

The pictures disappeared, so re-posted as an fyi.


Shoulders. The easiest. Jacket should be zipped up all the way, laid flat on a table, grab the shoulders and pull until leather becomes straight, but without stretching it. Measure from shoulder tip to shoulder tip.

Back. Put the measuring tape at the bottom of the collar and making sure the jacket lays completely flat, run it over it until the end of the knitted waistband. Simple.

Sleeve. Measuring the outer edge of the sleeve. Its maximum length.

Chest. Grab the jacket under the armpits and pull until it becomes straight. Don't pull to hard you don't want to stretch it. Again, my photo isn't the best. Left side OK, right side not perfectly straight, but anyway, that's how the pit to pit measurement is taken.

 

[Steve27752]

The pictures disappeared, so re-posted as an fyi.


Shoulders. The easiest. Jacket should be zipped up all the way, laid flat on a table, grab the shoulders and pull until leather becomes straight, but without stretching it. Measure from shoulder tip to shoulder tip.
View attachment 5297

Back. Put the measuring tape at the bottom of the collar and making sure the jacket lays completely flat, run it over it until the end of the knitted waistband. Simple.
View attachment 5298

Sleeve. Measuring the outer edge of the sleeve. Its maximum length.
View attachment 5299

Chest. Grab the jacket under the armpits and pull until it becomes straight. Don't pull to hard you don't want to stretch it. Again, my photo isn't the best. Left side OK, right side not perfectly straight, but anyway, that's how the pit to pit measurement is taken.
View attachment 5300

That's the way I do it.

 

[Silver Surfer]

we have platon [bill kelso] to thank for the tutorial, and putting to rest the question of how to measure an a-2 properly.

 

[zoomer]

How to measure the waist:
Don't.