Jeans have come a long way since their origins over a century ago. You can now find them in dozens of colors, and you can even find them made of leather.
Leather jeans offer a fresh take on this otherwise traditional garment. They are soft, stylish, semi-elastic and versatile. Most importantly perhaps, leather jeans match all other leather garments. You can wear them with a leather jacket or leather shirt, for example, to achieve a uniform appearance.
What Are Leather Jeans?
Leather jeans are full-length trousers made of leather. They aren’t true jeans. Only trousers made of entirely or mostly of denim are technically considered jeans. Nonetheless, leather jeans share many of the same qualities as jeans. They are simply leather trousers that are designed to look like jeans when worn.
While they are available in different styles, most leather jeans feature the following characteristics:
- Made of real leather
- Full length design that completely covers the legs
- Four primary pockets, as well as two smaller pockets inside of the front two pockets
- High-quality rivets and fasteners
Denim vs Leather Jeans
Traditional jeans, of course, are made of denim. For well over a century, jeans have been of denim. Denim is a type of durable cotton. It’s made by weaving the weft of cotton under two or more warp threads. All denim is made of cotton. The cotton features a particular weaving pattern that results in a durable and strong fabric known as denim.
Leather jeans aren’t made of denim. As the name suggests, they are made of leather. There are several different types of leather. Some leather is made of cowhide, whereas other types of leather are made of sheepskin. The grain of the leather may also vary. All types of real leather have a grain. Depending on the particular type of leather, the grain may be small or large.
Leather jeans are also relatively new, whereas denim jeans have been around for many years. Leather jeans emerged in recent decades as an alternative to traditional denim jeans. They aren’t designed to replace denim jeans. Rather, leather jeans offer an alternative to their denim counterparts. You can include them in your outfits instead of wearing the same denim jeans day after day.
Benefits of Leather Jeans
Unless you’ve worn them in the past, you might be wondering what benefits leather jeans offer. All leather jeans are form-fitting. They aren’t baggy, nor do they fit loosely when worn. Leather jeans are form-fitting in the sense that they hug your body.
As previously mentioned, leather jeans naturally match other leather garments with which they are worn. If you own a leather jacket, for example, you can wear it with a pair of leather jeans. Leather jackets are made of the same fabric as leather jeans. As a result, these two garments will complement each other.
We can’t talk about the benefits of leather jeans without mentioning softness. Leather jeans are among the softest trousers on the market. They have a naturally supple texture that’s not stiff or rough. With their superior level of softness, you can wear leather jeans all day long without fear of them causing discomfort.
Leather jeans are also long-lasting. Leather isn’t just soft; it’s durable. When properly maintained, leather jeans can last for many years. You can still wear traditional denim jeans. With leather jeans, though, you don’t have to worry about them succumbing to the hands of time as long you maintain them.
Things to Consider When Choosing Leather Jeans
There are several things you’ll need to consider when choosing leather jeans. There are two primary types of leather in which leather jeans are made, for instance. Some of them are made of standard leather, whereas others are made of stretch leather. The latter consists of a blended material with real leather and an elastic fabric.
You should consider when color when choosing leather jeans. Not all leather jeans are black. While black is probably the most popular color in which they are made, you can find leather jeans in over a dozen other colors. Some people prefer white leather jeans. Others prefer red or blue leather jeans. You can find leather jeans in just about any color. Just remember to choose a color that matches the garments, as well as accessories, with which you can plan to wear the leather jeans.
Don’t forget to consider the pockets when choosing leather jeans. Most leather jeans have a similar pocket configuration as traditional denim jeans. They have two front pockets, each of which has a smaller pocket inside of them. Leather jeans also have two pockets on the back. To mimic the appearance of traditional denim jeans, you should choose leather jeans with a similar pocket configuration such as this.
How to Maintain Leather Jeans
Following some basic maintenance tips will allow you to get the most use and value out of your leather jeans. You shouldn’t wash leather jeans in the washing machine. Assuming they are made of real leather — which most leather jeans are — you should spot clean them. Spot cleaning is a safer, gentler way to clean leather jeans. Using a damp washcloth with some mild dish soap, blot the surface of your leather jeans until they come clean.
Conditioning your leather jeans can make them last longer. Because they are made of real leather, leather jeans can dry out. And the drier they become, the greater the risk of them cracking. Conditioning is designed to protect against dryness-related damage such as this. You can apply a conditioner to your leather jeans, which will hydrate them while subsequently protecting them from dryness.
Storing your leather jeans in a climate-controlled environment will protect them from damage. All leather garments need to “breathe.” If you store leather jeans in the basement or attic where the climate isn’t controlled, they may develop mildew stains. This is due to the fact that moisture will remain trapped inside of their pores.