Buying a leather jacket can be an exciting experience. From picking out what color suits your skin tone to finding the perfect fit, there are several things to consider before making any purchase. When shopping for the perfect leather jacket for yourself, it can be difficult to know where to start and what exactly to keep in check. Read through our guide for what things you probably need to know when you are buying a leather jacket. This guide will come in handy if you are trying to purchase a leather jacket for yourself or for someone as a gift.
Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasonal leather jacket enthusiast, this post will help you find the perfect leather jacket for your needs. We will provide insights and tips to help you steer through the process and make a confident decision. So Let’s get started!
1. Quality
Leather jackets are exquisite pieces of clothing apparel that come with a price. That is why you want to make sure to get a high-quality leather jacket that will last. In order for you to pick a good quality leather jacket you need to know about leather skins and types. You also need to pay attention to details like the inner lining and the hardware of the leather jacket.
Leather Skin
The first thing in regard to buying a good quality leather jacket is what type of skin is the leather jacket made from. What type of leather skin you want your jacket to be made from is completely dependent on your budget. There are many animals from where leather skins are obtained; Cow, goat, sheep, and lambskins are the best leather hides in the market.
Cowhide is popular among bikers and is used in manufacturing motorcycle jackets. Leather jackets made from cowhides provide extra durability and functionality for motorcyclists.
On the other hand, lambskin drops into the soft skins and is used to make premium lambskin leather jackets that will cost you a little more than the others.
Leather Grading
The second thing you need to consider is the grade or type of leather used in the leather jacket. The jacket could be made from full-grain leather, top-grain leather, or corrected leather.
In full-grain leather, the entire hide is used as it is with the natural scars or marks it comes with. The patterns are not altered resulting in distressed leather jackets. This type of leather ages well with time and is high in price as only the best hides are used in its manufacturing.
Split from the bottom layers, top-grain leather is considerably flexible and thinner than a full-grain. It remains this way through its entire life span and is best for making fashion jackets.
The corrected-grain is the lowest type of leather available which is processed to make it look like high-grade leather.
Inner Lining
An inner lining is a piece of fabric between your skin and the leather jacket. It basically allows the leather jacket to be properly tugged down on your shoulders and make for a perfect fall from top to bottom. The inner lining can also absorb sweat and act as an insulator in colder weather. Leather jackets without inner lining are light and breathable but are expensive because of the complications in producing them.
Hardware
You can easily judge the quality of a leather jacket or its brand by closely examining the hardware in a leather jacket. Hardware refers to the functional aspects of the jacket. From zippers for proper closure of the jacket, buttons, or removable hoods, examining the hardware can tell a lot about the quality of the jacket.
2. Functionality
Although you can style a leather jacket for any occasion, they are also one of the most functional pieces of clothing out there. The functionality of a leather jacket solely depends on the wearer. For example, if you are a bike rider and need protection for your bike rides then a motorcycle jacket is what you will benefit from. Similarly, if you want warmth in winter then a hooded leather jacket will be a great addition to your wardrobe.
You should check off the features you are looking for in a leather jacket and go through some of the leather jackets available. In this way, you will have an idea of which leather jacket is the most functional for your needs.
3. Comfort
When you are shopping for clothes the first thing you want is for them to be comfortable, the same goes for a leather jacket. When buying a leather jacket there are some things to check if it is comfortable for you or not.
Fit
A leather jacket should be able to fit comfortably on your body. It should not be too tight to restrict your movement and cause any hindrance. It is important to take measurements of your chest/bust waist beforehand to buy a perfectly fitted leather jacket for your body type.
Weight
The weight of a leather jacket determines whether it will cause you fatigue or discomfort when you continuously wear it. Preferably a leather jacket should be lightweight or it will weigh you down whenever you wear it.
Lining
One other thing that plays a crucial role to judge whether a leather jacket is comfortable or not is the inner lining. Ranging from viscose to fur lining, there are a lot of options to choose from. If you are looking for some form of insulation then fur-lined jackets will be optimal. Viscose lining will be the best pick if you are looking to style your jacket for a casual street-style look.
4. Style
A leather jacket is not just a piece of clothing, it’s a fashion statement. The style of a leather jacket can say a lot about your personality. It is crucial that it should reflect your taste in fashion and style.
There are a lot of leather jacket styles to choose from. Each style has its unique features and caters to different people. For example, biker jackets usually have a considerable amount of zippers, pockets, and a belt, this gives it a rugged and bold look. On the other hand, bomber jackets have a more classic and timeless style with a comfortable fit and a casual design.
When buying a leather jacket you should consider your styling preferences. A leather jacket that fits perfectly with your style is enough to make a fashion statement on any given occasion.
5. Sizing
The fitting or sizing of a jacket is critical when you are purchasing a leather jacket. A jacket that doesn’t fit you perfectly will ruin the overall look and feel of the complete wardrobe. Leather jackets are made to mold to your body shape with the passage of time that is why it is important to select a perfectly fitting size.
In order to buy a perfectly sized leather jacket you need to get out that measurement tape. Start by measuring your chest/bust, waist, and hips, and then compare the results with a sizing chart. You can also get your jacket tailored according to your liking as well.
6. Care
A leather jacket needs to be pampered and taken care of with its usage. A proper amount of maintenance will let the leather jacket retain its features over time. A leather jacket should not be washed in a washing machine rather it should be cleaned professionally. It should be dried naturally and without the interference of direct sunlight.
More Details on How to Properly Maintain Your Leather Jacket
7. Durability
A leather jacket is a long time investment in terms of quality and durability. A good leather jacket should withstand wear and tear over time and its quality should not deteriorate with time.
A leather jacket is durable when it is made from high-quality leather such as lambskin and is strongly stitched. The cost will get higher but it will be worth the investment.
8. Color
Previously, a brown or black leather jacket was enough to make you the star of any occasion but with time few colors have been added to the inventory. From vibrant colors like red and maroon to calm colors like blue and green, the options are limitless.
It is your personal preference to choose the right color that will match your styling sense and your wardrobe.
9. Pricing
The material of the leather used in manufacturing determines the price of a leather jacket. Although it is tempting to go for a cheap leather jacket but investing in a good quality leather jacket that is slightly expensive is much better.
You should consider how much you are willing to pay for a leather jacket. If you are going to wear it around the year then it will be good to invest in a good quality high pricing leather jacket. Alternatively, if you are on a tight budget we would recommend you, shop for a second-hand leather jacket that suits your available budget.
10. Availability
Speaking of availability, you need to know that some leather jackets are available very easily depending on their manufacturing process. Leather jackets from popular brands can come and go out of stock in no time because of their high demand.
To ensure that you will be able to find a leather jacket you need to keep an eye out for the jacket you want. You need to research the product and its stock availability in different stores. One pro tip is you can shop for a leather jacket off-season or end-of-season sale, in this way, you will get a good chance that the product is available for you to purchase.
Conclusion
We get it anyone could easily go off track when buying a leather jacket. There are several things to take into consideration such as quality, styling options, cost, and fitting. We hope that this detailed guide has answered all your questions if you are about to buy a leather jacket. All the points discussed here will let you have some form of understanding of the buying process. In the end, you will be able to make a confident choice to make your purchase.
