Leather Up!

written by Tasneem Soni May 23, 2021

The leather jacket is one of W&H’s favourite choices when it comes to classic buys and transitional pieces. Here’s all about why and how the leather jacket is your express ticket to easy style.

A brief history
The leather jacket dates back as far as the Second World War, when it was introduced in the form of leather bomber jackets for fighter pilots to wear. During the ’20s, the leather biker jacket was created by Irving Schott and later became popular in rock-music culture, cementing the cool factor as we know it today.

Caring for your leather
Wipe your leather jacket with a clean, damp cloth to remove any obvious dirt. After removing the dirt, use a good leather cleaner and clean with a soft sponge as per the instructions. If you do not have any leather cleaner, you can use a small amount of mild liquid detergent mixed with lukewarm water. Once you have wiped down the jacket, use a clean cloth to wipe off any excess moisture. TIP: Make sure that you don’t wet the sponge too much as excessive moisture can damage leather.

Invest in your wardrobe
A good-quality leather jacket is a classic key item that will always be a staple in your wardrobe. Versatile and always on-trend, you will wear it season after season. We’re fans of black leather but not opposed to a good shade of brown. Other colours can be incredibly fun, just ensure that it will be easy to mix up with the rest of your wardrobe. Although genuine-leather clothing can be expensive, it is worth the investment when it comes to the leather jacket – it will remain trendy for years to come, and last through those years too. If you feel strange about buying new leather, shopping good quality vintage is a great option.

How to wear it
Stylist, fashion blogger, author and the cheeky woman behind @doesmybumlook40 is a serial leather jacket wearer. Below are some of our favourite looks of hers: from giving soft looks a modern edge to taking loungewear out the house or keeping snug in the original bomber style, Kat knows how to effortlessly add her leather jackets in all scenarios.

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A post shared by Kat Farmer (@doesmybumlook40)