So, you’ve finally purchased that leather jacket you’ve been eyeing for so long. What now? One thing you should keep in mind is that buying a leather jacket is a smart investment that will pay you off through style and comfort.

Of course, if you want to make the most out of its value and last longer, there are things you should do after your purchase. By following these tips, you’re guaranteed to give your leather jacket its best life possible.

When you first purchase your leather jacket, they’re still stiff and uncomfortable to wear. It’s recommended that you break it in and wear it for a few days to relieve it of its stiffness. Just like with any other garment, the more time you spend wearing a leather jacket, the softer and more comfortable it becomes.

Take the time to read the care label of your leather jacket. Most of the time, this label is sewn inside the collar of your jacket. Through the care label, you’re able to find instructions from the manufacturer itself, advising you on how to clean and care for your new jacket.

You’ll notice that most labels would advise you against washing your leather jacket. This is due to authentic leather jackets being not suitable for washing machines. Blow-drying and dry cleaning are unadvisable too.

Conditioning your leather jacket every few months is extremely important. This process involves hydrating leather using a conditioning product, which is usually saddle soap. When the weather becomes too hot, your leather jacket may end up releasing moisture and start feeling rough, causing cracks to open.

Conditioning helps prevent this. It’s a process that only takes a few minutes but does a lot to protect your leather jacket from extreme dehydration, which could result in irreversible damage.

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You can’t keep your leather jacket just anywhere. The best place to store it is in a climate-controlled environment that prevents it from being exposed to too much sunlight or any other extreme weather conditions.

Attics and basements aren’t exactly advisable storage places for your jacket. They may not result in any immediately noticeable effect but storing your leather jacket in either of those areas for several consecutive days can potentially cause permanent damage.

You should also avoid folding it or storing it in a plastic bag. Instead, you can consider just hanging it in your bedroom closet. As long as you’re able to keep your bedroom climate-controlled, it should prove to be a safe storage space for your new leather jacket.

One benefit of having a leather jacket is that it can be paired with different clothes and accessories. Go through your closet and find which clothes you can wear to match your leather jacket. The next time you go out wearing it, you’ll already know exactly what style you’re aiming for.

The color of your leather jacket also matters. For example, a black leather jacket is great because it can still look great with any other colors. However, with a red leather jacket, your options may be a bit limited in comparison.

When purchasing your leather jacket, you need to carefully inspect it for any defects. Make sure the buttons and/or the zipper of your jacket are still intact. There are some leather jackets that have a single row of buttons, and some have zippers on the front instead. There are also some leather jackets that contain both buttons and zippers.

Whatever style of leather jacket you bought, you still need to make sure that the buttons or the zippers work as well as they’re supposed to. It can be frustrating to bring home a new leather jacket and find out you won’t even be able to properly wear it.

There’s no denying the number of benefits you reap from properly investing and caring for your leather jacket. All the tips mentioned above are extremely useful for jackets that are made out of genuine leather. They’ll offer little to no benefit if the jacket you bought is cheap, low-quality, and inauthentic.