Some people assume that leather jackets can only be worn during the fall and winter months due to their heavy construction. While a leather jacket is an excellent form of outerwear for these otherwise cold months, however, you can also wear it during the summer. But there are a few things you should know before sporting a leather jacket in the summer. To ensure that you create a cohesive, comfortable style, it’s recommended that you follow a few simple steps. In this post, we’re going to reveal the best way to wear a leather jacket in the summer.
Avoid Quilted Leather
When choosing a leather jacket to wear in the summer, avoid those with a quilted lining. It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to included a quilted interior lining in their leather jackets. The outside of the jacket has the normal leather material, whereas the inside has a softer cloth lining. Quilted leather jackets such as this offer a high level of comfort and warmth, making them ideal for winter usage. For summer, however, they are usually too hot to comfortably wear. Therefore, it’s recommended that you avoid quilted leather jackets and, instead, choose a traditional all-leather jacket.
Choose a Lighter Color
A midnight black leather jacket probably isn’t the best choice for the summer. While stylish and easy to match with other garments, black has a tendency to absorb heat. If you wear a black leather jacket in the summer, you may feel hot and clammy, preventing you from taking full advantage of this garment. You can still wear a leather jacket in the summer, but you should choose a different, lighter color. A light brown leather jacket, for example, is an excellent choice. Assuming it’s light, it will create a cool and comfortable fit that reflects sunlight off your body, thus keeping you cool and comfortable throughout the summer season.
Check the Length
It’s also a good idea to consider the length when choosing a leather jacket to wear during the summer. Different leather jackets are manufactured with different lengths. Some are relatively short, stopping at the waistline. Others, however, are longer, extending all the way to the knees. The latter, known as a leather long coat, is a popular choice for the winter months because the added fabric helps insulate and protect against the cold. For the summer, however, a leather long coat can leave you feeling hot. Rather than wearing a leather long coat this summer, choose a leather jacket in a standard length. A standard-length leather jacket will offer you the perfect balance of style and comfort.
Avoid Multiple Layers
Of course, the clothes you wear underneath your leather jacket will affect your overall comfort level. If you plan to wear your leather jacket during the summer, you should avoid wearing multiple layers underneath. There’s nothing wrong with wearing a basic t-shirt or even a button-up dress shirt underneath your leather jacket. However, wearing more than two layers can make you feel uncomfortably hot, especially during the summer. Stick with just one or two thin, lightweight garments underneath your leather jacket to create a cool and comfortable appearance that’s perfect for the summer.
Choose the Right Pants… or Skirt
Don’t forget to wear the right pants with your leather jacket. Wearing a pair of heavy corduroy pants isn’t the best option for the summer months. When worn in conjunction with a thick leather jacket, it can leave you feeling uncomfortably hot. Therefore, you should consider a lighter and more seasonally appropriate style of pants, such as cotton or linen chinos. Women should also consider wearing a skirt with their jacket jacket. A skirt in a color that contrasts with the jacket creates a visually striking appearance while also maintaining a cool and lightweight outfit.
Condition It
One of the great things about owning a leather jacket is the fact that it requires little work to maintain. However, there’s still one thing you should do to preserve your leather jacket: condition it. This is especially important if you intend to wear your jacket during the summer. Conditioning a leather jacket will make it softer and more supple, which can create a cooler and more comfortable fit for the hot spring and summer months. To condition your leather jacket, apply a leather conditioning product like saddle soap to the material once every few months. You don’t want to condition it too frequently, as this may damage the material. Rather, try to get into the habit of conditioning your leather jacket once every two to three months for maximum benefit.
Leave It Open
When wearing a leather jacket during the summer, leave the front open. Whether your jacket has buttons or a zipper on the front, leaving it open will allow air to flow more easily, thus creating a cooler and more comfortable fit. And when the fall and winter months roll around, you can close the front for increased warmth and protection from the elements.
Stick With Genuine Leather
Of course, you should also stick with a genuine leather jacket. Some jackets are designed to look and fell like real leather, but they actually contain a synthetic material. Known as faux leather, it consists of a base fabric with a plastic-like coating of polyurethane. Unfortunately, faux leather is usually warmer and more restrictive than the real thing, making it a poor choice for the summer.
Wear It From the Waist
Finally, consider wearing your leather jacket from the waist. When the midday sun rolls around, you may feel particularly hot when wearing a leather jacket. Wrapping it around your waist, however, is a simple way to keep cool while enhancing your appearance in the process. And when you go indoors where it’s cool, you can take it off and wear it over your body. These are just a few ways to wear a leather jacket in the summer.