How to Buy a Leather Jacket as a Gift Without Knowing Their Size
You can buy a leather jacket as a gift without knowing their size and still get it right. Work from a jacket they already wear, choose a cut that forgives a small miss, and keep the exchange simple in case you are slightly off. Every Decrum jacket is 100% real lambskin leather, made to last for years, so the size is worth a few quiet minutes of effort.
If you already have a jacket in mind, browse our holiday gift leather jackets first, then use the steps below to choose the size.
The Short Answer
Measure a jacket they already wear: lay it flat, measure armpit to armpit and double it. Choose a hooded bomber or a car coat, the two most forgiving cuts. Keep the tags on. Then email the measurement and the jacket name to support@decrum.com, and the team will confirm the size before you order.
Four Ways to Find Their Size, Most Reliable First
Method 1: Measure a Jacket They Already Own
The most reliable way to find their size is to measure a jacket that already fits them. Do it while they are out, and put it back exactly where you found it.
- Pick the jacket they wear most. Choose one that fits them well today, not one that hangs unworn at the back of the closet.
- Lay it flat and zip it up. Smooth it out on a bed or a table, fully closed, with the sleeves at its sides.
- Measure armpit to armpit, then double it. That number is the jacket's chest. Note the length from the collar seam to the hem as well.
Our size charts list body measurements, not jacket measurements. A jacket that fits is always a little wider than the chest inside it, so your flat number will read slightly higher than their body size. How much higher depends on the cut, which is why chest ease and finished garment measurements are worth understanding. Rather than guessing how much to take off, send the number to us and let the team convert it.
Method 2: Ask Someone Close to Them
If you cannot get to their closet, the next best source is someone who can. A partner, sibling, roommate or best friend can measure a jacket for you in a minute, and most people enjoy being part of a surprise.
Ask them to measure a jacket, not to guess a size. A guessed size is only as good as their memory. If no one can help, borrow one of their jackets with a simple excuse, such as checking it against one you are thinking of buying for yourself.
Method 3: Read the Labels in Their Wardrobe
Their shirt, sweater and coat labels give you a starting point, not the answer. A medium in one brand is a large in another, and leather jackets are cut closer to the body than most outerwear.
Use the labels to narrow it down to two sizes, then check those against the chest column on our chart. If you later get the chance to measure them properly, our full measuring guide walks through chest, shoulders and sleeves.
Method 4: Compare Against Your Own Size
Comparing their build to yours, or to someone whose size you know, works only as a rough check. It helps when you share a similar height and frame, and it misleads when you do not.
Take extra care when buying across men's and women's ranges. The two are cut differently through the shoulders, chest and waist, so a men's size does not translate directly into a women's size. Here is how men's and women's leather tailoring differs.
Email support@decrum.com with their chest measurement and the name of the jacket you want. The team will confirm the size before you place the order. It is the closest thing to a fitting without them knowing.
Between Two Sizes? Ask Before You Order
If your measurement falls between two sizes, do not guess. Send the number and the jacket name to the support team, and they will tell you which size to order. On our size guide, the chest measurement decides the size, so lead with that.
Mention whether they wear hoodies or heavy knits under their jackets in winter, because that can change the answer. Different cuts also leave different amounts of room, which is why the same chest can point to different sizes in a bomber and in a cafe racer.
Do not count on the jacket changing size later. Lambskin softens and molds to the body with wear, but it does not shrink back, so a jacket that starts loose stays loose. Read more on how leather molds to the body over time.
If It Does Not Fit: How the Exchange Works
If the size is off, they can exchange it within 30 days of delivery. Here is what that means in practice:
- Condition: unworn, unwashed and with the tags attached. Trying it on indoors is fine.
- Cost: you pay to send the original jacket back, and the new size ships free.
- How to start: through the returns portal, within 30 days of delivery.
The 30 days count from delivery, not from Christmas. A jacket delivered in early November has a window that closes in early December, which can be before the gift is even opened. If you want the full window after the big day, order early in December and check the delivery estimate at checkout. Full details are on our returns and exchanges page.
Two small things make an exchange painless. Put a short note in the box saying the jacket can be swapped for another size within 30 days of delivery, tags on. And ask them to try it on indoors over what they normally wear. These quick tests show if a jacket is too small.
Pick a Cut That Forgives a Small Miss
When you cannot measure them, choose the cut that still looks right if your guess is slightly off. Some styles leave room by design. Others are cut close, and a wrong size shows straight away.
Hooded bomber
Safest pickThe most forgiving shape we make. Ribbed cuffs and hem, room for a sweater or hoodie, and a removable hood. A small miss on size still looks right.
Car coat
Safest for office dressersA 3/4 length coat cut to go over a suit or heavy knit. The warmest option, and the easiest to get right when you cannot measure.
Trucker
A safe middle optionBoxier than a Biker style jacket at the same measurement, so it reads roomier. Easy with jeans and boots.
Cafe racer and Biker style
Only if you know their sizeThe closest fits in the range, so a wrong guess shows the most. Save the cafe racer for someone whose size you know, or for a spring birthday.
We compare every cut for a December gift, including the one to skip, in our guide to which leather jacket style to gift this winter.
How Forgiving Is Each Cut If Your Size Guess Is Slightly Off?
Forgiving Cuts to Start With
Frequently Asked Questions
What size leather jacket should I buy as a gift?
Buy the size that matches their chest measurement on the Decrum size chart, not the size on their usual labels. Measure a jacket they already wear, lay it flat, double the armpit to armpit width, and email that number with the jacket name to support@decrum.com so the team can confirm the size before you order.
Can I exchange a gifted leather jacket for a different size?
Yes. Start the exchange within 30 days of delivery through the returns portal, with the jacket unworn, unwashed and tags attached. You pay to send the original back, and the new size ships free.
Should I size up when buying a leather jacket as a gift?
Not by default. Decrum charts list body measurements, so the right size comes from their chest measurement, not from adding a size for safety. If you are between two sizes, or they wear thick knits underneath, email support@decrum.com and the team will confirm which size to order.
How do I find out someone's jacket size secretly?
Measure a jacket they already own while they are out: lay it flat, measure armpit to armpit and double it. If you cannot get to their closet, ask a partner, sibling or close friend to measure one for you, or use the labels on their shirts and coats as a starting point.
What if I'm buying for my dad and he is between sizes?
Choose a cut made to go over other clothes, like a 3/4 length car coat, and confirm the size with support@decrum.com before you order. A car coat has room for a sweater or suit jacket underneath, so a small miss shows less than on a fitted jacket. If it still does not fit, he can exchange it within 30 days of delivery.
Do leather jackets stretch?
Lambskin softens and molds to the body with wear, but it does not shrink back and it is not a substitute for the right size. Buy the size that fits their chest measurement now, rather than one you hope the jacket will grow into or settle down to.
