Leather jackets and leather vests are two popular forms of outerwear. Worn by both men and women of all ages, they offer an unparalleled level of versatility. But while they are both made of the same material — genuine leather — they aren’t necessarily the same. Before purchasing a new leather jacket or leather vest, you should familiarize yourself with the nuances between them. Only then will you be able to choose the right form of outerwear for your personal needs.
Warmth
There’s no denying the fact that leather jackets are warm. When the fall and winter months roll around and you need extra insulation in your outfit to keep warm, you can’t go wrong with a genuine leather jacket. Leather jackets offer more warmth than leather vests because of their sleeves. Leather vests are sleeveless, meaning they won’t offer any additional insulation for your arms. As a result, wearing a leather vest will leave your arms exposed to the cold weather and elements, which may cause discomfort during the fall and winter months.
Coolness
Conversely, leather vests are cooler than leather jackets. You may discover that a leather jacket is too warm to wear during the summer. Not only do leather jackets have sleeves, but they are often designed with a thicker construction than leather vests. Therefore, wearing a leather jacket during the summer may leave you feeling hot. Thankfully, this isn’t a problem with leather vests. Even during the “peak” days of summer, you can comfortably wear a leather vest. Its lightweight, sleeveless design is guaranteed to keep you cool and comfortable all summer long.
Layering
You’ll have an easier time creating a layered outfit when wearing a leather vest than a leather jacket. Again, this is because leather vests are sleeveless. With their sleeveless design, wearing a leather vest will expose your underlying shirt or top. If you wear a white t-shirt with a leather vest, for example, part of your shirt’s white sleeves will remain visible. You can still create a layered outfit when wearing a leather jacket, but it’s more difficult because of their sleeves. For a simple and effective layered outfit, you may want to choose a leather vest for this reason.
Hoods
Both leather jackets and leather vests are available in hooded and non-hooded styles. The actual hoods on these garments aren’t made of leather. Rather, they are typically made of an organic material like cotton or wool. What’s the purpose of hooded leather vests and hooded leather jackets exactly? With an added hood, these garments provide both water protection and warmth for your head. If it’s raining outside, you can pull the hood over your head to keep your hair dry. If it’s cold outside, you can use the hood to keep your ears and head warm. Regardless, leather vests and leather jackets are available in hooded and non-hooded styles.
Colors
Brown and black are, without a doubt, the two most popular colors in which leather vests and leather jackets are made. For over a century, both of these garments have been made and sold in these two colors. Today, however, you can find leather vests and leather jackets available in a wide range of other colors.
If you purchase your leather vest or leather jacket here at LeatherCult, you can choose from dozens of different colors. You’ll still have the option of choosing brown or black, but you don’t have to limit yourself to using only one of these two colors.
When choosing a color for your leather vest or leather jacket, consider the following:
- What type of clothes do you intend to wear it with? A good rule of thumb is to choose a leather vest or leather color in a color that matches the clothes with which you wear it.
- How many colors does it have? While most leather vests and leather jackets feature a single color, some have two or more colors.
- How will the color affect your comfort level? Generally speaking, darker colors offer warmth, whereas lighter colors offer coolness.
Pockets
If you regularly carry small items like cash, credit cards or car keys, you should choose a garment that features pockets. The good news is that both leather vests and leather jackets are designed with pockets. You can find a few pocketless styles, but most styles feature at least one — usually two more — pockets on the front or sides.
Length
In terms of length, leather vests and leather jackets are about equal. Both garments usually have a length that stops around the midsection when worn (assuming it fits your body properly). With that said, some leather jackets are designed with a longer length. Known as a leather long coat, they often extend all the way to your knees — much like a traditional trench coat. You won’t find leather vests available in lengths such as this. Rather, leather vests almost always stop around the midsection when worn.
Versatility
Some people may argue that leather vests are more versatile than leather jackets because you can wear them year-round, but this isn’t necessarily true. Both leather vests and leather jackets are highly versatile forms of outerwear that can be worn during spring, summer, fall or winter. If you’re worried that a leather jacket will leave you feeling uncomfortably hot during the summer, consider pairing it with a thin, lightweight t-shirt. And if you’re worried that a leather vest will be too cold to wear during the winter, consider pairing it with a thicker, heavier shirt. There are ways to wear either of these garments year-round. You just have to pair them with the right clothes and accessories.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, leather vests and leather jackets are very similar. They are made of the same material, have a similar overall construction and have similar features. The only major difference is that leather jackets have sleeves, whereas leather vests are sleeveless.