Wrong Size Shearling Jacket: 7 Problems and How to Avoid Them

A wrong size shearling jacket is one of the easiest mistakes to make when you shop online, and one of the most annoying to fix. You cannot try the jacket on, you cannot ask someone to check the sleeves, and leather and wool do not forgive a bad fit the way a stretchy sweater does. The good news is that sizing is not hard once you know what to measure. This guide covers seven problems that come from a wrong size shearling jacket, how to avoid each one and what to do if you are not sure.

Why Fit Matters So Much With Shearling

Shearling is sheepskin tanned with the wool left on, and the Shearling page on Wikipedia explains the basics. The leather faces out and the wool sits against you. That wool gives the jacket real body, so it does not drape like a thin lambskin jacket. Our size chart says the same thing: shearling has a little more body than plain leather, so leave some room if you like to layer. A wrong size shearling jacket shows up fast. Either the arms feel stiff or the whole coat hangs off your shoulders.

Fit is also the one part of online shopping that no photo can settle. A June 2026 survey of 1,882 online shoppers, reported by Retail Insider, estimated that around 60 percent of clothing bought online is sent back, with incorrect size or poor fit named as the main reason. The survey was paid for by an eyewear brand and the figures are estimates, so treat them as a rough guide. They still match common sense.

Problems When the Jacket Is Too Small

1. Tight arms and shoulders

Reach forward, as if you were holding a steering wheel. If the back seam pulls or your shoulders feel pinned, the jacket is too small. A wrong size shearling jacket like this feels fine standing still and uncomfortable the moment you move.

2. No room for a sweater

Our jackets are cut with room for a shirt or a thin knit underneath. If you plan to wear a thick sweater most of the time, a jacket that only just fits over a shirt will feel tight by December.

3. Strain on the zip, buttons and seams

When a jacket has to be forced closed, every closure and seam takes extra load. A zip that fights you is a warning sign. It is better to choose the next size than to wear a jacket that is always under tension.

4. Less warmth than you expected

Wool keeps you warm by holding air. If the jacket is squeezed flat against a thick sweater, there is less air to hold. In general, insulation works best when it has a little room, so a jacket that is too small can feel colder than a slightly looser one.

Problems When the Jacket Is Too Big

5. Cold air gaps

A loose collar, wide sleeves and a baggy body let warm air out and wind in. In a cold city this is the quickest way to feel that your jacket is not doing its job. If you want to see how cold it really gets, our shearling jacket temperature guide uses real January numbers from five cities.

6. Shoulders that droop

The shoulder seam should sit near the edge of your shoulder bone. If it falls down your upper arm, the whole jacket hangs from the wrong place and the sleeves end up too long.

7. Sleeves over your hands and a heavy look

Shearling already has volume. When the size is also too big, the volume looks heavy and the cuffs cover your knuckles. A jacket should look warm, not borrowed.

Avoid a Wrong Size Shearling Jacket: Measure Properly

Here is the simple rule: the more accurate your measurements, the better the fit of your jacket. If you want to avoid a wrong size shearling jacket, take your chest, your shoulders and the widest part of your stomach, then your sleeve and the jacket length you want. Stand straight, keep the tape level and relaxed, and write each number down.

• Chest: wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and across your shoulder blades.
• Shoulders: measure from the edge of one shoulder bone to the other across your back.
• Stomach width: measure around the widest part of your belly. A jacket has to close comfortably over the widest part of your body, so if your belly is wider than your chest, use the larger number when you compare sizes.
• Sleeve: measure from the edge of your shoulder to your wrist with your arm slightly bent.
• Length: measure from the base of your neck to where you want the jacket to end.

Another easy check is to lay a jacket you already own and like on a flat surface and measure it. The Proper Cloth guide to measuring a jacket shows how to measure chest, shoulders and sleeve across a flat jacket. Remember that a flat chest measurement is only half of the full chest, so double it before you compare it with a chart.

Our standard sizes run from XS, with a chest of 34 to 36 inches, to 3XL, with a chest of 46 to 48 inches. If you sit between two sizes, choose the larger size if you plan to wear thick knits and the smaller size for a close fit. Our full shearling jacket size guide goes through this step by step, and our guide to big and tall shearling jackets helps if you are at the larger end of the range.

Standard Size or Made to Measure?

If your numbers sit inside the chart, a standard size usually works, because the jackets are cut with room for a shirt or a thin knit. Styles also differ. The B3 shearling jacket has a big collar and a roomy cut, while the B6 RAF aviator jacket is slimmer and neater.

A wrong size shearling jacket is also less likely when you choose a style that suits your build. If the standard sizes do not suit you, for example because of broad shoulders, long arms or a bigger stomach, we can make the jacket to your measurements. Send your chest, shoulder, sleeve and jacket length, plus your height and weight, and we will confirm the details with you before we start. Please note that custom sizes are cut to order, so they cannot be returned or exchanged. That is why accurate numbers matter so much for a made to measure jacket.

What If You Order the Wrong Size?

A standard size jacket can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery. Once we have received and inspected it, usually within 72 hours, a refund is issued within 7 business days and an exchange is delivered within 15 business days. The cost of sending the jacket back is paid by the customer. You can read every detail on our return and exchange page. So a wrong size shearling jacket costs you time and shipping, even when the policy works well. It is far easier to get the size right before you order.

A Quick Checklist Before You Order

• Measure your chest, shoulders and stomach width, plus sleeve and length, so that you avoid a wrong size shearling jacket.
• Compare your chest with the size chart, and use the larger size if you plan to wear thick knits.
• Check the style, because a B3 and a B6 do not fit in the same way.
• If you are between sizes or have an unusual build, ask before you order.
• Use the WhatsApp button on this page if anything is unclear. We will help you choose a size.

Quick Questions

Should I choose a bigger size to be safe?

Only if you plan to wear thick knits under the jacket. Too much room causes cold air gaps and droopy shoulders, so a bigger size is not always safer, and a wrong size shearling jacket can be too big as easily as too small.

Will a shearling jacket stretch?

Leather can soften a little with wear, but shearling has more body than plain leather because of the wool inside. Do not count on a tight jacket becoming comfortable.

Can you help me choose a size?

Yes. If you do not understand any measurement, message us directly on WhatsApp with your numbers and the style you like, and we will help you.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Shipping is free worldwide, and standard sizes ship about 7 to 14 days after your order is confirmed.

The Short Version

A wrong size shearling jacket is easy to avoid. Take your chest, shoulders and stomach width carefully, compare them with the chart, think about the layers you will wear and ask us if you are not sure. The better your measurements, the better the jacket will fit, and a well fitted shearling jacket will keep you warm for many winters.