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Pop quiz: what do Maverick, Tyler Durden and Wolverine have in common?

Badass leather jackets.

Ok, they’re all pretty tough and manly too, and sure, all three are highly skilled in hand to hand combat. And yeah, they seem to get lots of women without much effort…

But hear me out! Maybe the jackets have something to do with all that, you know? I mean, I always feel a little cooler in a leather jacket. Don’t you?

And yes, short men can rock a leather jacket like the best of them. You just have to make sure it fits correctly.

jacket (similar) | vest | shirt | jeans

It’s highly likely that you’ll have to get the sleeves shortened if you buy a new leather jacket, regardless of which brand you choose, so try to find something that fits everywhere else (especially the shoulders and chest).

This Marc New York jacket was purchased from Nordstrom several years ago. Their in house tailor shortened the sleeves by about two inches for around $40.

What do you wear a leather jacket with? You really can’t go wrong with dark wash jeans and leather work boots. I’m wearing a light grey henley under a darker grey vest, which gives this casual getup some depth.

But everything about this outfit – the shades, the popped collar, the cuffed jeans and fingerless gloves – it’s just cool.

sunglasses | gloves | boots

Speaking of cool, a leather jacket can keep you plenty warm in early spring or late fall, especially if you layer up and add cold weather accessories.

Of course, there are many different types of leather jackets. Some are insulated, some are thicker than others. Some have fur or faux fur collars. So be sure to choose one that’s right for your climate.

And when you buy a leather jacket, wear it a lot. You want to break it in, especially if it’s high quality leather, so wear it as often as possible. Here are some excellent activities by which to break in your new leather jacket: