Congratulations on your decision to buy a leather jacket. It’s a smart investment that will pay off in the form of superior comfort and style. To get the most use, as well as value, out of your leather jacket, however, there are a few things you should do after buying it. By following these seven tips, your leather jacket will last longer while offering a higher level of utility in the process.
#1) Break It In
It’s recommended that you wear your new leather jacket for a few days to break it in. New leather jackets are somewhat stiff, and if you don’t break it in, it won’t offer the highest level of comfort possible. So, how do you break it in a new leather jacket? The easiest way is to simply wear it around your house for a few days. Like with other garments, the more you wear a leather jacket, the softer it will become. After wearing your new leather jacket for three or four days around the house, it should be broken in.
#2) Condition It
Don’t forget to condition your leather jacket. When leather jackets are first produced, they typically aren’t conditioned. Why does this matter exactly? Well, conditioning refers to the process of hydrating leather with a conditioning product, the most common of which being saddle soap. In its natural state, leather is porous, so it’s capable of absorbing or releasing moisture. If your leather jacket releases too much moisture — a common problem in dry climates with a low relative humidity level — it will feel rough and may even crack open. Conditioning your leather jacket protects against problems such as this by hydrating and moisturizing the leather material.
When you first purchase a leather jacket, be sure to condition it. This process should only take a few minutes, but doing so will protect your new jacket from severe dehydration, which could otherwise cause permanent damage.
#3) Check the Care Label
After bringing home a new leather jacket from the store, take a few minutes to inspect the care label. Most leather jackets have care sewn into a discreet area, such as inside the collar. Here, you can find instructions direct from the manufacturer on how to clean and care for your new leather jacket. You’ll probably discover that the care label says “Do not wash.” This is because most leather jackets, especially those made of genuine leather, are not suitable for washing machines. Instead, you’ll need to spot clean your leather jacket when it’s dirty (see below). Regardless, it’s a good idea to check the care label on your new leather jacket to learn more about the proper steps to cleaning and maintaining it.
#4) Locate a Safe Storage Area
Where do you intend to store your new leather jacket? Contrary to what some people believe, you can’t store a leather jacket just anywhere. Rather, it must be stored in a climate-controlled environment where it’s not exposed to excessively high or excessively low humidity levels. Because attics and basements typically aren’t climate controlled, neither area offers a safe and suitable storage area for a leather jacket. Leaving your leather jacket in the attic or basement for a short period of time probably won’t cause any noticeable ill effect. But if you store your leather jacket in either of these places for multiple consecutive days, it could suffer from permanent damage.
Instead of storing your leather jacket in the attic or basement, consider storing it in your bedroom closet. As long as your bedroom is climate controlled, it will offer a safe and effective storage area for your leather jacket.
#5) Find Matching Clothes
One of the great things about leather jackets is that you can wear them with a variety of clothes and accessories. First and foremost, however, you’ll need to find the right clothes and accessories with which to wear them. Go through your wardrobe to see what garments match your leather jacket. The next time you want to wear your leather jacket, you’ll know exactly which shirt, pants or other garments to grab out of your wardrobe.
If you own a black leather jacket, for example, assess your wardrobe to determine which clothes and accessories will match it. Black leather jackets are particularly wonderful because of their ability to match so many other colors. If you own a red leather jacket, on the other hand, you won’t be able to wear it with as many colors. Regardless, you should assess your wardrobe to determine which garments and accessories you can wear with your new leather jacket.
#6) Inspect the Buttons and Zipper
It’s recommended that you inspect the buttons and/or zipper on your leather jacket to ensure they are intact and not defective. Some leather jackets are designed with a single row of buttons on the front, whereas others have a zipper on the front. And some leather jackets have a combination of both buttons and a zipper. Regardless of which style you own, you should inspect the fasteners to ensure they function as intended. It’s frustrating when you bring home a new leather jacket, only to discover that the buttons or zipper don’t work.
#7) Clean It
Finally, you’ll probably need to clean your new leather jacket, especially after wearing it a few times. As previously mentioned, leather jackets shouldn’t be cleaned in the washing machine. Instead, you should spot clean your leather jacket. There are cleaning products available which are designed specifically for leather, although an alternative solution is to simply use a small amount of dish soap and warm water. Either way, you should clean your leather jacket on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of dirt and debris.
Of course, you should still choose a high-quality leather jacket. Following these seven steps will offer little or no benefit if you have a cheap, low-quality leather jacket. Here at LeatherCottage, we offer only the highest-quality leather jackets, all of which are made of premium leather like Nappa leather.