This is a hands-on, unsponsored review of the Peter Manning Lambskin Leather Jacket.

Quick Take

Pros: short sleeve length than most American ready-to-wear leather jackets

Cons: shiny leather, boxy fit, expensive

Verdict: If sleeve length is your #1 priority and you don’t want to pay for alterations, this jacket could be a good choice. Just make sure you’re okay with a roomy/boxy fit in the torso.

Peter Manning Leather Jacket

Shorter men have a hard time finding leather jackets that fit properly. The biggest problem is that the sleeves are usually too long.

This is especially true if you’re a heavier or stockier guy who needs to size up in order to find a jacket that fits across the shoulders and chest.

If you’re 5’5? wearing a size L or XL, the sleeves will be way too long. Short and skinny men don’t have it any easier. Even an XS is often too baggy and long for our modest frames.

(Of course, you can always go custom with a brand like The Jacket Maker.)

Because it’s so hard to find a leather jacket for shorter guys, many of us simply don’t wear them.

And that sucks, because a nice leather jacket can be an important wardrobe staple (not to mention one of your most loved and worn pieces of outerwear).

That’s why I was glad to see a leather jacket specifically for men 5’8? and under. They sent me one in brown (size 1) to try on.

With leather jackets, you typically get what you pay for. They can be quite an investment. Here are the specs:

• New Zealand lambskin
• Knit bomber style collar
• Quilted chambray lining
• Double button cuffs
• Two exterior zip pockets
• Two interior pockets (one zip, one button)
• Available in brown or black

The leather feels soft like it’s already broken in. It’s substantial but not too bulky – just the right amount of “heft” to it.