Club Obi Wan

Today I received a US Wings jacket in the Vintage Cowhide (though I suspect they may have accidentally sent me a Collector's Edition because it has snaps on the storm flap, and I was under the impression that's the only one of their Indy jackets that does have the snaps? not that I'm complaining if they did...) and I have a question about the sleeve length. I've only had Westeds before this, and never a jacket in cowhide before. Now I think the sleeves on my current Wested are a tad too long, and the sleeve on this new one seems a tad too short.

But here's the thing. When I'm wearing the jacket with my arms down, the sleeves seem just about okay, maybe a bare tiny bit too short, but not really noticeable. But when I raise my arms at all, the sleeves seem to shorten considerably, much moreso than the Wested. So I'm wondering if that might have something to do with the leather, maybe with the stiffness? My Wested is a 3 year old goat, and the leather seems a lot more flexible/drapey than the cow. I've heard of some leathers that 'relax' and will get longer (deer, I think?), and some where the sleeves will dramatically wrinkle and shorten, and I was wondering what will eventually happen with the vintage cow - longer? Shorter? No change? My goat has not changed at all, sleeve-length-wise. No wrinkling, no relaxing, nothing. After three years of abuse it still seems like it was the day I got it, only a little more soft...

But the other thing is, I'm getting a new jacket in the first place because I lost a lot of weight, and now the Wested's body is definitely cut bigger than the body of the Wings. Would that have a dramatic impact on the sleeve movement?

Basically I'm just trying to figure out of I should exchange it for a long size, but the body length is perfect, it's just the sleeves that are slightly too short.

Worst case scenario, you could always add a knit to the end of the sleeves!

Firstly, unless Wings changed their specs without changing the website, you did get a limited edition. So, congrats, maybe.

Secondly, unless you would normally wear a tall size, I wouldn't exchange it. Do you have particularly long arms? Perhaps pics would clarify the issue.

At any rate, the cow hide jacket you have will do what you describe. Totally normal. My selves are actually accurate to the CS jacket sleeves when my arms are down, but when I'm driving I look like I'm wearing something 2 sizes too small!! I think it's combination of the leather's stiffness and the lining.
Goatskin is very different, and all hides age differently. Even the type of hide isn't the only issue. Leather aging also reflects it general quality, origins, treatments applied, and thickness. I don't think you can predict on this one.

Yeah, the sleeve's definitely a smidge too short, but after wearing it around the house and playing around with it a bit, I've figured that it really does have more to do with the stiffness and the smaller cut than the sleeve length. And luckily that little smidge of shortness isn't enough for me to think it worthwhile to send it back, because man, I'm already madly in love with this jacket. The leather itself is absolutely gorgeous, especially compared to the goat - I mean, I love the feel of the goat, but after three years of abuse it's still shiny and just barely starting to distress a tiny bit along the edges, while this looks amazing!

;0 alwyas wanted to do this, congrads on your jacket.

Most Indy jackets have sleeves that are folded over and glued. If there is enough leather beyond the fold, it's possible to lengthen the sleeve an inch or so. You may be able to do it yourself or, even better, find a professional that works in leather to do it for you.
-P-