﻿How To Style A Leather Jacket As An Adult Man
[0:00:00] So, for a lot of guys out there,
they imagine a leather jacket is gonna make 'em look like this. The reality though, unfortunately,
it makes them look like this. Gents, I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be this way. In fact,
in today's video, I'm gonna show you how to style a leather jacket, like a grown man.
So to get started, you first have to understand there are 5 fundamental rules to looking good in
a leather jacket. First up, quality matters. You want to buy the best you can afford,
even if you have to save up for it, because what you don't wanna buy is a cheap leather jacket.
Now, how to spot quality? Well, first up, you want to pay attention to the material, to the
leather. There are different types of leather out there. Some are inferior to other types, and you
wanna be able to spot the difference. I'm gonna explain a little bit later in this video all the
different types and what you wanna look for. Next up, let's talk about the construction. That's
the build quality. That's the number of stitches per inch, the type of material they're using
in the stitching, the way that it was put together. This is very important 'cause you
may not notice it, you know, a month after wearing it. But 10 years down the line,
you don't want your jacket falling apart. Next up, let's talk about the hardware. That's gonna
be the zippers and the buttons. You wanna make sure these are coming from a reputable company.
You look at 'em. They are labeled oftentimes. You can quickly look at something and spot "Hey,
did they spend good money on this?" 'Cause if they spend good money on the hardware, you can bet they
probably didn't cut corners in other places. Next step, the aesthetics. We're talking about the
overall style and design. You will pay a premium to get a unique jacket or one
made by a designer in a unique way. Next step, let's talk about the history. So you're
gonna find that some companies had been around for a while. Other ones are just coming out. I like a
company with a little bit of history. They don't have to have 100 years, but what I like to see
is that they're gonna stand behind the jackets they make. Now, the second foundational rule for
styling a leather jacket is to wear the right style for your body type. There's all different
styles of jackets out there. And you wanna wear one that compliments your build. If you're 5 foot
9, 170 pounds, you got lots of options. But if you're 6 foot 4, 300 pounds, and carrying a lot
of weight around the midsection, if you're 5 foot 2, 120 pounds, there are certain styles
that you're gonna want to gravitate towards that are just gonna work better with your frame.
The third rule to styling a leather jacket? Fit is emperor. Notice I didn't say king. Emperor.
Because it's even more important than even on a sports jacket or a suit. Why? Because those
can be brought in and brought out. Most leather jackets cannot be let out. And to bring them in,
to adjust the leather jacket requires oftentimes a special type of sewing machine, skills,
and equipment. Much harder to find somebody that can work on a leather jacket and adjust it. So
when you buy a leather jacket off the rack, you really wanna make sure it fits you properly.
The fourth rule to styling a leather jacket is to understand how is it gonna fit in your
wardrobe. Now, leather jackets by their very nature are casual, but you gotta make sure you
got pieces that are gonna work with them because if your wardrobe is too formal, your wardrobe is
really ultracasual, it's gonna be hard to work it into the rotation. And you wanna make sure that
you're actually able to wear this. So I will talk a little bit later in the video about outfits you
can put together and some really easy go-to pieces that always work with a leather jacket.
Last, but not least, let's talk about the emotional attachment.
This is a jacket when you put it on, you want it to make you feel like a million bucks.
You want this to be a suit of armor that protects you not only from the elements,
but yeah, you just know that every time you put it on, you feel great 'cause you've gotten so
many compliments. And the only item in the wardrobe I can think of that's even close to this
is maybe a really nice watch. So you don't wanna get this wrong. You don't wanna compromise. You
don't wanna go with that jacket that is a cheap leather, that you can afford today.
No. Save up your money. Make sure you get what you really want 'cause it does matter.
Now, speaking of getting what you want, gentlemen, all the jackets you've seen in today's video, you
can grab over at JL Rocha. Down in the description of today's video, I've got an amazing discount
code. Now back in 2015, they sent me this jacket right here. Beautiful. But it was a limited run
and they since don't make it anymore. I was very pleasantly surprised to receive this jacket right
here. The icon. This is a full-on riding jacket. Now, as you can probably tell from the photos
and the videos, this is a very heavyweight jacket. We're talking 1.4-millimeter thick calf skin. This
is gonna be great if you wanna be able to ride with this jacket, wear in inclement weather. This
is a jacket that is literally built like armor. It can deal with anything you throw out.
Other upgrades they've made on this jacket? They're using Rubi Star zippers. If you're
not familiar, this is definitely a step up from YKK. Right here as you can see, they've got their
logo on the zipper. They've got their logo on the buttons. Small things like these are what I just
love about them. It's not in your face, but it is elegant. It is timeless That contrast stitching,
I know, not gonna be for everybody. What I love about it is it draws attention to the
shoulders, to the chest area. I also like on the inside how they used a very durable, tough made
cotton. This is a jacket that's made to be worn, made to be thrown around, and even you have to be
able to hold this up on a hook right here. As you can see, this thing is built into the jacket. It
is not gonna come off. And these are the type of details you should expect in a high quality
jacket. If this jacket isn't your style, go over to their website and look at all the different
options you've got over there. [0:05:00]
Tons of different styles and a variety of different colors, using different materials.
If you want to go with something more like a field jacket, they've got you covered. For
over 6 years, I've been working with this company. I know the founders personally,
and I love what these guys are doing. Everything is made down in Leon, Mexico. And if you do your
research, you know that Leon has been a hub for amazing leather work for hundreds of years.
So just stating in the obvious, if you're gonna get a leather jacket, make sure you get a real
leather jacket. Now, you're gonna see the genuine leather. You're gonna see top grain. You're gonna
see full grain. What is the difference? So I'm gonna pull up this handy dandy chart right here.
And as you can see, it really depends on what layer we pull from. And there are advantages
and disadvantages to all the different types. So, genuine leather, this is not gonna be the most
durable type of jacket, but it is gonna be one of the softest. It is gonna be relatively free
from blemishes 'cause they're gonna do a lot of machining on this. And if you want a suede jacket,
it's gonna come from this part of the skin. Now, what's nice about this? Again,
it's very lightweight. If treated, it can resist some of the elements. But the suede in general,
you don't wanna wear in a rainstorm or a snowstorm because it can stain. These are also very open to
different types of dyes, but these are gonna be your lightest. These are leather jackets, but
they're usually gonna be the lighter I would say just more fun style fashion type of jackets.
Next up, we've got top grain leather. And you're gonna see this pop up a lot,
especially in lower end manufacturers because it's relatively inexpensive. They can get a hide
and that hide can have blemishes. And guess what? They're just gonna go and remove that top layer.
All of a sudden, the blemishes are gone. Now, what they are losing is one of the most durable,
basically that top layer which is gonna be the most weather resistant. But what they're left with
is leather that's very malleable, actually will take to dyes very well, can actually
have additives put on to it and treat it in a way so it becomes more weather resistant.
Next up, let's talk about full grain. And as you can see, this is gonna be the top level of
the leather. This is gonna be the most durable. This is gonna be the most water resistant because
when you look at the grain, you look at how close and the fibers, the way that they overlap. This
is gonna be where it's really tight, where it's really just gonna be perfect. If you want an item,
a leather jacket, that's gonna last 50 years, you want to make sure it's made from a top grain
leather. When it comes to construction, the stitching is gonna hold no problem for decades.
And when it comes overall to its durability, if you're gonna take a tumble, if you're gonna have
something that you want basically to be able to deal with thousands, and thousands, and thousands
of wear, top grain is where it's at. Now, you may be wondering why doesn't every
jacket use top grain. Well, it comes down to blemishes and what part of the hide they're
able to get and actually use. So there's first grade, there's second grade, there's third grade,
and there's fourth grade leathers. And as you can imagine, as you go farther down,
the leather is less desirable. It's gonna be more porous. It's gonna have more cuts,
and scrapes, and the unevenness. The thickness is not gonna be as good. So that first grade, this is
usually reserved for higher end shoes. Leather works. Basically, when you want an unblemished,
perfect piece of leather that's gonna have all the properties that an artisan expects of leather,
first grade is really where it's at. Now, second grade, you can get some great
options here, and you'll find a lot of the higher end jackets are made just simply 'cause you need a
bigger cut. But second grade, first grade right here, this is really what should be used in the
higher end jackets. Occasionally you will see lower end jackets going in and using the third
grade. It's not the best material. But again, it's just gonna be more readily available,
so they will use it. And sometimes, they'll just use it maybe over on the sleeve. Maybe they'll use
it on random parts here or there, especially if a jacket is put together piecemeal. And it
goes without saying in general, you wanna avoid fourth grade leather. This is again
what they're gonna use in bonded leathers when they're building out soles in shoes.
It's leather, but it doesn't have the desirable properties that we wanna see in leather.
And really quick, a word of warning. Why you wanna avoid cheap jackets? 'Cause it's
the little things like the dyes that they use. A lot of times, companies cut corners
and they'll use a dye that, yeah, looks great. You got this blue jacket leather jacket and then
you get caught in a rainstorm. And guess what? When you use a cheaper company, they use a dye
that when water hits it, it goes right through. And so, that white shirt, every— You know, your
skin literally is dyed blue and it takes weeks to get that stuff out. Point being is be careful
of cheap jackets because it is something that they had to cut corners someplace to be able to
deliver this. And you wanna make sure that this is a company that's reputable.
Now, I alluded to the different styles for the different body types, but let's go over this.
So what I've been wearing here and I know a lot of JL Roach's collection, we've got racer styles.
Right here, we've got a cafe racer that the front area has this flap where the leather goes over. It
zips up. This is a great practical riding jacket. Whenever I rode motorcycles, this would definitely
be one of the jackets I would go for. It's got the appropriate thickness of the leather, exactly what
I'm looking for in armor whenever I'm gonna be on my bike. But if you don't have the body type
for it, this is not gonna be the best style. So if you have a large belly, if you're 6 foot 7,
350 pounds, and you're carrying a lot of weight around the midsection, understand it's gonna be
harder to find a jacket like this that would ever work for you because of the inherent drop.
[0:10:08] And this has to come with the silhouette
of a style of jacket like this. In fact, most motorcycle-style jackets are designed for a guy
whose chest is at least as large as his stomach. So that means you have a zero drop. Now, if you've
got a bit of a drop, let's say you've got about a 44-inch chest and you've got a 40-inch waist, you
got a little bit of weight around the midsection, not too much, but you definitely— you got maybe
a dad bod going on, you could pull off a motor jacket. And what I love about this
is when you put this thing on, it's just gonna slim up your silhouette. Overall, it's just gonna
give you a more masculine look. Whether you go for a double rider, the cafe racer, whatever style you
wanna grab here, all of a sudden you're gonna have something that's gonna make you look good.
Now let's talk about fit. And remember I said fit is emperor? Guys, I can't stress how important
this is to make sure that you wear a jacket that fits you properly. Now, everyone's got their
personal preference. I know some of you guys like your jackets to fit super tight. Other of you,
yeah, you like 'em to fit a little bit looser. Find what works for you. But in general,
when you put the jacket on, you should have full freedom of movement of the arms. For me, this is
about having a high arm hole. Quality jackets, in general, will have higher arm holes that are
gonna be made to fit less people. Lower arm holes, believe it or not, they don't give you the same
freedom of movement. Also, they have to fit you in the shoulders. Now, you can give or take an inch
here. But if it's 2 inches, if those shoulder points are going down on to your arms, guys,
do not keep that jacket. It's just never going to fit properly and cannot be adjusted.
Next up, the sleeve length. I don't like it if a jacket is too long in the sleeves. I do like
and I get it, if you ride motorcycles, if you have your arms up like this, then of course,
yeah, you wanna go a little bit longer, but it really comes down to the function of the jacket.
How are you going to use it? Now again, depending on the style, you know, if it's a motor racer made
in a more sporty type of build, then usually the chest area is gonna have more room than the
stomach area. There's gonna be a bit of a drop. This is gonna create a masculine silhouette.
But if it's a bomber jacket, a flight jacket, a fatigue utility jacket, then these type of jackets
right here are usually gonna be a little bit more straight in their drop, although some will have a
little bit come closer in the midsection. But oftentimes like the utility jacket,
they're gonna have straps that go around that allow you to tighten this if you so choose. Now,
when it comes to getting the right fit, the best thing you can do is know your own
measurements. Know what your chest measurement is, know what your stomach measurement is,
know what your shoulder measurements are and your full sleeve. Then go check on the website of the
company you're looking to buy the jacket from. You wanna make sure that, hey, based off of this— and
you can probably actually measure your favorite sports jacket— you don't have one— suit jacket,
maybe a shirt— find something that can give you an approximation. Send the company— Make
sure they have good customer service. Let them know what your measurements are, but
you wanna make sure you get as close to perfect as possible. And if need be, simply return it.
Think about how you wanna wear the jacket and that's the fit you wanna get. I know for me,
I like to have my jackets loose enough that I could fit a heavy sweater on underneath,
kind of like an insulating layer. But if it's something— I know some of you guys want things
really tight because you're gonna stretch that jacket out, then make sure you get that. So how to
style leather jacket, especially as a grown man? What should you wear with it? For me, one of the
most important things is your choice of footwear. Boots naturally speak to a casual leather jacket,
but it depends on the style and the type of the jacket. If you're gonna go with a delicate
made suede jacket that just simply drapes on very lightweight, you can wear a dress shoe and that
will look fine. But if you're gonna wear a heavier jacket like this, something that's made to be worn
with a motorcycle it seems, then you wanna have boots. You want to have basically something on
your feet that would protect your feet and is built in the same style.
In a nutshell, heavier weight jacket go with heavier weight shoes. A more delicate jacket
go with more delicate shoes. You've got that option there. Now, if you start to mix things up,
I would maybe— Yeah. With a delicate jacket, you could wear heavier weight boots. But in general,
I like to again keep them even. And when it comes to matching, no, you do not have to match
leathers. Your boots do not have to match your jacket. They don't have to match your shoes. They
can be approximately close. But yeah, if you're wearing a red jacket, do you need to wear red
shoes? Of course not. You could wear a black. You could wear a dark brown. You could wear ox blood,
which is kind of a red. But even with a brown jacket like this right here, I could wear black
boots and I would be perfectly fine. Now, what about your choice of trousers?
What about your choices shirt? Guys, I don't wanna overcomplicate this, but I will say that remember
that a leather jacket by its very nature is going to be casual. Now, there's different
levels of casualness. This one, because of the heavy weight, because of the overall build and
the style with the contrast stitching, this is going to be a more casual type of leather
jacket. If I was going maybe with a suede and a really nice color, dark, clean, conservative,
you could dress it up a bit. And I do think maybe wearing a black leather jacket, even in the style
without the contrast stitching, would be a step up in formality. But again, it would still be casual.
Point being is if you've got an outfit that is relatively a dressed up outfit, you're wearing a
neck tie, you have a nice dress shirt on, you have dress slacks with dress shoes, wearing a jacket
like this is probably not gonna work. [0:15:06]
You could do it if you've got the confidence. Going after work some drinks with your buddies,
sure, go for it. But I would think that, yeah, maybe the suede in a really dark color actually
would look better with that combination. So again, it depends on the type of jacket. This
jacket right here because of the casual nature, this is gonna be something great with a casual
button-down like this with dark denim, which I'm actually wearing this combination right here.
Or, you know, I could bring in maybe some chinos, go with some dark colored chinos,
a variety of different styles right there. Would I bring in gray flannels with the style? No,
it's gonna be too dressy. Now, when it comes to shirts, T-shirts I think especially in a solid
color with a V-neck right in there, heavier weight is gonna look great. You can bring in a Henley,
short sleeve, long sleeve doesn't really matter. Maybe even a polo would actually work
fine. But again, once you start to bring in dress shirts— And again, a dress shirt is not a casual
button-down. It's casual button down in a dark color with a softer cotton. Dress shirts in and
of themselves are usually white or light blue, made to be buttoned up here at the top,
worn with the neck tie. I think that that's about as far as you'd ever wanna go really with
trying to match that with a leather jacket. All right, gentlemen. So what video to watch next?
How about how to dress like a man? Seriously, are you tired of dressing like a boy? Guys, I got you
covered in this video right here where I explain in no uncertain terms exactly how to dress like a
man. Go check it out guys. It's a good video. [0:16:25] End of Audio