Are you thinking about purchasing a black leather jacket? There’s no denying the fact that black is a popular color for leather jackets. In fact, it’s the second-most popular color in which this classic outerwear is made, surpassed only by brown. A high-quality black leather jacket offers a superior level of versatility, allowing you to wear it with any number of different garments and accessories. But if you want to create a dressier appearance, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps.
Stick With Genuine Black Leather
Not all leather jackets are made with genuine leather. Some companies sell jackets made of faux leather. Based on the name alone, you may assume that faux leather is just a different type of leather, but this isn’t the case. It’s actually a synthetic material comprised of a traditional textile with a plastic-like coating on the outside. A black faux leather jacket will probably cost less than a genuine black leather jacket, but as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” Faux leather is weaker and less resilient than genuine leather. If you’re going to invest in a new black leather jacket, make sure that it’s made of genuine leather and not faux leather or any other textile.
Wear It With Black Leather Accessories
Don’t forget to wear the right accessories with your black leather jacket. A simple way to dress up a black leather jacket is to accessorize it with other items made of black leather. Women, for example, can accessorize their outfit with a black leather handbag, whereas men can accessorize their outfit with a black leather wristwatch. And regardless of gender, you can always accessorize your outfit with a black leather belt.
Avoid Hooded Black Leather Jackets
Like other forms of outerwear, you can find black leather jackets available with hoods. The hoods usually aren’t made of leather, however. Instead, they are made of a softer textile like quilted cotton or wool. When the weather is cool, you can pull the hood over your head for added warmth and protection from the elements. But the problem with hooded jackets is that they are less formal than non-hooded jackets. For this reason, you should avoid wearing a hooded black leather jacket if you want to achieve a dressier style.
Wear Formal Attire Underneath
Another way to dress up a black leather jacket is to wear formal clothes underneath it. It’s not uncommon for women to wear a formal dress underneath a black leather jacket. Whether it’s a white, red or black dress, it will likely compliment the appearance of a black leather jacket while helping to create a dressier appearance in the process. If you’re a man, you can wear a button-up dress shirt with formal trousers or suit pants. Combined with a necktie, this will create a formal, dressy appearance that looks great when worn with a black leather jacket.
Don’t Forget Formal Footwear
Footwear can make or break an outfit. To dress up a black leather jacket, you need to wear formal footwear that flows cohesively with the rest of your outfit. There’s no single “best” type of formal footwear with which to wear a black leather jacket. It ultimately depends on your personal style as well as the specific occasion. Popular formal footwear choices for women include designer high-heeled shoes and ballet flats, while popular choices for men include Oxfords, loafers and derbies. In terms of color, it’s usually best to stick with black so that your shoes match your black leather jacket.
Protect It From Fading
You should take steps to protect your black leather jacket from fading if you want to create a more formal, dressier appearance. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with wearing a faded black leather jacket. In fact, some people prefer the aged, vintage look of faded leather jackets. But faded leather jackets, regardless of color, offer a more casual appearance. Therefore, you should work to maintain and protect your black leather jacket from fading. Fading usually occurs from prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. You can still wear your black leather jacket outdoors when it’s sunny, but you should avoid leaving it outside for long periods of time.
Condition It
In addition to protecting your black leather jacket from fading, you should also condition it. We’ve discussed leather conditioning before. Basically, though, it’s a form of maintenance that involves applying a leather conditioning product like saddle soap to a genuine leather garment. Leather conditioning products contain a proprietary blend of ingredients that moisturize and protect leather from damage. When used regularly, it will create a shiny “luster” that leaves your black leather jacket looking like new. Just remember not to overdo it, as conditioning leather too frequently can saturate it with excess moisture. For most black leather jackets, you should only condition them once every few months.
Go Cropped
A popular leather jacket style among many fashion-conscious women is cropped. Like other cropped garments, it’s characterized by a shorter design that doesn’t extend all the way to the waistline. Cropped leather jackets look dressier than traditional-length jackets. The only downside is that they contain offer as much coverage as traditional-length leather jackets.
Leave It Unbuttoned
To button your black leather jacket or not to button it, that is the question. Well, the answer to this question is no — you shouldn’t button it. To dress up your black leather jacket, it’s recommended that you leave it unbuttoned. Doing so will reveal your underlying garments. And assuming you are wearing a formal outfit underneath, which you should, this will create a more formal appearance. You can still button up your black leather jacket when it’s cold outside or you otherwise feel the need to. For a dressier appearance, though, you should leave it unbuttoned all other times. Along with the other tips listed here, this will enhance your outfit to create a dressier appearance.