Shorten Length of LW Leather Pea

[Oil Tanned]

I have a LW leather pea coat that I've worn for a couple of years and I've modified a couple times; I shortened the sleeves and later put hidden knits in the sleeves. I've enjoyed the jacket a lot and apparently others enjoy seeing it as well.

I can't help but wonder though how much of the length I could remove before the jacket looked imbalanced. A double breasted relatively short jacket would be easier for me to wear than that jacket is now and IIRC Euro police or military had something like that at one point that looked pretty sharp. Has anyone here significantly shortened a leather (or other) pea and if so, did it turn out looking as nice as you had hoped? In my imagination it looks great but I'd hate to botch this next step.

 

[tmitchell59]

I get the euro police look you mention. More of a flare to the jacket. A look you may not be able to duplicate. Some alterations can alter more that you wanted.

Ask the person who is going to do the work. It is usually difficult to find a leather shop that will do that work, especially on the leather of a LW.

 

[tmitchell59]

I think I can tell you what Stuart would say: it won't work.

IHe said that to me when I asked a modification quiestion. he did explain why. He said the jacket was not built like that.

 

[Oil Tanned]

Interesting. I've read your posts for multiple years and have watched several of your videos. I highly value your opinion and giving Stuart a call hadn't occurred to me. Excellent idea. Thank you.

 

[Peacoat]

Interesting. I've read your posts for multiple years and have watched several of your videos. I highly value your opinion and giving Stuart a call hadn't occurred to me. Excellent idea. Thank you.

Save yourself a phone call, and follow Terry's advice above. As Stu said, it won't work. I know that without even looking at your jacket because I know peacoats.

The peacoat is designed to stop just below the buttocks. Any higher, or lower, and the symmetry doesn't work.

 

[Guppy]

Rather than modify the existing jacket, use it as the basis for designing a new jacket with a modified pattern. Don't risk ruining an otherwise perfectly good jacket. Once you have the new one, you can sell the old one and recoup some money. The results of having a new one built will be better than modifying one.

 

[Oil Tanned]

Thanks!

 

[jacketjunkie]

I have a LW leather pea coat that I've worn for a couple of years and I've modified a couple times; I shortened the sleeves and later put hidden knits in the sleeves. I've enjoyed the jacket a lot and apparently others enjoy seeing it as well.

I can't help but wonder though how much of the length I could remove before the jacket looked imbalanced. A double breasted relatively short jacket would be easier for me to wear than that jacket is now and IIRC Euro police or military had something like that at one point that looked pretty sharp. Has anyone here significantly shortened a leather (or other) pea and if so, did it turn out looking as nice as you had hoped? In my imagination it looks great but I'd hate to botch this next step.

I know these shorter jackets you think of; they are cut way more differently than just "take a pea coat and chop off 8"". All you will achieve is ruining a great jacket, straight from your shoulders to the trash.