While leather jackets are made in many shapes and sizes, a loose jacket is not ideal. A leather jacket should be smartly snug, particularly if wearing it for motorcycling. As the Department for Motor Vehicles cautions: "Loose-fitting leather will shift during riding and when that happens, the carefully placed protective armor (extra layers of leather and fabric) moves out of position." The best way to wear a leather jacket is in a style and cut neither too loose nor too tight but form-fitting. Achieve this look by trying on different styles in multiple positions to ensure comfort.
Instructions
1 Raise your arms while wearing the leather jacket. Check for tightening in the breast region of the body, which will indicate that the jacket is too tight. Ensure that when the arms are lifted, the jacket does not ride up the midriff.
2 Twist to the right and to the left. Wearing a leather jacket that is neither too loose nor too tight entails having a jacket that moves with you but does not make you feel uncomfortable.
3 Inspect the quality. Wearing a leather jacket means feeling comfortable, not just in the fit but with the quality. According to Jay Barbieri in the "Biker's Handbook," the ideal leather jacket for motorcyclists is black, heavy-gauge leather with strong zippers. Though an article in "Glamour" suggests that a light, flexible leather jacket will be more appropriate for anyone not wearing leather for for biking.
4 Look at yourself in the mirror in the leather jacket. Stand sideways to the front and while bending over. Knowing you look good in the leather jacket will help you wear the jacket with confidence.
Tips & Warnings
Ask a friend how the jacket looks and whether or not it appears to be too big or too small.
Try on leather jackets with a sweater or heavy shirt underneath to gauge that they are loose enough to accommodate fall or winter fashions.
Leather is a very durable material; a heavy leather jacket often is considered to be essential safety equipment for motorcyclists, preventing or reducing the severity of injury in an accident. Regardless of how or why you wear a leather jacket, though, leather is not invulnerable; it will wear down over time, and this process is sped up by stresses such as heat and dryness. Cracked and damaged leather usually can be repaired, but it must be regularly cleaned, conditioned, polished and weatherproofed from that point on to prevent the damage from returning.
Instructions
1 Place several layers of newspaper on the ground in a well-ventilated area and put on rubber gloves. Put the leather jacket on the newspaper and work on it over the newspaper to avoid spilling chemicals on the floor.
2 Use a leather cleaner, such as saddle soap, and rub it over all leather surfaces on the jacket with a soft cloth, making an effort to remove any dirt or debris from cracks in the leather. Allow the jacket to air dry for several minutes, then wipe it with a clean soft cloth to remove any lingering chemical or debris.
3 Apply a leather conditioner to the entire surface of the jacket and rub it into the leather. Allow the jacket to sit for several minutes, then wipe off any unabsorbed conditioner with a clean, soft cloth.
4 Choose a shoe polish cream that matches the color of your jacket. Rub the cream into the leather with a soft cloth, allowing the cream to enter cracks in the leather. Allow the jacket to dry completely, then check for any additional or incompletely filled cracks. Apply additional polish to remaining cracks. Polish the leather with a soft leather buffing cloth after you've finished your repairs.
5 Apply a weatherproofing leather compound to the jacket. Application instructions will vary depending on the product; check the container for instructions before applying. Choose a compound that meets your specific needs; damage caused from heat exposure is most often caused by direct sunlight, so you should use a compound that protects leather from the sun in addition to water (such as beeswax-based compounds). Avoid products that use grease or animal fats, as these can damage leather over time.
6 Dispose of all newspaper, cloths and gloves used during the repair process. Store leather-treating chemicals securely and out of reach of children or animals. Check your local guidelines for the disposal of hazardous household waste and dispose of empty or unwanted leather-treating chemicals accordingly.
7 Continually maintain the jacket to slow additional wear. Remove any dust and dirt on the jacket after every use. Use soft and absorbent cloths or towels to dry the jacket when wet; never use heat to dry leather. Clean the jacket with leather cleaner every few months (more often if the jacket is worn more frequently), and condition, polish and weatherproof as needed.
Tips & Warnings
- Be sure to check any chemicals being used for your particular type of leather; some products are ineffective or even harmful to certain leathers (such as suede).
- Conditioning and weatherproofing leather from the start will increase a leather piece's lifetime.
- Use caution when using chemicals to clean and treat leather products, as many of them (particularly polishes) are highly toxic.
Down winter coats are coats that have been filled with down feathers to keep them insulated against the winter cold. The feathers trap air in small pockets between them, insulating the inner layer of the jacket the same way that down feathers insulated the birds from which they came. As a result of all of the trapped air, down winter coats can appear to be rather puffy. If you dislike the bulk added by the puffiness of the down feathers, it is possible to flatten out the down coat.
Instructions
1 Place the puffy down coat into a plastic packing bag that can be vacuum sealed.
2 Place the nozzle of the vacuum into the sealing cap and vacuum seal the bag. If you do not have a vacuum, you can sit on the bag and push the air out of the bag from one end to the other. Seal the cap once the air has been removed.
3 Leave the sealed bag and puffy coat for two days. Remove the coat. The down feathers will have been pushed together from the vacuum sealing, making them less puffy.
Tips & Warnings
Down feather jackets are designed to be puffy to allow air pockets to form between the feathers. This acts as insulation, keeping the cold air out. By making the coat less puffy, you may also make it less warm.
A suit, no matter how expensive, will not help a man look his best if it doesn't fit right. You can save some money by not hiring a professional tailor to fit the suit for you if you have a measuring tape, sewing pins and a few basic sewing skills. Buy a suit off the rack at a department store or men's store. Take the suit home and have the man stand in front of a mirror while you make the necessary alterations that will make him look like a well-dressed professional.
Instructions
1 Try on the suit in the store. In front of a three-sided mirror, examine the fit. Understand that tailoring or alterations will help make a suit that fits fit perfectly; it will not make a suit that's too large or too tight look right. Observe the overall fit to ensure that the front and back middle of the suit coat fabric does not pull when the jacket is buttoned and that the shoulder pads do not extend beyond your shoulders. Feel for pinching of material beneath your armpits and avoid suits that do not leave you enough room to wear the coat comfortably. Examine the neck of the suit coat to ensure there's not excess material bunching up or rolling around your neck. Make sure the waist of the pants fits comfortably without being snug and without requiring a belt to keep them from falling to your ankles.
2 Take off the suit and purchase it if it fits to your satisfaction. Once home, have someone assist you in pinning for the necessary alterations to jacket sleeves and pant legs. Wear a dress shirt and dress shoes with the suit while the alterations are being pinned.
3 Use a fabric pencil to mark the spot on each coat sleeve where the cuff meets the base of the man's thumb. Remove the coat and use a fabric measuring tape to measure the distance between the shoulder of the coat and the mark. Write down this measurement and continue making marks at the same distance around the entire cuff of each coat sleeve.
4 Measure the distance from the bottom sleeve button, if the coat has buttons, to the edge of the cuff and the distance between each button. Remove the buttons on the arms. Carefully separate the lining from the sleeve (it's usually hand-sewn; you can just tug it free) and make note of the tacking holding the buttons to the coat sleeves. Fold the cuff material under and inside the coat sleeve up to the marks you measured. Use sewing pins to hold the new edge in place and have the man try on the coat to make sure the new cuff falls at the base of his thumb. Make any necessary adjustments.
5 Use a sewing machine to make a new hem at that mark and carefully reconnect the lining inside the sleeve. Measure the appropriate distance for the bottom button and sew the bottom buttons onto each cuff. Sew on the remaining buttons.
6 Mark the point with a fabric pencil on each pant leg where the cuffs hit the top of the dress shoes or the spot at the base of the laces near the toe end of the shoes. Take the pants off the man and measure the distance from the waistline to the cuff mark. Use this measurement to make an even edge around each pant leg. Cut the fabric with fabric scissors, fold the pant legs under at that mark and pin the new cuff with sewing pins.
7 Have the man put the pants back on and check to ensure that the line you've marked lies where it should on the shoe. Remove the lining inside of the pant legs and sew the new hem. Reattach the lining. Have the man try on the suit coat and pants one more time to make sure the new hems line up where they should for a perfect fit.
Market your company and give your employees a stylish, functional uniform with work jackets that feature your business name and logo. Choose jackets that meet the job requirements; decide whether they should include hoods and pockets, and choose the durability, warmth rating and type of fabric. Jacket colors should match your company colors. Place the logo in a central, noticeable location.
Instructions
1 Create a list of jacket specifications. For example, decide what weather they will be suitable for, including rain, snow or wind, as well as their warmth rating. Hoods and bulky material won't look as clean-cut and professional, but may be necessary for functionality.
2 Save your company logo as a graphic file on your hard drive. Double-check the colors, spelling and other features to ensure there aren't any mistakes.
3 Visualize where the logo will be on the jacket, and how large. Place it in the middle of the shoulder blades on the back of the jacket, on the front left breast pocket, or on the sleeve, on the outside of the bicep. Some companies print logos on the neck collar, depending on the style of jacket.
4 Search online for companies that specialize in printing logos on work jackets. Consult your list of jacket requirements and see if the company offers what you're looking for. Once you choose a company, email them your logo file and ask for a sample before you place your entire order.
Burberry trench coats epitomize style and class for men. These high-end garments are dry-clean only, so you should not wash them at home; however, that doesn't mean you must take them to the dry cleaner each time you wear them. Use a clothes brush to remove dirt and dust from your trench coat -- just as a butler would have at the turn of the 20th century -- to allow you to wear your coat many times between trips to the cleaners.
Instructions
1 Lay the coat flat on a table. Turn up the collar and lapels, and unfold any folded edges. Turn the coat over and open it so you have access to the entire outside of the coat, with the inside facing the tabletop.
2 Brush the coat against the direction of the fibers (called the "nap"). Make a single stroke all the way up the coat, then immediately brush back down the same strip of fabric.
3 Brush large areas with large strokes and small areas with small strokes. Always go up and then down the nap. Cover every part of the exterior of the jacket, adjusting the sleeves, collar and cuffs so you can reach every area.
4 Spend extra time on the shoulders and collar, as these areas are where dandruff, grime and dust tend to accumulate most. Before brushing particularly dirty areas, dip the brush in water and then shake off the excess to dampen the brush slightly.
5 Fold the collar, lapels and cuffs back to their original positions, and hang up the coat neatly.
Tips & Warnings
Use a brush with natural bristles; synthetic brushes are harsher on clothes.
No matter the design or wash of men's jeans, wearing a blazer adds a formal touch that dresses up a casual outfit. Blazers resemble suit jackets and are most commonly worn in single-breasted, single-vent styles with buttons that either have a metallic finish or match the color of the blazer. Blazers come in a variety of colors and materials ranging from corduroy to camel hair, offering matching options for different types of jeans. Pair a blazer with your jeans to create a tailored appearance.
Instructions
1 Try on your jeans to determine the fit so you can create an appropriate look when pairing them with a blazer. Blazers enhance boot-cut, straight-cut, slim-fit and skinny jeans. Boot-cut jeans fit slightly from the waist to the knee and widen from the knee down. Slim-fit jeans are wide at the waist and taper throughout the leg. Straight-cut jeans offer a classic fit that range between form-fitting and relaxed. Skinny jeans are form-fitting jeans that hug the figure from the waist down.
2 Match the color and wash of your jeans with the correct blazer colors. Raw denim is dark blue. Stonewashed jeans are interspersed with hints of white for a classic medium blue. Vintage washed jeans offer a distressed look of faded, dark denim. Dirty wash jeans have a worn look with hints of yellow and brown.
3 Wear a navy or black blazer with lighter wash denim such as stonewashed or vintage wash and white or gray jeans. Avoid matching dark denim jeans with a navy or black blazer, which creates a monochromatic look. Pair a navy blazer with boot- or straight-cut jeans and a collared shirt or solid T-shirt for a preppy appearance.
4 Match a light or bold-colored blazer such as gray or red velvet with dark, raw denim or black jeans. Gray blazers provide a dressy, tailored appearance that goes with boot-cut or straight-cut styles and button-down shirts. Velvet blazers offer a retro, funky style that matches skinny or slim-fit jeans and T-shirts with graphics, pulling together a hipster or rocker style.
5 Dress up dirty-wash or dark denim boot-cut or straight-cut jeans with a camel hair or brown corduroy blazer and a white or cream button-down shirt for a casual autumn look.
Tips & Warnings
Accessorize blazer and jean outfits with neckties, pocket squares, belts and cuff links to create different looks.
Even the best-looking jacket can be annoying to wear if it doesn't have at least one pocket you can use to store papers, a debit card or other items you need to keep handy. While it's not advisable for an untrained person to attempt to sew a pocket on the outside of a jacket, placing one or more pockets inside the jacket provides a great convenience without ruining the look of the garment.
Instructions
1 Turn the jacket inside out and place the piece of fabric in the spot where you want to attach the pocket. Attach it loosely to the jacket with straight pins, then turn the jacket back so the inside is now where it should be. Try on the jacket and test the location of the pocket. This is the time to make adjustments.
2 Turn the jacket inside out again, once the fabric is in the correct spot, and place it flat on a table or other work surface. Trace the outline of the attached fabric with the piece of chalk so you don't lose the place.
3 Fold each edge of the fabric in toward the center about 1/2 inch. Pin in place with straight pins. Iron the fabric and especially the edge fold. Remove the straight pins and iron the edges again. This holds the folds in place while you sew the fabric on the jacket.
4 Lay the fabric om the spot marked by the chalk. Place several straight pins at the corners to hold it in place. Begin sewing the three edges you want to attach to the jacket with a simple zigzag stitch. Continue until only the top edge of the fabric is open.
Tips & Warnings
When you stitch the fabric to your jacket, place the stitches close together so the pocket won't tear or fall off.
Be methodical and take your time. This is a relatively simple process, but the easiest way to ruin your garment is by rushing and making a careless measuring or stitching error.
A baseball enthusiast wears his own baseball jacket to show his respect and appreciation for his favorite team. Some teams don't have baseball jackets available for purchase. If your favorite team doesn't have a team jacket, design your own that incorporate materials such as cotton and leather. If you prefer a shiny, silky baseball jacket, use satin instead.
Instructions
1 Purchase a plain, satin baseball jacket shell online. When ordering the jacket, choose the color represents your favorite team.
2 Buy patches or pins of your favorite team online or from a hobby store. Come up with a plan for how you want to arrange the patches and pins on the jacket.
3 Lay the jacket on a table. Arrange the patches on the jacket according to your plan.
4 Sew on the patches one at a time. Double each stitch to make sure that they will not come off. Add the baseball pins.
Vests, or waistcoats, are a sleeveless garment worn by both men and women. The function of the vest varies depending on the material, cut and occasion. Vests can be worn as part of a formal three-piece suit or to keep warm outdoors. A simple vest is not difficult to sew together. Heavily tailored or stylized vests require more work, however. Almost any material can be used to make the vest.
Instructions
1 Measure the torso of the wearer, both front and back. This gives you the man's measurements. Measure the waist, sides, shoulders and around the arms and neck.
2 Use the measurements to sketch a vest pattern on pattern drafting paper. Take in the arms about 2 or 3 inches. This increases mobility. Add extra material on the sides and top so there is enough material to reach and connect to the other side. On a thin male, 3 to 5 inches should be plenty. Cut the pattern from the pattern paper once the sketch is complete. Make two patterns, one for the front and one for the back.
3 Lie the pattern on top of the material for the vest. Cut the material out. Do this for both the front and back pattern.
4 Sew the front and back pieces together using an inside stitch.
5 Cut the opening in the front of the material down the center. Attach a zipper or buttons to it. If buttons are used, the cut edges need to be trimmed and hemmed.
A punk look calls to mind dark colors, lots of metals and paying homage to famous bands like The Ramones and New York Dolls. Turn a jacket from plain to punk with just a few simple additions. A punk jacket works for men and women, and can be customized exactly how you desire to reflect your beliefs, music preferences and style.
Instructions
1 Add some studs to the jacket. Studs can be purchased at craft or fabric stores, and usually have sharp edges that can poke through fabric. If not, make holes with a small, sharp knife to slide the studs into. Close the studs with pliers.
2 Pin safety pins all over the jacket. The more pins, the better. Group the safety pins together in a bunch, or just add them all over the jacket. Safety pins are a punk clothing item and add something hardcore to just about anything.
3 Represent your favorite punk bands. Add some patches to the jacket using either fabric glue or simply by pinning them on with safety pins. A large patch on the back of the jacket can denote your favorite bands with other smaller patches on the front of the jacket.
4 Draw on your jacket. Punk clothing is torn, fraught with metal, and drawn on with markers. Write your favorite punk sayings, like "Question Authority" or draw punk symbols and band logos with markers.
5 Finish the jacket by adding some buttons. Check retailers such as Hot Topic, vintage stores or online punk retailers for cool band, celebrity and slogan buttons to add to your jacket to show more of your personality with your clothing.
Tips & Warnings
Distress a denim jacket further by cutting holes in it with scissors and washing the jacket to unravel the holes a little bit. Pour a little bleach in the wash to give the jacket a rinsed out look if desired.
A secret jacket pocket is an essential accessory for keeping important belongings in a safe place. It's frustrating to purchase a sports coat or blazer and realize after the fact there's no hidden pocket. A hidden pocket is often located on the inner right or left flap of a jacket. Creating your own pocket requires only a few household items and demands less than an hour of your time. Once your pocket is created, use it to store your checkbook, cellular phone or important documents while you are on the move.
Instructions
1 Fold the 3 1/2-by-8-inch piece of cotton fabric or satin in half to 3 1/2-by-4-inch dimensions. Select a fabric color identical or complimentary to the jacket. Place the folded fabric on an ironing board. Iron both sides of the fabric on high heat to crease the fold permanently.
2 Sew the two loose folded 3 1/2-inch ends together. Make a cross stitch pattern 1/8-inch removed from the 3 1/2-inch edge: sew a stitch in a straight line from left to right. Reverse the stitching line from left to right. The second line of stitches "crosses" back over the first line of stitching for an extra strong hold.
3 Place the pocket on the inside lining of the right or left flap of the jacket. Position the pocket so it is where the chest area touches the inside of the jacket. Spin the pocket so the cross stitched end is facing up.
4 Sew the two 4-inch sides and the bottom 3 1/2-inch edge into the jacket lining. Make a cross stitch pattern 1/8-inch removed from the three edges.
Tips & Warnings
Avoid sewing the top edge to the lining so the pocket remains open.
The kilt and even the tartan are often seen as a purely Scottish form of wear. While it is true that the Scots make this style famous, other people with a Celtic background such as the Isle of Man and Ireland also wear kilts as a part of their traditions. The kilt is only one part of the full outfit. If you want to get the full effect, you must have a kilt jacket to complete both formal and informal outfits. Making your own kilt jacket requires a little bit of skill and attention to detail, but can be accomplished even by amateurs through alteration of existing sports jackets.
Instructions
1 Decide on the exact style of kilt jacket you prefer. The differences between a Prince Charlie jacket and an argyll jacket make a major difference in what type of sports jacket to start with and the direction alterations must take.
2 Find a used sports jacket to alter. A Prince Charlie jacket must be dark black and formal in nature, while the argyll jacket can be formal, informal or even tweed.
3 Put on the sports jacket and measure the distance between the waist and the end of the jacket. Unlike a normal sports jacket, a kilt jacket's very bottom should barely brush past the waist. Measure the difference, and mark the jacket to make the bottom cut.
4 Before cutting, pull all the pockets inside out to prevent accidental cutting of the pocket lining. Save the excess cloth after cutting.
5 Tuck the edges of the jacket up inside, and use pins to hold everything in place. Have the jacket owner try the jacket on and check the back to make sure everything is high enough and lines up nicely.
6 Sew the bottom edge. Try to use thread as close to the seam color as possible to blend in with the jacket.
7 Take the excess cloth from the earlier cut and use this to fashion the epaulets for the shoulders. The cloth should be trimmed and shaped appropriately with a slit to fit one button in. One end of the new epaulet should be sewed right into the shoulders of the jacket and a spare button placed closer to the collar on each side to finish the fit.
8 Attach silver buttons to the sleeves, back and both sides of the coat if you are making the Prince Charlie jacket.
Tips & Warnings
- If you're looking for a versatile jacket, then look at making an argyll jacket.
- The Harris tweed sports jacket is often altered to work as a tweed argyll kilt jacket.
- Always measure twice and cut once, or you may find you have to start over from scratch after a bad cut.
According to the website How to Clean Stuff, cleaning a down jacket is more complex than sticking it in a washing machine and running a full cycle. The easiest option for cleaning a down jacket is to dry clean it, but this can can age the material. Because of their texture, down jackets need hands-on care when removing dirt and the use of special down detergent, which can be found at any hiking store. Using a washing machine without a center agitator and a few other simple products, a down jacket can come out looking brand new.
Instructions
1 Pull out the jacket's pockets and shake off any dust. Check all crevices on the surface of the jacket for any accumulated dirt. Put the pockets back inside to prepare for washing.
2 Fill washing machine with warm water and place jacket inside. Refrain from using hot or cold water because both could cause damage to the jacket. Allow it to soak so dirt and debris can be removed. This step can also be done by hand, using a large bucket or tub.
3 Remove the jacket from the washing machine and squeeze out the water.
4 Fill up the washing machine with warm water again and add down detergent. Place the jacket in the machine and run a full gentle wash cycle.
5 Do a second rinse cycle to remove any soap residue. After washing, take out the jacket and squeeze out the water.
6 Put a towel on the floor and lay the jacket on the towel. Take another towel and press it against the jacket.
7 Put two clean tennis balls in the pockets and place the damp jacket in the dryer. Run the dryer on low heat for 15 minutes. Remove the jacket from the dryer every 15 minutes to fluff up any clumps. When the jacket is nearly dry, hang it up or lay it flat to finish drying.
Tips & Warnings
- Obtaining the right storage for a down jacket is equally as important as how to clean it. Read the instructions to ensure its good condition. Only use down detergent to wash. Regular detergent will cause damage.
- Do not use a washing machine that has a center agitator or it will ruin the jacket's pockets.
Like a pair of denim blue jeans, a leather jacket only gets better with age. Over time, the leather softens and shapes to your figure so that it won't fit anyone else quite as well as it does you. After long-term storage or everyday use, the leather of your jacket may begin to dry out, crack or fade. Mink oil, composed of fats derived from animals, restores leather's supple texture. It may also be used to darken your faded leather jacket by several shades.
Instructions
1 Shake out the leather jacket to remove dust, dirt or other debris from the inside and outside of the garment.
2 Brush the entire outside of the jacket with a soft bristled brush to remove dust and dirt from inside the pores of the leather. Brush the inside of the jacket also if it is not lined.
3 Scoop a generous amount of mink oil from the container with your fingers. Beginning with the sleeves, rub the oil into the leather using a firm, circular motion. Coat the entire jacket with an even amount of mink oil.
4 Allow the oil to penetrate the leather for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe off any excess oil with a soft terry cloth.
5 Buff all areas of the jacket with a flannel cloth; use a rapid circular motion to add a subtle polish to the leather. This restores the leather's natural sheen and gives the jacket a like-new look.
Tips & Warnings
- Keep your leather jacket away from excessive moisture. Though mink oil serves as a protectant against water, long-term exposure to high humidity can rot the leather.
- To achieve a darker shade, apply two to three coats of mink oil to the jacket.
- Never use chemical-based products to clean or restore your leather jacket. These will erode or stain the leather permanently.
High school athletes are often seen wearing varsity jackets, which are also referred to as letterman jackets. These jackets are specially made for each student who orders one to wear; your varsity letter is displayed on the jacket so everyone that sees the jacket knows you are a varsity athlete. In addition to your varsity letter, your jacket can display your name, your sport and pins you receive at the end of each athletic season. Because the letterman jacket typically has leather sleeves, it is not recommended that you wash the jacket. However, your jacket does require regular cleaning to remove dirt.
Instructions
1 Mix warm water and baby shampoo in a small bowl and dip a soft washcloth or towel into the solution to dampen it.
2 Gently rub the leather sleeves of your varsity jacket with the towel to remove dirt, oil and stains.
3 Clean the baby shampoo and water solution off of the leather using a clean, damp cloth. Remove all residue from the leather sleeves to avoid tarnishing the leather.
4 Let your varsity jacket air dry away from direct heat and sunlight before wearing it again.
Letterman jackets conjure up nostalgia for the simpler times. Fall football games, sitting around the soda fountain and walking home from school with a sweetheart all come to mind when pulling your arms through the sleeves. Most traditional letterman jackets have sleeves made of genuine leather, making them timeless and fashionable. Over time, the leather can dry out, become stiff or begin to fade. With a simple leather conditioner and other household materials, you can restore the sleeves of your prized jacket.
Instructions
1 Cut away any loose or frayed threads between the sleeves and the front and back panels of the jacket using a small pair of scissors.
2 Brush each sleeve thoroughly with a soft bristled brush to remove all dust, dirt and other debris from the pores of the leather.
3 Scoop out a generous amount of leather conditioner with your fingers. Starting from the shoulder of the sleeve, rub the conditioner into the leather using a firm, circular motion. Continue until the entire sleeve is coated with conditioner. Repeat for the other sleeve.
4 Allow the conditioner to penetrate the leather for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe off any excess conditioner using a soft terry cloth. Hang the jacket and leave it undisturbed overnight.
5 Buff each sleeve with a flannel cloth to restore the leather's subtle natural shine.
Tips & Warnings
Apply leather conditioner to the sleeves once every several months to keep the material in top condition.
Avoid using any chemical-based cleaning products on your leather.
Unlike women, who can fill a purse with every possible necessity, men have to rely on pockets to carry their personal effects around. Sport coats have become a fashionable business casual look and are generally loose enough to keep several of the basics close at hand without causing unsightly bulges. Streamline what you might need in your sport coat pocket. Knowing and carrying what you find useful on a regular basis will keep you well prepared.
Lip Moisturizer
Dry lips can happen at any time, but most infuriatingly when you are unable to easily get lip balm. Keep a tube of your favorite brand in your pocket to ward off a peeling pucker.
Handkerchief
A handkerchief is always handy to have to help stopper a large sneeze, blow a runny nose, wipe away perspiration or unexpected tears or to help blot a spill on your clothing. If a cloth handkerchief is not your thing, a few folded disposable tissues will suffice.
Extra Cash
Keep a $20 bill stashed in one of your sport coat pockets for emergencies. If you lose your wallet or come across a cash-only service option, you will be grateful to have it. Just don't forget to replace it if you have to use it.
Keys
You won't go far without your keys, so make it a habit to remember to put them in your pocket wherever you go. Choose a small, discreet key chain that will hold your keys together without being big and bulky in your pocket. Keep only keys you use on a daily basis on the ring.
Lighter
A lighter is critical if you are a smoker and helpful for those around you if you are not. Besides, you never know if that cute blonde across the room is going to need a light.
Sport coats are less formal than suit jackets and can be worn anything from dress pants to jeans. Sport coats look appropriate with and without a tie. It isn’t mandatory that you wear a tie when you wear a sport coat, however, you can choose to do so and complete your look by matching your tie to your coat. The look you want to achieve is entirely up to you. Follow a few simple pieces of advice to create a dapper look.
Instructions
- Choose a tie in the same color scheme as your sport coat. For example, if your coat is dark blue, choose a tie in the blue family in a lighter shade. Grey, black and navy sport coats go well with pink, black, blue, red, gold, burgundy, yellow and purple ties.
- Pair a khaki or camel color sport coat with other shades of brown, rust, green, gold, garnet, yellow and red.
- Opt for striped or solid color ties. If your sport coat features pin stripes, you can still wear a pattern tie; larger stripes and solid colors complement a pinstripe jacket.
