Here at Independence Brothers, you already know our opinion on leather jackets. We are, to say the least, quite fond of them. Leather jackets are not just something to keep you warm or even just a fashion statement; they are an extension of yourself, and of your personality. We think that jackets are one of the best purchases that you can make, which is why we take so much care in helping everyone figure out the best jacket for them.

This encompasses all shapes and sizes. Most jackets come in standard sizes unless you are making a custom one. The standard sizes, however, don’t work for everyone. And that is why the focus of today’s blog posts is petite jackets.

Petite jackets are for petite people - anyone that falls below 5 feet, 4 inches. For shorter individuals, jackets that are your normal standard sizes fit differently. They are too long or possibly too wide, with sleeves that may not fit your arms. Standard size jackets won’t compliment your body measurements, meaning they don’t hug you in the right places. Petite jackets are made shorter to fit a smaller frame.

In size terms, petite jackets are usually your sizes that are XS or smaller. There are also jacket companies that sell short jackets as a size option for smaller people. Petite jackets a little more difficult to find, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not out there and that you, as a petite person, should give up on finding one that works just for you.

You can find petite jackets in-store and online. We’ve come up with a list of places where you can hunt for your perfect petite jacket.

Amazon - Amazon nowadays has so many things that you need, and petite jackets are one of them. Here are a few that caught our eye: 

World of Leather - World of Leather sells different types of leather products through Amazon, ranging from footwear to jackets. Their moto jackets come in XS, and reviews from shorter women confirm that their shoulders, sleeve length, and all around circumference fit well. Their lambskin jacket, which is made of 100 percent lambskin leather, has an asymmetrical zip up, button details across the shoulders and chest, and handy zippered pockets. There is even a sleek zipper from the mid-forearm to the wrist so that you can wear the jacket sleeves loosely or slim. Their jackets are on the smaller price point scale, coming in at under $150.

BGSD - BGSD is a private label that can be found on Amazon, Walmart, and other such outlets. They have sizes ranging from small-3X in short, meaning that it fits all body types for any shorter women. While BGSD comes in at a slightly higher price than World of Leather - their jackets are closer to the $200-$300 range - they offer a lot of different styles in short sizes. Many of their jackets are lambskin leather. It is always good to read reviews on their short jackets before you purchase, but it seems that generally, shorter women have positive reviews for their outerwear.

Levi’s - Levi’s is a company that is synonymous with jeans, but they make jackets as well. Levi’s, short for Levi Strauss & Co., is an American clothing company that was made famous for their brand-named jeans. It was founded in 1853 by German immigrant Levi Strauss when he moved to San Francisco, California. The company is still headquartered there. Levi’s makes faux leather jackets as well as real leather, making it a viable option for those on a much smaller budget. Be sure to be careful though when you jacket purchase - you don’t want to accidentally purchase a faux leather jacket if you want real leather! Their faux leather jackets price in under $100 and their real leather jackets come in around $300 or higher. They come in smaller sizes (meaning XS) as well as short options for their sizes (with “medium short” being an example) so they have a wider size variety. Reviews have commented that some sleeve tailoring might be necessary, so if you purchase any Levi’s jackets, be prepared for that possibility.

Nordstrom- Nordstrom carries various jackets that you can purchase through their website. The beauty of purchasing at Nordstrom is that you can cater to your search results and input XS as a search size, narrowing down to only the jackets that come in petite sizes. You can also order these jackets directly from the company's site, but having various companies to choose from on Nordstrom can make it easier for you as a shopper. Here are a few companies whose jackets caught our eye:

Bernardo - Bernardo was founded 38 years ago in Montreal. It is currently located in NYC, and they design women’s, men’s, and kid’s outerwear under private labels and the Bernardo and collection b brand names. Their jackets are affordably priced, ranging for women from $80 sale prices to around $250 full price. They have both faux leather and real leather jackets, and they make the distinction when they come in petite sizes. Their Moto jackets are specifically made in petite sizes. They are ultra-fitted, and perfect for smaller frames.

Trouvé - Trouvé is a Nordstrom-exclusive label. They tout their sophisticated, chic, and affordable pieces, ranging from tops and dresses to outerwear. They have a drape jacket that comes in at around $330. The drape style for the jacket makes it flowing and loose in the front, giving it a casual boho style look.

Cole Haan - Cole Haan was founded in 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan and is currently headquartered in New Hampshire. They began as a men’s footwear label, although since then it has greatly expanded. Today they have men’s and women’s dress and casual footwear, handbags, gloves, hosiery, belts, hats, scarves, sunglasses, and outerwear. It is a global company and carries moto jackets that are petite sizes. Their prices are a little higher, ranging from over $200 sale price and over $500 full.

Michael Kors - Michael Kors is a multinational fashion holding company founded by their namesake Michael David Kors, an American fashion designer. They are headquartered in New York, with executive offices in London and incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. They sell shoes, watches, handbags, other accessories, and clothing. They have petite leather jackets that fall under $350.

Bespoke/Custom Leather Jackets - we would be remiss if we spoke about petite jackets and did not mention the option for custom jackets. We’ve spoken about bespoke jackets here before, but we’ll go into some companies that offer custom options as well.

The beauty of bespoke jackets is that they are completely and 100% you. Your measurements, your style, and your flair. You get to choose every aspect of the jacket from beginning to end, and that can give the jacket a more personal touch and feel for you as the wearer. While custom leather jackets are generally more expensive than those that are not, it is worth it for having a jacket made just for you.

Ordering a bespoke jacket is simple: all you need to do is send in your measurements, choose how you want your jacket to look (Buttons? Zippers? Collar? Leather type and color?). Once these decisions have been made, the company will create your jacket for you. Here are a few companies that do bespoke leather jackets:

Independence Brothers

You can get a custom leather jacket right here at Independence Brothers. We are a company that was founded by Scott and Robbie, two brothers who value leather jackets and the way that they make you feel. Based in Philadelphia, Independence Brothers specializes in leather jackets that are made of quality materials, crafted with skill, and fit perfectly. The Independence Brothers jackets are made of lambskin, goatskin, and cowskin leathers so that they are durable, they age well, and they can last for generations. All of our jackets come with free custom measurements and are perfect for petite individuals to make sure they are getting a leather jacket that fits you just right. The Independence Brothers price tag comes in at an affordable one, with jackets as low as $380 and up.

The Jacket Maker

The Jacket Maker is a company that we have focused on before. They are a newer company that is based out of California in the United States and Ras al Khaimah, or RAK, in the United Arab Emirates. Only six years old, they began as an online retail store for leather jackets in 2013. The Jacket Maker shifted to bespoke in 2016, and it is still a major part of the company three years later. They have ready to wear jackets that you can add a customizable touch to or they have the option to go entirely custom-made, from measurements to style. Their price tag is affordable for leather jackets as well, coming in at $200 for their ready to wear jackets, and going higher for their custom jackets.

Leather Skin Shop

Leather Skin Shop is only a hair older than The Jacket Maker in years; it was established in 2012 as a leather bracelet company. They are warehoused in Oregon and sell outerwear, shoes, hats, bags, and caps. The price tag for their ready to wear jackets come in around $200, although custom made jackets are likely higher.

If you do decide to get a bespoke leather jacket to fit a petite frame, be sure to measure everything correctly so that the jacket is your size. Since custom leather jackets are one of a kind, the return policy is most times a no-return policy, and companies put safeties in place and explicit instructions so that you do measure yourself correctly. In order to measure yourself, be sure to follow the steps that the company outlines. Independence Brothers has an easy, 3-minute guide that is emailed to the client to help measure themselves. Many places have their own sizing charts and instructions on how to measure. Make sure you measure yourself correctly when taking your measurements for your jacket. if you measure wrong, your jacket will not fit perfectly, and that is the last thing you want for an unreturnable jacket. Companies may want different numbers, but typically you always need to measure your shoulder, chest, sleeves, and waist. You may also have to measure your hips and pants as well. Watch videos and follow the instructions carefully to make sure that you are sending in the correct numbers.

When in doubt, reaching out to customer service is always a good idea.

We have touched upon how much of a fan we are of bespoke leather jackets. But there are always pros and cons to be weighed. While the final decision is ultimately up to you, as the consumer, we’ll touch on a few of them again here:

Pros

The first pro of having a bespoke leather jacket is the custom factor, which is, of course, the biggest draw. You create this jacket to fit you as a person, and nothing else in the world exists like it. This is a huge draw for people to express themselves, or make sure that this jacket encompasses everything they want it to.

The second massive pro to having a bespoke leather jacket is that it will fit you in the truest way that a jacket can. If you are ordering from pre-made, pre-designed factory leather jackets, there are standards sizes that are an option. We mentioned earlier that figuring out your size and measurements can be more of a process than just sending it your measure measurements, depending on what size you are. Even when you pick a size, there is the possibility that it does not fit as snugly and securely as you would like it to. Leather jackets should wear as if you have a second skin, and if you fall in-between sizes, that may not be the case. Bespoke leather jackets are perfect for anyone who has trouble finding jackets that fit them because you cannot get it in a mass market store.

Cons

The main con that goes along with having this kind of a jacket is the price tag. While there are affordable leather jacket companies out there, bespoke leather jackets are still more expensive than the factory ones. This is because of the time, energy, and effort that goes into making it, as well as because it is custom. If It was made specifically for your size, body, and tastes, chances are no one else would want it because it either did not fit them or they weren’t a fan of the jacket as one that they would wear themselves. Consider this as you are figuring out what company to go for and the design that you are going after. This is a final choice, one.

The other con that goes with having a bespoke leather jacket is the return and exchange policy on them. Because it is custom made, these jackets are usually ones that cannot be returned or exchanged. Many retailers have the policy to help the consumer if there was an error on the company’ end. However, in general, these jackets can’t be returned or exchanged so the one you decide to purchase it, you are committing to the jacket.

Having a bespoke leather jacket adds an entirely new level to that feeling about what they can do for you. A custom jacket can be even more special to the wearer. You were involved in its creation and design and choose everything by hand. Then, a company created a jacket for you by hand. The added level of personalization can bring you a closer level of connection to your clothes.

Being petite may make it more difficult to find clothing that fits you, but it is not the end of the world. You may have to look a little harder, but it will make it that much better once you find the perfect leather jacket for you. We hope this article helps you elevate your leather jacket purchasing experience and know where to begin looking to order a petite jacket. At the end of the day, you are the person purchasing this extension of yourself. Do the research and read reviews. Compare styles and cuts and comfort. Contemplate how to make the jacket your own. Find what works best for you, what you can see yourself wearing many days throughout the year. Whether you purchase a bespoke jacket, a factory-made jacket, or an Independence Brothers leather jacket, you need to make sure it is the best version of yourself in it.