I’ve always been a fan of leather jackets. They’re timeless, versatile, and just plain old cool. Always have been, always will be in my opinion. From James Dean and Marlon Brando in the 50s to the members of The Ramones, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols in the 70s to basically any modern badass male today, a leather jacket is a wardrobe staple for any effortlessly stylish man.
Why Choose A Custom Leather Jacket?
It never really occurred to me to get a custom made leather jacket before. When I thought of custom made, I thought of tailored suits. Leather jackets, on the other hand, seemed like the type of thing you just pulled off the rack and threw over your shoulders. They are a symbol of rock n roll, after all, and meticulously measuring your body doesn’t seem very rock n roll. But how wrong I was! After doing a bit of shopping I realized leather jackets have much more in common with suit jackets than you’d think. They aren’t the type of clothing item that easily works for most body types, like t-shirts or sweaters or bomber jackets. A leather jacket needs to fit just right across the shoulders, chest, and on the arms. Otherwise they look very awkward – the complete opposite look of what they’re meant to achieve. So I decided to not waste any more time and invest in a custom made leather jacket. I did some research and came across Brando & McQueen. They had the jacket style I wanted and customization was only an extra $40, so it was a no-brainer. I got started on my order.
How To Order A Custom Leather Jacket
The order process was very simple. I selected and paid for the jacket style I wanted, after which I received a follow up email from the Brando & McQueen team. It gave me measurement instructions along with an estimate of how long it would take to make and receive the jacket. I took my measurements, sent them in, and patiently waited. After a few weeks, I finally received my first custom leather jacket!
The Fit & Quality
I had high expectations when first trying on the jacket, and Brando & McQueen did not disappoint. Before I even put it on, I was impressed with the quality of the leather. It was buttery soft yet felt durable – several wears later it’s still holding up. All of the finishings (zippers, hardware, and stitching) also looked great. Nothing was scratched, tarnished or damaged in any way. Just by looking at it you can tell it’s of very fine quality.
When I put the jacket on for the first time I was amazed. It looked so much better than all the ready-made leather jackets I had tried on before going the custom made route. It truly fits like a glove: it’s the perfect length in the shoulders, chest, and arms. And it hangs just right; there are no awkward areas that are too loose or too tight. At the same time, it’s super comfortable and I have just the right amount of space for easy and natural movements. Again, comparable to a nice tailored suit jacket.
This experience has taught me that when something is literally made for you it looks a million times better than anything ready-made (and it will make you feel like a million bucks!). But it also taught me how important it is to be accurate. If I had messed up my measurements by half an inch it would have seriously changed the fit. Regardless, I’m very happy with my purchase. I’m now a firm believer that you should go the extra mile and customize certain wardrobe staples, and a leather jacket is definitely one of them. It was a bit more expensive but it was worthwhile investment. I know I’ll be treasuring my custom leather jacket for years to come.