UK Sizing with EU & US Conversion, How to Measure, and Fit Notes by Style and Leather Type

Why Getting Your Leather Jacket Size Right Actually Matters

A leather jacket isn't like a cotton tee — it doesn't just fit, it moves with you, and over time it shapes itself around your body. That's part of the appeal, but it's also why sizing gets tricky. Buy it too big and it'll always hang loose, even after the leather softens. Buy it too tight and there's only so much a hide will give. And because every hide behaves differently, the 'right' size for a cow hide biker jacket isn't necessarily the right size for a sheep hide bomber or a buffalo hide trucker.

This guide walks you through exactly how to measure yourself, how UK sizes line up against EU and US sizing, and how fit should shift depending on the jacket style and the leather it's cut from — cow hide, sheep hide, or buffalo hide. Use it alongside the product page for whichever Holloway Hide style you're eyeing, and you should be able to order with confidence the first time.

How to Measure Yourself for a Leather Jacket

Grab a soft tape measure and, ideally, a friend to help — self-measuring around the back is where most people go wrong. Measure over a fitted t-shirt or shirt, not a jumper, and keep the tape snug against your body without pulling it tight.

●       Chest: wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and across your shoulder blades. Keep the tape level all the way round.

●       Shoulders: with arms relaxed at your sides, measure in a straight line from the edge of one shoulder bone to the other, across your back.

●       Sleeve length: start at the shoulder seam and run the tape down the outside of your arm, over a very slightly bent elbow, to your wrist bone.

●       Waist: measure around your natural waistline — roughly level with your belly button — where the jacket will sit or flare from.

●       Back length: from the base of your collar (the bony bump at the back of your neck) straight down to where you want the hem to fall.

Tip: Write these five numbers down before you check the size chart below — chest and shoulder width are what decide your size for most styles, while sleeve and back length tell you whether you need a 'regular', 'short' or 'tall' fit where Holloway Hide offers one.

 

UK Size Chart with EU & US Conversion

Leather jackets are cut close to standard outerwear sizing, so once you know your chest or bust measurement, use the tables below to convert straight across UK, EU and US sizes.

Men's & Unisex Styles

UK	EU	US	Chest (in)	Chest (cm)
36 (XS)	46	36	34–36	86–91
38 (S)	48	38	37–39	94–99
40 (M)	50	40	40–42	102–107
42 (L)	52	42	43–45	109–114
44 (XL)	54	44	46–48	117–122
46 (XXL)	56	46	49–51	124–130

 

Women's Styles

UK	EU	US	Bust (in)	Bust (cm)
6 (XS)	34	2	32–33	81–84
8 (S)	36	4	34–35	86–89
10 (M)	38	6	36–37	91–94
12 (M/L)	40	8	38–39	97–99
14 (L)	42	10	40–41	102–104
16 (XL)	44	12	42–44	107–112
18 (XXL)	46	14	45–47	114–119

Tip: Sitting between two sizes? For a slim biker or racer cut, size up for a jacket you can layer a jumper under; for a roomier bomber, aviator or trucker style, sizing down usually gives a cleaner, less boxy line.

Fit Notes by Jacket Style

●       Biker jacket: cut slim and cropped by design. True to size if you want the classic close silhouette; go up one size if you plan to layer a hoodie or thick jumper underneath.

●       Bomber jacket: relaxed through the body with ribbed cuffs and hem, so it's naturally forgiving. True to size for most builds.

●       Aviator / shearling jacket: cut generously to allow for the shearling or wool lining. Order true to size — sizing down often leaves the jacket too snug across the shoulders once it's on.

●       Trucker jacket: a regular, boxier fit through the chest and waist. True to size, or size down for a more fitted, tucked-in look.

●       Trench / duster coat: longer in the body with room to layer a suit jacket or knitwear underneath. True to size on the chest; check the back-length measurement against the product's stated length.

●       Tailored blazer-style jacket: structured through the shoulder and nipped at the waist, closer to a suit jacket than outerwear. True to size for a sharp fit; size up only if you need to fasten it over layers.

Fit Notes by Material: Cow Hide vs Sheep Hide vs Buffalo Hide

The hide a jacket is cut from changes how it fits on day one and how it fits six months later. Holloway Hide works primarily with cow hide, sheep hide and buffalo hide, and each behaves differently enough that it's worth checking which one you're buying before you pick a size.

Cow Hide

Cow hide is the classic choice for biker and trucker jackets — a firm, structured leather with a fairly tight grain. It holds its shape well straight out of the box, which is great for that sharp, tailored look, but it also means there's a genuine break-in period: expect a cow hide jacket to feel a little stiff across the shoulders and cuffs for the first few wears before it softens and moulds to you. Order cow hide true to size rather than sizing up to 'compensate' for stiffness — it will relax with wear.

Sheep Hide (Sheepskin / Lambskin)

Sheep hide — often labelled lambskin or sheepskin — is thinner, softer and noticeably lighter than cow hide from the very first wear. There's little to no break-in period, and it drapes close to the body almost immediately, which makes it a good match for slim biker and racer cuts. Because sheep hide has more natural stretch than cow hide or buffalo hide, it's the one leather where sizing down slightly (rather than up) tends to give the best long-term fit, especially if you like a fitted silhouette.

Buffalo Hide

Buffalo hide is the heaviest and most rugged of the three, with a coarser, more pronounced pebbled grain and noticeably thicker leather. It's built for durability — trucker and workwear-style jackets in buffalo hide are made to last for years — but that thickness means it has the least give of the three hides. Order buffalo hide true to size based on your actual measurements, and size up (rather than down) if you expect to wear thicker layers underneath, since it won't stretch to accommodate them the way sheep hide will.

As a rule of thumb: cow hide needs breaking in but keeps its shape, sheep hide is soft and forgiving from day one, and buffalo hide is the most durable but the least forgiving on fit. Match the hide to how you plan to wear the jacket, not just the style name.

Breaking In & Caring for Your Jacket

●       Wear it for short stretches over the first week or two — a couple of hours at a time — rather than saving it for one long day out. This lets cow hide and buffalo hide soften evenly.

●       Avoid direct heat (radiators, tumble dryers, hairdryers) to speed up break-in — it dries the leather out and can cause cracking.

●       Condition cow hide and buffalo hide every few months with a proper leather conditioner; sheep hide needs conditioning far less often since it's naturally softer.

●       Store on a wide hanger, not folded, to help the jacket hold its shape between wears.

Still Not Sure Which Size to Order?

If your measurements land between two sizes, or you're choosing between a cow hide, sheep hide and buffalo hide version of the same style, get in touch before you order — sizing correctly the first time saves the hassle of an exchange once a jacket has already started to break in. Visit hollowayhide.store for full size guides on individual products and our exchange policy.