Short answer: choose the leather for how you’ll wear the jacket (cowhide for structure and years of wear, suede for softness), get the fit from five measurements — chest, waist, shoulder, sleeve, length — and pick the style family that matches your wardrobe. Everything below expands each of those decisions.
1. Start with the leather
The leather decides how the jacket feels on day one and how it looks in year five.
| Leather | Feel | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowhide | Firm, structured, breaks in over time | Biker, café racer and everyday jackets | The most durable common jacket leather; softens with wear and moulds to your body |
| Suede | Soft, matte, lighter | Smart-casual jackets and bombers | More delicate in rain; rewards a suede protector spray and a brush |
Whatever the hide, check that the product page states the leather plainly. “Genuine leather” as the only description tells you almost nothing — the type of hide should be named.
2. The five measurements that decide fit
A leather jacket should sit close without pulling. These are the numbers that matter, in order:
- Chest — measure around the fullest part, over a light layer. This sets your size.
- Waist — where the jacket closes; a biker that flares here was cut for someone else.
- Shoulder — seam to seam across the back. The seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder, not beyond it.
- Sleeve — shoulder to wrist bone; on a biker, slightly longer is correct because arms bend forward.
- Length — most jackets end at the belt line; coats run longer by design.
Convert your chest measurement with our leather jacket size guide — it covers US, UK, EU and international sizes for men and women. Because every Hide Atelier jacket is cut to order, you can also edit any of these five numbers on the product page before ordering, instead of settling for a stock size.
3. Pick your style family
- Biker / moto — asymmetric zip, snaps and attitude. The classic; works with almost everything.
- Café racer — the biker’s minimal cousin: straight zip, clean chest, no belt.
- Bomber — ribbed cuffs and hem, relaxed through the body; the easiest daily wear.
- Coats — longer leather for colder months and smarter outfits.
- Blazers — tailored leather that replaces a suit jacket.
Browse them in the collection — every design states its leather, sizes XS–4XL and full specification.
4. Care basics that add years
- Hang it on a wide hanger; never fold leather for storage.
- Keep it dry. If it gets wet, air-dry slowly away from radiators.
- Condition cowhide once or twice a year; brush suede, don’t condition it.
- Store it in a breathable cover, not plastic.
The made-to-order difference
A stocked jacket is cut for an average that nobody matches exactly. A made-to-order jacket starts when you order — your size, your measurements, one piece. It takes a little longer (our jackets are delivered in 8–12 working days, with free shipping), and it fits like it was always yours — because it was. If you have a design in mind that isn’t in the shop, you can send it to us as a custom order.