What To Consider When Buying A Leather Jacket
Oct 24th, 2010 Posted in style | no comment »Leather jackets have been at the forefront of fashion for decades, with styles such as the leather bomber, trench-coat, biker jacket and straight casual leather jacket. The style was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s and revived again in the 1970s and 1980s with the appearance of The Fonz in Happy Days. Many other actors and characters have popularized the image of the leather jacket, including Gary Cooper, Harrison Ford and Keanu Reeves.
There are many different types and grades of leather available to the consumer, ranging from the high street hide leather, which is usually thinly sliced and churned out in bulk in order to secure big profits for the high street companies, to nappa leather – the highest grade of leather available. Nappa leather is, naturally, also the most expensive leather you can buy. Its supple, lightweight attributes allow it to be worn all day, should the wearer wish. In contrast, a third type of leather – nubuck – is soft and velvety to the touch and attains a vintage style in the eyes of many.
Of course, budget is very important. If you can afford to stretch to the upper end of your budget, high grade nappa leather jackets are available in excess of $500. This extremely high grade of leather is well worth the money if you can afford it. If your budget is at the lower end of the scale, hide leather may suit but is heavy and often uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time. Online shopping often allows big discounts off products such as leather jackets, so it’s worth looking at online leather jacket retailers for inspiration and price guides.
The classic black leather jacket remains the most popular color of leather, as it has done for many years. Some men opt for brown colored jackets in order to attain a vintage look, while red is a popular color for women. Leather coloring is achieved either by using aniline dyes on higher grades of leather or surface dyeing on lower grades. Surface dyeing helps hide blemishes in lower grade leather while aniline dyes give a varnished effect to high grade leather.
It’s not difficult to keep a leather jacket looking brand new. With a little care and attention, a leather jacket can give many, many years of good service. Use a leather protector regularly in order to protect your leather from rain and spillages. Moisturizing the jacket with a leather conditioner will prolong the life of your jacket and keep it supple and moist, providing it with flexibility to move and stretch without cracking or ripping. Enjoy your leather jacket and look after it.
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