Lined vs unlined leather jackets?

Blog

Forum

Finds

Lined vs unlined leather jackets?

ironkurtin

Veteran

I'm seeing some very high-end unlined leather jackets. Is there a pro or con to a lining(besides inside pockets)?

11 years ago

Shopping

14 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I've had lots of leather jackets, I've never had one that is not lined. I'm curious if anyone has experience with these.

11 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

o_0

I would not buy an unlined leather jacket, myself. I suppose it would breathe well? But leather absorbs oils and stuff... I would not want my armpits up against the shell of my leather jacket. I would also think the seams would be uncomfortable.

11 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, all of my leather jackets (both cheaper and high-end) are lined. But I do find that the lining, particularly in the arms, tends to limit movement a little bit since it's generally not stretchy. Unlined leather would stretch and conform better. Come to think of it, I don't mind unlined leather shoes (and in fact I much prefer them to pleather lined shoes), so I don't see why a jacket would be so different. Feet are not any less stinky than armpits! (plus one would probably not be naked under the jacket anyway so skin to leather contact would likely be limited). The lining does make them warmer, but I think an unlined one might be really nice for warmer weather.

11 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Leather does stretch. Lining can help preserve the shape of your jacket. I personally would not buy an unlined one.

Also, lining helps it slip over your other clothes without things bunching up.

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

IK, you first posted a link to designer Luxirare here. For some reason when she wrote this about the unlined white and black leather jackets she made for herself it stuck in my mind:

"No lining no hiding. What does that mean? Well if you don’t have a lining inside a jacket, that means you can’t hide your seam mistakes. Minimizing is always harder, even though you might not want to believe it. All the complicated looking stuff looks harder, but in reality cutting to the chase is much more difficult. I didn’t add lining because it’s a spring jacket, and do you really want to be sweating? Lining just adds another gratuitous layer."

http://luxirare.com/half-sleeve-leather-hoodies/

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

11 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Thanks, Claudia! For WIW, here's the jacket I was looking at. It's unlined, but Jil Sander *does not* make junk.

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

11 years ago

Theodora

Active Member

According to my husband, who was a leather and suede women's clothing designer for over 20 years, with a store on Madison Avenue in New York, and Oak Street in Chicago, as well as being carried in stores such as Bergdorf's, Sak's, Nordstrom's etc., the reason for the lining is:
1) To prevent the leather form stretching over time.
2) To protect against the dye bleeding from the inside of the jacket.

He also recalls that when he first started in the business, he made the jackets without the lining because putting one in was so difficult. I assume that, as with all things lately, the price and labor to put in a proper lining affect even the high-end designers, and they will rationalize not having it in some cute way...

The prices I see are outrageous, and you should know that the biggest % of the cost of making a leather jacket,blouse, pants, etc. is in the labor, surprisingly enough. There are many different quality leathers as well, and even the tannery used can affect it's price, but a jacket or blouse especially takes many steps and labor costs. Why did he have to close his business after so many years? USA factory, USA labor costs and killer quality. Even the pants were lined, for example. Couldn't compete with the foreign made goods.

Still have 25 year old leather and suede that looks like new!

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

To Diana's point: I have expensive Italian made leather boots which are lined in leather, the color hasn't transferred to my socks or bare feet and they breathe well and are very comfortable.

11 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

I find it is easier to put on a jacket that is lined over garments with sleeves. Less bunching and catching.

Also, the sweatiness issue *does* bother me. Yes, feet are sweaty, but easier to air out shoes usually; I don't often wear the same shoes two days in a row but might this jackets; cleaning shoes is easier; one typically has more shoes and replaces them more often.

11 years ago

Ginkgo

Veteran

I bought a leather jacket ten years ago and then didn't wear it because it was so difficult to slide over my arms in putting it on. And the shoulders stretched out from the hanger.

So what it the best way to store a leather jacket? Hang it, fold it in a drawer? Unless we get a cold foggy day here in California, I'm not going to be wearing the jacket until October or November.

11 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Also, jacket leather is usually much thinner than shoe leather. It would be hard to sweat through a shoe, but I for one could totally see a big sweat stain forming on a leather jacket. Diana had a good point about wearing a shirt under, but I often wear sleeveless tops under my jackets and wouldn't want to be limited.

11 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

I have an unlined leather jacket and an unlined leather midi length skirt. I've only worn both in cool/cold weather and they are great, IMO more comfortable then fabric lined because they are softer and more flexible without the added layer of a lining.

Just for fun, here's a 5 page thread of guys talking about an unlined leather jacket in "The Fedora Lounge" forum: http://www.thefedoralounge.com.....3cd379ba58

11 years ago

Theodora

Active Member

Wow, I didn't mean to get you all upset! Jill Sanders is indeed a great designer. I think what my husband was saying was that if you are going to purchase a high-end leather jacket, for over $1000.00, you really want it to last, not stretch, and be protected. If the jacket were $150.00/ 200.00, then the worry is less.

Claudia, you are right, but is the raw side of the leather facing your skin, or a finished side? All dyed leather skins have an unfinished side, kind of rough like suede, and the side you see, that is not only dyed, but finished with a sealing glaze to protect the dye.

Btw, shoes and boots are generally made with cow, calf, kid/goat, even pigskin leather, as lambskin is too soft to last, unless the wool is left on it, as in Uggs. There are lamb boots, shoes etc out there, but very pricy. The process to dye each type is different.

Aargh!!! I feel like a teacher, and I was already exhausted from home-schooling today!

Good Luck with your jacket!

11 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

I wonder if the trend toward unlined leather is about the trend for wearing leather in spring/summer? I have started seeing lots more drapey, soft, very lightweight leather used in tops, shorts, etc. and meant for spring and summer (in mags and in runway pics)--maybe that is partly what is driving the lack of lining? Probably sometimes it's about cost too.

11 years ago

Category