Which Jacket To Buy?
Leather or Suede [0:00:00]
So, let’s say you’re in the market for a new casual jacket, and the decision you
got to make, leather or suede?
Beautiful, beautiful leather or handsome, handsome suede?
Straight up, gents, there are tons and tons of reasons why you should grab a suede jacket.
That being said on the flipside, there were just as many reasons you should go out there
and grab a beautiful leather jacket that suits your needs.
So, how to make a buying decision?
How to choose between leather or suede?
Gentlemen, that’s the subject of today’s video.
[Music] Starting things off, let’s talk about style,
let’s talk about the image that a leather jacket projects.
Let’s talk about the style that a suede jacket projects.
Now, both suede and leather have been worn by men for over a thousand years.
In the last hundred years, we’ve seen these two break out that have slightly different
meanings.
When I look at a leather jacket, I think protection, I think armor, I think something that a biker
would be able to wear, be able to protect himself from road rash, a material that’s
going to be able to take a beating and come out looking even better.
Suede on the other hand is like the cool cousin, a bit mysterious, stands out, something that
everyone is drawn to, but they don’t necessarily know why.
Maybe it’s the texture, maybe just the way it’s styled, there’s something different.
And that really is one of the strengths of suede is that so many men don’t even think
to wear it or they’re scared to wear it because they worry about its durability.
And speaking of durability, let’s cover that next.
Now, suede gets a bad rap as not being durable, but that’s because it’s been compared
to full grain leather.
Now, if you were to compare suede to most other materials out there, it’s actually
relatively durable.
Made up of large collagen bundles, it’s going to be very malleable.
It’s something that’s incredibly soft, the touch especially after it’s been treated,
and does a decent job of protecting you from the wind and some of the elements.
That being said, it does come from the corium and unless the suede has been treated, it
will absorb moisture versus the grain.
Up at the top, we got the top grain.
This is going to use smaller collagen bundles.
Therefore, it’s going to be tighter, it’s going to have a whole lot of malleability.
It’s going to be very flexible, at the same time, much more durable and water-resistant.
In a nutshell, all things being equal, a full grain leather jacket is going to be much more
durable than a suede jacket.
That being said, a suede jacket that has been treated to be water-resistant is actually
a great option to be able to wear especially if you’re in an area that doesn’t get
a whole lot of rain or moisture like maybe Southern California.
Next up, let’s talk about uniqueness.
Now, leather jackets can come in a wide variety of styles.
See with this jacket right here, this is in a field jacket-type style with four pockets
on the front, the belt which I opted not to wear with this actually would wrap around
the center.
But, the color right here is also going to be something that grabs a little bit of attention
right there in that beautiful walnut.
Now, if that’s too much, you want something a little bit more classic, then check out
this lambskin moto right here.
And what I love about this one, the shoulders.
Check that out, the ribbing the padding right there on the shoulders, it just draws a bit
more attention.
It’s a very unique style, I hadn’t seen this actually anywhere else.
And, again, this is standing out not because of the material so much, but the way that
the jacket is styled and put together.
Now, all that’s cool, but when it comes to standing out from the crowd, this is where
suede really I think takes it.
So, this simple jacket right here, it’s a bomber style.
Notice you’ve got the ribbing around the cuffs around the bottom, so classic bomber
in style, but it is the color that camel right there that pops.
And instantly when you walk in, the color is going to grab attention and the texture
is going to bring them in.
And that’s the secret weapon of suede is the texture.
You almost want, I mean, it makes you want to come up and touch it.
And believe me, when you wear a jacket like this, the ladies will want to put their hands
on you.
Now, I get it, you’re married you’re taken, you want something a little bit muted, then
check out that same racer jacket style we were talking about earlier, except this time
it’s going to be in a chocolate suede.
Actually, cocoa was the color they’re calling it.
From a distance this is going to look just like another jacket, but, again, when people
get up close, all of a sudden, they see that texture.
It adds a whole other dimension, just a beautiful jacket that stands out from the crowd.
Now, gents, all of the jackets you’re going to see in today’s video are brought to you
by J.L. Rocha.
This is a family-run business that focuses in on quality.
So, when they’re doing batches of their jackets, the limited runs in a particular
style as they’re doing right here with their Icon jacket, an amazing overall jacket and
build.
And this one right here is full top grain heavy leather.
This is a biker’s jacket.
And so, if you’re looking for something that’s incredibly durable, something you
can wear on your motorcycle, something that’s just going to look good and stand out from
the crowd, you want to check out their Icon.
In fact, one of my favorite parts is the front design.
Basically, it’s got that cover in there, so it’s an asymmetrical-type of zipper.
It has that V right there in the front, just a really nice look to it.
And the material, it’s a 1.4 mm pebble grain vegetable tan calfskin leather.
And like all J.L. Rocha jackets, these guys paid attention to the details.
From right here, the buttons to the hardware.
Those zippers are incredibly smooth, easily going up and down.
Everything, the stitching is on point.
[0:05:02] That’s what I love about this company is
they pay attention to the style, they pay attention to the quality, to the built.
I know the founders personally and I love what these guys are doing.
They own their own factory, so they make sure the artisans that are putting the stuff together
are doing it right and doing it in a way that your jacket is going to last and be able just
to be something you enjoy for a lifetime.
Again, gents, go over to their website, check out all the different options all the different
jackets and if nothing else, join their email list.
Why?
Because occasionally they do very limited runs of unique jackets like this.
Go check out J.L. Rocha.
Again, I’ve known these guys for over seven years, awesome company, proud to support them.
And, use that link in the description of today’s video to make sure you get the best deal on
the web.
Now, really quick, gents, let’s talk price because you’re going to see jackets out
there for a couple of hundred bucks, suede leather jackets costing up to $5,000 from
high-end designers like Tom Ford.
What’s going on?
What’s with the difference?
It’s all about the material, it’s about the way that the jackets were put together,
and it’s about the style and who it’s designed for.
What I find on a lot of the lower cost jackets is that they skimp on the materials on the
stitching on the hardware.
They design it in a way, yeah, it may look decent on the picture, but you put it on,
all of a sudden, it’s got huge armholes.
There’s just something that’s off.
The proportions don’t seem to match up.
The picture you saw was actually taken from another website and that is not the style
that you got, the leather just doesn’t – it doesn’t age properly.
There’s something wrong with the way it was treated.
These are the things that you don’t necessarily see and why you need to be careful of jackets
that just cost a few hundred bucks.
Now, let’s talk about suede and leather as it pertains to age.
So, in general, I think that suede is for the more mature men.
I think that leather is for the younger guy.
Now, of course, you can break this rule.
If you ride a motorcycle, you’re in your 60s, you are young at heart and you’re in
good shape and the leather jacket fits you well, then, of course, you rock.
But, suede on the other hand, you’re in your early 20s, maybe you found something,
ah, you got it you saved up for, you found it on sale.
Whatever it may be, you’ve got this great looking suede jacket that really helps you
stand out from the crowd and you like the look of it, then go for it.
In general, suede just requires a bit more time, a little bit more maintenance.
It’s more of a fashion piece while leather is timeless.
It’s something that is more durable, doesn’t require as much time or attention and there
are more options out there.
So, which, you know, when it comes to age, again, this is just my opinion.
Agree?
Disagree?
Guys, you can always let me know down in the comments below.
So, what about sex appeal?
When it comes to suede, when it comes to leather, which one is going to make you irresistible?
Guys, I have to say that this is tough.
When it comes to leather jackets, I have – the only two times I’ve been approached in my
life by women giving me their number and, you know, that kind of stuff, I was wearing
leather.
So, you know, I have to say a lot about that.
That being said, I didn’t own any suede and since I’ve been wearing suede jackets,
I’ve had many people compliment me, come up and say, “I love that jacket, where did
you get it?”
My wife’s friends always like, “Man, your husband is, you know, he’s always look – he’s
always so well-dressed so well-put together.”
And, it’s those small details.
So, I think suede for an older guy, especially, you know, 30s, 40s, 50s, it is perfect in
your 20s, 30s, I think that leather is where it’s at.
And that’s where I used to wear more leather.
Hoo!
It’s getting hot in here.
I had to take the jacket off.
But, seriously suede jackets actually do a very good job of insulating.
I’d say that lightweight jacket I wear it when it’s maybe 20, 15 degrees outside Fahrenheit.
Again, I live in Wisconsin, it gets pretty cold and I could deal with the cold.
But, if it is snowing, if it’s raining, that’s where leather is going to be better
suited.
In addition, leather jackets are going to provide more insulation and all things being
equal, the insulation everything, leather is going to be more wind resistant, leather
is going to just do a better job of keeping in heat.
So, leather jackets in general what I recommend them, you know, sub zero probably not.
But, they are definitely if you want something warmer, then lean towards the leather especially
if you’re going to be riding on a motorcycle, it’s going to keep the wind from cutting
right through that.
That being said, suede does a perfectly fine job especially during the fall during the
spring.
Maybe not, you know, again, Minnesota winter, Alaska winter, probably not.
The leather jacket would be better suited although, you know, at that point, you’re
probably going to want to go with a parka because, yeah, that gets super cold.
You got to protect your ears.
Most leather jackets out there do not have a hood and, yeah, you need to be able to protect
yourself, right?
Now, gents, if you like leather jackets, smash the like button.
And if you like suede jackets, smash the like button.
If you like this video, I would appreciate it if you engage you hit that like button
because, guys, it lets the YouTube gods know that, hey, this video is worth watching.
Now, we talked about the different materials, but what about maintenance?
So, suede is going to require more maintenance.
And I talked about there’s all different options out there when it comes to spray on
water resistance.
I wouldn’t recommend using mink oil or anything really heavy because that can especially lighter
colored suede, it can permanently change the color.
Anything you put on a suede jacket, make sure to test on a small area and see the way it
reacts. [0:10:00]
But, I find that silicone sprays, I’ll go through an entire bottle treating a suede
jacket.
And I do this probably once a season.
So, if I know that I’m going to be wearing it multiple times throughout the fall, I will
treat that suede jacket and then, I’ll be usually fine because I won’t be wearing
it throughout the winter much.
So, you know, come around spring, I will go ahead and treat it again.
Heavyweight leather jackets on the other hand, they are much more durable.
The only issue I’ve really seen with them is if you live in a really hot dry area and
you want to wear your leather.
Let’s say you’re down at Arizona and for some reason, you’re just leaving that jacket
out, it can start to crack over time because leather it has moisture that’s in there.
And if it -- basically, all the moisture taken out, but leather can start to have issues.
So, that’s where I would be careful.
In addition, if your suede or leather gets caught in a downpour and I’m talking a lot
of water, where it gets soaked in.
You want to let it dry normally and then you’re going to want to treat it with just a little
bit of a leather conditioner.
Not with the suede jacket, however.
The suede jacket, again, you want to pre-treat it if you haven’t, then let’s just let
it dry out in, again, room temperature and see if it has stain.
If it actually starting to have issues, it may be something you need to take it to a
professional cleaner to have it treated and brought back to life.
Now, when it comes to leather jackets and color options, not usually too many.
Black is the default for a lot of guys.
Brown, I know it works for me my wardrobe and I gravitate towards that.
I do like brown as well because you’ve got tan, you’ve got, you know, variations of
brown, medium brown, dark brown, chocolate brown, cocoa, all these different colors.
That being said, there are some, you know, I know J.L. Rocha, if you go over it, they
have this midnight blue jacket that from a distance looks black.
You get up close, all of a sudden you start seeing the blue right in it.
It is a beautiful jacket.
One of the favorites in my collection, I’ve worn it in multiple videos.
And I really like it, again, because it is technically blue.
And if you know anything about black tie, midnight blue is actually darker than black.
And some – not in this case, I find that it just, you know, because of the sheen on
the, you know, the surface, it does reflect and you can see that blue, so it’s not really
truly black.
But, I love it because it works, again, in my wardrobe because browns typically work
in there.
That being said, black is great.
It’s going to work in many situations that you would want to wear a leather jacket.
But, in general, leather jackets are casual, so just make sure that you’re, you know,
wearing them with appropriate attire.
Suede on the other hand as I mentioned not only has usually a variety of colors because
that’s where the manufacturers really want to set it apart.
As you’ve seen in past videos, I’ve had blue suede jackets, I’ve had red suede jackets,
I’ve had green suede jackets.
I still got green suede jackets.
I love the color green.
I love that I can bring in – you’re not going to see really a green leather out there.
There probably are some, but, yeah, I haven’t had access to them.
But, another thing with suede and I talked about it earlier, again, is the mixing with
that texture.
So, you can wear a deeper richer color like that and unlike the sheen the shine that you
get on a regular leather jacket.
Although, a lot of leather jackets out there have maybe have a matte finish, but that texture,
it just makes it more elegant.
And speaking of elegance, which one of these can you dress up?
Which one is going to definitely be only for jeans?
So, leather jackets in general I think are more casual.
Again, all things being equal compared to a suede, suede is something that you can dress
up.
Take out the sports jacket, yeah, you’ve got a really nice dress shirt on, dress slacks.
You could still a suede jacket with that and I think it would look good.
In fact, you could wear this even with a tie, bowtie.
And, yeah, that may be pushing it, but you can make this happen.
Leather jackets, not so much.
This is going to be more for the t-shirt, the henley.
Maybe occasionally, the but – yeah, button down look perfectly fine.
But, this is going to be something more casual.
You’d be pushing it if even if you wore that leather jacket with chinos.
Suede, perfectly fine with even, you know, a little bit, you know, dressier of a look.
Now, this is one a lot of guys don’t think about, but tailoring.
If you wanted to get one of these garments adjusted, the suede is going to be easier
not letting out.
In fact, leather suede really can’t let this out because of the way that the needle
has gone through the material and it will leave a permanent hole.
But, if you wanted to bring something and you wanted to slim it up a bit, suede is going
to be easier to work with.
Again, you got to go to a tailor that understands leather and they could probably actually work
with leather just as well if they’re trained with that type of material.
But, suede because of its lighter build doesn’t need as heavy duty of a needle as you do with
a heavier weight leather.
So, what video to watch next?
How about how to style a leather jacket?
I know so many of you guys say, “Okay.
What do I wear it with?
What type of pants?
What type of shoes?
What type of shirt looks best for the leather jacket or a suede jacket?”
Guys, I got you covered in this video right here.
Check it out, it’s a good one.
Yes, click it, please.
Now, come on, what are you doing here?
Click on that video.
Go check it out, it’s a good one.
[0:14:48] End of audio