# Altering a leather jacket **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559 "2017-01-19T18:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/21 "2017-01-19T22:57:46Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > The front of that jacket really doesn’t look like it can overlap nicely to work with snaps. If this was mine, I’d have a zipper added so the two sides can butt together like the dark brown version and add the two snaps to that overlap. I agree that seems to make sense given the particular cut of this jacket. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/22 "2017-01-19T23:23:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Yeah, I noticed that, but from the customer reviews, the light colored one really doesn’t have any fastener. I suspect the different colors were all sourced differently, or something like that. Light coloured one is detail accurate. The darker out is not as accurate but more practical. Zips have to be attached strongly because you put a lot of force on them to get them done up. But velcro doesn’t require any force to be put together… You could attach velcro on the inside only, so its not seen. Arrange it so it can be folded back inside and kept (attached to other velco, or tied ? ) hidden when not in use as veclo. Velcro on elastic straps around the waist … just to hold the waist down and tight ? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/23 "2017-01-20T15:16:55Z")
I had a 3/4 length black leather car coat that I had to get work done on when I was in my 20s, new liner and snaps, and I’d recommend getting it done by a tailor who does leather. Trust me, it’ll be worth the money to avoid fucking it up. I’d also second the magnetic closure plus zipper idea. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/24 "2017-01-20T15:18:33Z")
Can a tailor shorten sleeves on a leather jacket like they can with a suit? How much should that cost? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/25 "2017-01-21T01:32:23Z")
Shortening sleeves? Ugh! Pain in the tuchus! The cost will probably be more than you expect. $100 would not surprise me. To do it properly, your tailor has to open up the lining, probably at the bottom of the back and turn the sleeves inside out through the spot they opened up so they can get at the seams. The shortening almost always has to be done from the wrist, and will be complicated by whatever zippers, buttons, etc. are there, as they need to be moved up. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/26 "2017-01-21T04:45:45Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I expect to reach my goal weight soon, and as a reward I’ve promised myself a leather jacket that I’ve been wanting for a while. I love the jacket but it has one problem – it has no fasteners (zipper, buttons, etc.). I still want it, but I want to add some sort of fastener. I have no experience with leather work. > > Zipper seems like it’d be the most difficult. The easiest seem to me (just a guess) to be either buttons or metal snaps. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of work on a leather jacket? Do you know what tools are required? Any other suggestions? Is there someone in your neck of the woods who specializes in motorcycle gear? There’s one here in NY. Just a small operation, but I have a motorcycle jacket he made for me 20 years ago. It’s still in great shape, but it’s been back to him to replace the liner and the zippers, and any shop like that would be set up for pretty much any kind of leather work. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559/27 "2017-01-23T12:48:21Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Is there someone in your neck of the woods who specializes in motorcycle gear? > > There’s one here in NY. Just a small operation, but I have a motorcycle jacket he made for me 20 years ago. It’s still in great shape, but it’s been back to him to replace the liner and the zippers, and any shop like that would be set up for pretty much any kind of leather work. I found a local leather work store that said they can do the job – I don’t know if they specialize in motorcycle gear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altering-a-leather-jacket/777559.md?page=1)