A leather vest is a comfortable and stylish alternative to a leather jacket. While they are both classified as leather outerwear, leather vests are sleeveless, whereas leather jackets have sleeves. You can wear a leather vest all year long. With its sleeveless design, it won’t leave you feeling hot during the spring and summer months.
There are many different types of leather vests, however. When shopping for a leather vest, you should pay close attention to its features. Some of the top features to consider in a leather vest include the following:
#1) Pockets
Many leather vests are designed with pockets. You can find the pockets on the front. Depending on the particular style, a leather vest may have anywhere from one to four pockets on the front. A two-pocket configuration is the most common. Leather vests often feature two pockets near the bottom of the front. You can easily access these pockets while wearing the leather vest.
What benefits do pockets offer exactly? Below are several advantages of choosing a leather vest with pockets:
- Creates a more stylish appearance
- Allows you to store and carry small items
- Provides a place to warm your hands
#2) Napa Leather
Napa leather is a feature to consider when shopping for a leather vest. All leather vests are made of leather. After all, the use of leather is what distinguishes them from other types of wearable vests. But there are different types of leather used in their construction, one of which is napa.
In terms of quality, napa leather outperforms all other types of leather. Vests made of napa leather are softer, suppler and more comfortable than their counterparts. If you’re going to buy a leather vest, you should consider choosing one that’s made of real napa leather for these reasons.
#3) Hood
You might be surprised to learn that leather vests are available with hoods. Hooded leather vests are made of the same leather material as other styles; they simply feature a hood.
With a hooded leather vest, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll be protected from the rain and elements. If the weather begins to turn south while you’re outdoors, you can pull the hood over the top of your head. Not all leather vests have a hood; some of them feature a traditional unhooded style. If you’re planning to wear the leather vest outdoors for long periods, though, you may want to choose a hooded style. A hooded leather vest will protect you from the weather by shielding your head from the elements.
#4) Custom Size
To get the most bang for your buck, you should consider choosing a custom-sized leather vest. Leather vests are available in both generic sizes and custom sizes. Generic sizes include standard, store-based sizes. Custom sizes, on the other hand, are those that are personalized specifically to your body.
You can order a custom-sized leather vest here at LeatherCult. When placing an order, you can enter your body measurements. You won’t be limited to choosing a generic size. Rather, you can specify the exact measurements of your body. We’ll use these measurements to create a custom-sized leather vest. As long as you enter the correct body measurements, your leather vest will fit perfectly. Therefore, custom-sized leather vests are almost always better than their generic-sized counterparts.
#5) Shawl Lapel
Some leather vests feature shawl lapels. Lapels, of course, are commonly associated with suit jackets. They are sections of material around the neckline that are folded over and sewn into place. With shawls, suit jackets feature a more well-defined neckline. But shawls aren’t limited to suit jackets; you can find them on leather vests as well.
The Shawl Lapel Leather Vest lives up to its namesake by featuring shawl lapels. Rather than a smooth neckline, the sides of the neckline are folded over. Known as shawl lapels, they create a more formal appearance. You can still choose a leather vest without lapels. If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd while projecting a more formal appearance, though, you may want to choose a leather vest with lapels, such as the Shawl Lapel Leather Vest.
#6) Premium Fasteners
Don’t forget to consider the fasteners when shopping for a leather vest. Fasteners are a common part of all leather vests. Whether made of Napa leather or any other type of leather, vests require fasteners.
Most leather vests feature either buttons or a zipper. You can find these fasteners on the front. A typical leather vest will feature either a column of buttons or a zipper on the front. Regardless of the type, fasteners need to be made of a high-quality material. Otherwise, they may fail.
You can typically still wear a leather vest with a broken zipper or missing buttons. With that said, you won’t be able to close the front. Leather vests feature fasteners so that you can close the front. After putting on a leather vest, you can pull up the zipper or fasten the buttons. Broken fasteners means that the front of the leather vest will remain open at all times.
#7) Quilting
Depending on when you intend to wear it, you may want to choose a quilted leather vest. They are similar to quilted leather jackets. Both leather vests and leather jackets are available in quilted styles. Quilting simply consists of a stitched construction that’s stuffed with padding.
Quilted leather vests — as well as quilted leather jackets — are ideal for the cooler months of the year. With quilting, they offer a superior level of protection against the cold weather. A quilted leather vest will insulate your body so that it loses less heat. The end result is greater warmth and comfort. If you’re looking to wear a leather vest during the warmer months of the year, conversely, you may want to avoid quilting.