Off the Cuff - Carson Kressley [36]
5. Tell me about leather, daddy. (The leather jacket.) A leather jacket is an important addition to your closet because it adds just a little bit of ruggedness and flair to your look. It takes things from being just a little wimpy and adds a real toughness to them, which I love. And just like Asian women, good-quality leather will age beautifully.
Keep in mind, though, that if you live somewhere with really brutal winters, a leather jacket is probably not going to be your best bet for a primary winter coat. Because leather is skin, it conducts temperature rather than truly insulates. It will never be as warm as wool or cashmere, which can actually trap air in between the weave of the fibers.
When it comes to a leather jacket, you want to look for a classic motorcycle jacket,—think James Dean, not Fonzie—a leather pea coat or a three-quarter-length car coat. Just avoid the bomber jacket at all costs. Top Gun had its moment, and it’s over. So let’s let it rest peacefully.
Look for good quality leather. It’s like the quality of booze, which some of the more fashion-phobic among you can probably relate to. You can buy really cheap house brands, or you can invest in top shelf. A good leather jacket really is an investment, because if it’s high quality and a classic silhouette, and you’ll have it for the rest of your life. Just like that nasty little rash you picked up in Cancun.
Here’s my quick lesson in leather. (Oooh! I always wanted to say that.) Before you do anything else, first check the tag and see that the jacket really is leather. Leather is a very generic term for anything made from the hide of an animal; there are tons of variables. It could be goat leather, cowhide, pigskin, or even horsehide. (Holy Mr. Ed! Let’s hope not.) So first and foremost, make sure it’s natural. Good leather should be soft and supple, which means that when you bend it, it should flex and not crack.
Just like other garments, the lining of a leather jacket will also tell a story. The quality of the lining, as in how good a job they did stitching it in, will tell you a lot about the overall quality, because the lining is one place where inferior manufacturers feel like they can cut corners.
As for distressed leather, I think it’s super if the jacket is naturally distressed from wear or you’re buying a vintage piece, but generally any kind of engineered distressing or leather treatment is going to be the wrong answer. Fashion victim, party of one? Your table’s ready.
6. Nylon sports jacket or parka. You should definitely have a warm, three-quarter-length sports-inspired jacket in a luxury nylon—something that resists the elements and can be dressed up or dressed down. This is the jacket you’ll wear when you’re casually dressed and the weather’s truly inclement, and you might not want to wear suede or wool or leather.
You want to keep the color story simple and opt for classics like black, steel gray or brown. Avoid bright colors and lime green, because that will make you look like Suzy Chaffee. I also hate to see guys running around town in authentic ski jackets with the lift tickets still hanging on them. Let’s save those for the hill, people. Invest in a ski jacket or some kind of nylon outerwear that will look great on the slopes and is also great for the city. The North Face puffer jacket is a perfect example of something that looks at home in either setting. It’s a classic that’s innocuous enough to mix with sportswear, but you can also ski with it and it’s totally functional. I also love RLX jackets (by Ralph Lauren) and Victorinox jackets, both of which look equally great with suits (business and ski).
Let’s Get Touchy
Wearing fabrics that invite touch, like cashmere, suede, and leather, is better than buying girls a drink. Touchable fabrics make people want to come up and cuddle you, provided you don’t have a great big cold sore on your lip. For that I highly recommend a trip to your local drugstore