For both men and women, a decent leather jacket purchase is the ultimate wardrobe essential. Due to the financial burden it may place on anyone’s wallet, purchasing a high-quality leather jacket is frequently regarded as a one-time, solid investment. It is intended to be eternal, long-lasting, and very adaptable to fulfill a variety of purposes.
Buying a nice leather jacket may be incredibly difficult and confusing, with so many alternatives available. This article will walk you through the whole process of selecting the ideal leather jacket. It will concentrate on all of the elements to consider when purchasing a leather jacket, ensuring that you do not end up regretting your purchase after spending a significant amount of money.
Evaluating a Leather Jacket
To help you get the best quality product at an affordable price, I will guide you through the process of selecting your first leather jacket. It is a process that will take time and effort but will pay off in the end. Here are some things to consider: The essential thing to consider when looking for a great leather jacket is style. It doesn’t matter whether you are going to a black-tie event or attending a fancy brunch with your bestie; the jacket should be well put together. Artistry and care are key when it comes to these jackets as they make them last a lifetime. While shopping for one, there are also some things to look out for, such as:
1. Leather Type & Quality
Leather is not something that is easily thrown around. Part of the reason for this is the perfect conditioning it gets during the tanning process. The more times you wear a particular type of leather jacket, the better it will become in your eyes. When you choose a leather jacket with nice markings or branding, these will, later on, stand out more than the boring blocks of regular leather. There are two types of leather: light and dark.
1.1 Choosing The Animal Skin
The first thing to think about is what kind of animal skin you want to use for your leather jacket. It’s completely a question of taste, and it’ll be decided by the usefulness and money available.
While the skin may be acquired from various species, the most common are cow, sheep, lamb, goat, and calfskins. Kangaroo, Deer, Pig, and Crocodile are just a few of the exotic types.
Cowhide is noted for its strength, hardness, and durability. Cowhide is often used in the construction of men’s biker jackets. On the other hand, Lambskin is exceptionally nice and soft and highly costly and is often used for high-end items.
Calfskin from a young cow is more costly than lamb because it possesses both softness and durability.
1.2 Leather Type or Grading
The second item to consider is the leather grade or type: Genuine or rectified leather, top-grain leather, and full-grain leather.
The whole hide is utilized in full-grain leather from its original form, with all blemishes, scars, and patterns untouched. It improves with age and is more expensive since only the highest-grade hides are appropriate.
Top-grain leather is made up of layers separated from the bottom layers; it is thinner and more flexible than full-grain leather, and it stays the same during its lifetime. Aside from practicality, top-grain leather is utilized to produce the majority of leather jackets.
The corrected-grain is the least expensive grade that has been treated to seem to be of better quality.
1.3 Leather Finishing
The third thing to check for is the leather’s polish; terminology like aniline and semi-aniline will often come up in this area.
Aniline leather is more costly since it is retained in its original state with all of the markings and flaws, but it is sensitive to water and UV damage.
Semi-aniline leather is more robust and resilient than aniline leather since it is gently dyed to remove scratches and imperfections.
It’s also worth mentioning double-face/shearling leather when discussing leather types and quality.
Shearling leather is the skin of a newly sheared lamb or sheep tanned and processed while keeping the wool intact. As a result, shearling coats are the most costly on the market.
2- Joints & Panels
As a general rule, jackets produced with fewer sections and fewer joints are more costly than jackets produced with numerous panels and many joints.
There are exceptions, such as when a jacket with numerous panels and joints is additionally pricey owing to the detailing, stitching, or ornamentation utilized in conjunction with the joints and panels.
These elements influence manufacturing costs, which are reflected in the jacket’s price.
Manufacturers construct jackets out of various remnants, surplus or residual leather, and wastes from other skins to minimize costs.
Although single-panel jackets are more costly because of better choices, this may or may not influence the end product’s quality.
3- Inner Lining
The innermost layer is a second layer of material that contributes to the jacket’s weight. It provides a seamless fall from start to finish by firmly tugging down the garment on your shoulders. In certain circumstances, the inside lining absorbs perspiration, is soft and warm, and provides a good fit.
Many individuals, particularly when purchasing bespoke jackets from high-end stores, are unaware that they choose to select fabric for the inside lining, making it plain or quilted or removing the inner lining entirely.
The kind of material used in the inner layer and the attributes it provides will determine the cost of a jacket. For the inside lining, Bemberg lining is regarded to be the greatest alternative. It’s breathable, lightweight, and smooth to the touch.
Jackets without an inner lining are lightweight and breathable, but they are more costly due to additional inside finishing and manufacturing complexities.
4- Stitching & Craftsmanship
Clean and crisp embroidery in a jacket indicates that the jacket is of the greatest quality, signifying that the jacket was made with great care. A decent leather jacket will be sewn neatly and securely without any loose ends using robust polyester thread.
Intricate stitching on seams and pockets is also a popular feature among jacket collectors. Elaborate stitching and features on a jacket demand more time and effort, resulting in a higher price.
5- Hardware and Components
Assessing the components and embellishments used in a leather jacket may be a simple and effective approach to assess a garment’s or a brand’s quality. Before purchasing a jacket, be certain that it comes with high-quality attachments and hardware.
Buttons, motifs, buckles, eyelets, buttons, and other supplementary frequently ornamental features used to improve the jacket’s appearance are examples of trimmings, also known as embellishments. Similarly, hardware refers to buttons, zippers of all kinds, and metallic features with a practical component, such as the jacket’s closure.
YKK and RiRi are well-known zipper brands. Its usage implies that the jacket’s other components are of high grade. When zipping up or down, these zippers are brighter, tougher, and slicker.
6- Different Styles of Leather Jacket
There are a variety of styles to pick from when purchasing a leather jacket. The most prominent biker jackets are Double Riders, known as traditional biker jackets, Flight jackets, Cafe Racers, and Bombers.
Leather blazers and trench coats, leather vests, and seasonal leather jackets such as shearling and windbreaker leather jackets and coats are all popular modern fashions.
From the vintage to the modern, there are also hybrids, which combine both genres. These are made out of two or more leather jackets fused.
7- Leather Jacket Fit
The shape and fit of a leather jacket is an important consideration to make when purchasing one. Regardless of where you bought your leather jacket, these two factors may make or break your chances of looking decent in it.
If you enjoy the way a jacket looks, it’s probably because it’s well-cut. The jacket takes on a lovely form as a result of this. How the jacket fits you is determined by the jacket’s fit, which You can only determine once you’ve tried it on.
Make sure the jacket’s shoulder seams are parallel to, or as near to, your shoulder points as feasible. It won’t function if the temperature is too high or too low.
Following that, you should inspect the armholes, which, like the shoulders, should be as high as feasible. The better the fit, the higher the armhole. The lower the armhole, the more mobility the jacket will have. It’s not a pleasant sight.
Your jacket’s sleeves should terminate at the base of your thumb or the end of your wrist, right before your palm. The sleeves should not be too tight, but neither should they be too free. You should be able to lift both arms comfortably.
The waistline of your jeans should be where your jacket ends. If you’re not the kind to wear your jeans half-off your buttocks, that is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a leather jacket one size up?
Many individuals believe that you should go one size down, while others believe that going one size up is a smart option, keeping in mind that your jacket should have a snug but not too tight fit. In the end, it comes down to where you buy your leather jacket, the product picture, and the size chart accessible for online transactions.
Is it true that leather jackets loosen up with time?
Yes, many leather coats with some stretch may loosen up with time. In this scenario, moving down a size will work out nicely since the jacket will relax up to a comfortable level with time.
What is the average life expectancy of a leather jacket?
While there is no right or wrong answer to this question, most high-quality leather coats are estimated to last six to seven years. With proper care and maintenance, you may easily extend the life of your jacket by a couple of years.
Is it true that leather jackets improve with age?
Yes, particularly genuine leather coats. These items create a distinctive patina that enhances the elegance of the leather jacket.
What are the signs that a leather jacket is of excellent quality?
Stitching, hardware, and the feel of the leather should all be considered when determining the quality of a leather jacket. The jacket is of high quality if it has tidy, firm stitching, strong, durable hardware, and a pleasant leather feel.
Is it necessary to zip up a leather jacket?
It’s a wonderful idea to leave your leather jacket unzipped or undone from a fashion standpoint. This gives your appearance more depth and dimension. It would be best if you used only functioning zippers or buttons on a leather jacket. That’s for keeping warm in the winter.
last thoughts
All of the aforementioned elements will assist you in making a better-educated selection when purchasing a leather jacket. This will also decide the quality of the leather jacket and the price, which you will assess and justify based on the aforementioned points. If any of the variables in a jacket do not meet the criteria outlined above, it will reduce the price. In the end, you’ll be reducing the quality and lifespan of your leather jacket.
Meet Craig, the leather guru behind a store and blog that helps you find the best leather products. When he’s not curating lists of top-tier leather items, he’s hiking Table Mountain or walking his dog. Trust his picks, and you’ll never feel leather regret.