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A leather jacket is a timeless fashion piece that can be worn season after season. But unless you happen to be an extremely skilled bargain hunter, most leather jackets can make a serious dent on your credit card. Think of your jacket as an investment, something that should be long lasting. Make sure to take proper care of your leather jacket and store it properly to keep it looking fresh and soft for years to come.
Spray With a Leather Protector
Once you take that coveted jacket home and gleefuly unwrap it, before hosting your own catwalk show, take a few simple steps to ensure that your jacket will keep looking fresh year after year. Use a leather conditioner such as mink oil to moisturize your jacket. Squeeze a small amount of the product onto a cloth and rub the cloth in a circular motion all over your jacket. The mink oil will keep the leather soft and moisturized. Since leather is a natural, porous skin, it needs to breathe and needs to be moisturized in order to stay soft. After you've moisturized the leather, it's time to weatherproof it. Use a high-quality leather spray and spray a fine layer all over your jacket. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated area or outside. Let your jacket air out for about an hour.
Avoid Heaters and Fans
If you're gearing up for cold weather and trading in your leather jacket for your parka, make sure to store your jacket away from any heaters or fans. Try to find a storage spot that isn't too dry. Heaters will dry out the leather, making it more susceptible to cracking. Avoid any future tears by rubbing on some more mink oil before storing it.
Avoid Plastic Garment Bags
If you're storing your leather jacket in a closet or storage space for the winter, don't use a plastic garment bag to protect it. If you do, you may find your favorite piece will be less than supple once warmer weather hits. Try a natural fiber or breathable garment bag, and your jacket will be as good as new next season.
Use Curved or Padded Hangers
When hanging your leather jacket, avoid hangers with sharp corners. These might end up warping the leather and you may end up with sad-looking Lady Gaga-gone-wrong pointy shoulders. Instead, use a molded hanger with rounded edges or a padded hanger.
