Talk to me about faux leather ETA UPDATE - YouLookFab Forum

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Talk to me about faux leather ETA UPDATE

Katerina

Veteran

Hi everyone,
I have ordered an inexpensive faux leather shirt from an outlet (Betty&co) - see pic 1. The cost will be about 30 Euro. I have not received yet, but it made me think about faux leather in general. I don´t want to make this thread about ethical questions, but merely about quality and comfort of the materials and I would like to ask you about your experience.

What puzzles me a little about faux leather clothing is that most of the fabrics seem to be made of polyester coated with or mixed with polyurethane. This is the material of both the inexpensive pieces and the really pricey ones. Of course I understand that there are other aspects such as design quality, brand, manufacturers etc. But I wonder if, given that the material in itself is all polyester/polyurethane, there is a huge difference in the actual fabric's function. For example - will the pricier items be more "breathable", will they look much more like real leather, will they be softer/more comfortable and more durable?

I have only two faux leather items in my wardrobe, both inexpensive and bought on sale. A pair of olive pants from H&M bought cca 3 years ago for about 5 Euros and a black skirt from KappAhl, maybe about 10 Euros. I am quite pleased with the trousers, still have them and wear them sometimes (pic 2). I have not worn the skirt much, but it is mainly because I don´t wear skirts in general (pic 3).

Do you own and wear faux leather items? What is your experience of the various kinds?

ETA - UPDATE
- the shirt has arrived this evening and I must say I am impressed. I didn’t know what to expect and it was not expensive, but boy it looks good. It looks like very soft well made real leather shirt. It is difficult to see that it is pleather without touching it. It is very soft and the stitching looks very good. I also tried all the snaps extra carefully and they seem to work fine. So far so good. Tomorrow, I will try some styling and wear it a little at home to see how it feels in terms of heat and breathability. I look forward to the matching pants, they have not arrived yet.

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Katerina

Anonymous

Skirt looks great! I haven't owned a lot of faux leather- but I think generally if there's texture or if it's suedelike it works better. I don't like it if it's super shiny and patent like.

N

I can't speak for clothes but I own two Stella McCartney wallets in the fabric she called "shaggy deer" which I think is meant to mimic suede. The inside is a faux leather and its so gorgeous. Like really amazing quality. Much better than some of the other plasticky fake leather stuff you can get. I think there is definitely a difference. Much like there is a difference between a cheap leather bag and an expensive one.

My recent Veja purchase in the vegan leather, you can definitely tell it isnt real leather and its stiff. I think most vegan leather shoes are. My vejas have actually cracked a little, which a leather wouldn't do.

Your faux leather items look great though, I wouldn't be able to tell they were faux. I think the technology has definitely improved over the years.

Synne

Veteran

Sort of related, but we have some wonderful faux leather dining chairs. I was initially so impressed by the quality, but now, 4+ years in they are starting to crack, like is my experience with all faux leather. The fabric withers and breaks up.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Those are good-looking pieces! I bought some faux leather joggers recently that were good-looking but I ended up returning them because I wore them around the house and they were noisy! Too annoying.

Quality varies hugely. I have a new Stella McCartney bag in the same fabric N mentions and it feels great and seems very sturdy yet supple.

On the other hand, I brought home an old (like 10 years old) jacket from the ranch that was mixed media — cotton and faux leather. It had some spots on it so I laundered it according to the instructions. It basically disintegrated in the wash so I trashed it. I don’t know what makes the difference between the good stuff and the bad stuff but I’m always reluctant to pay a lot for the faux, unless it’s a really reputable brand.

Katerina

Veteran

Suntiger, I agree. If it is a faux suede, it is usually easier to wear.

N., I understand, it makes sense.

Katerina

Veteran

Synne, that is a shame! I am sorry... 4 years is not much.

Janet, I am also reluctant to spend a lot on faux leather, but I am intrigued, because there have been so many fabulously looking items out there since the "leather trend" begun. It is a pity the joggers didn´t work out, I remember you posting about them. Now that you mention noisy - my H&M pants are actually also noisy - sort of like squeaky rubbery noise when I wear them. I am not so bothered by it though. Wear them only sometimes and for the price, it is more a fun item.

I am more concerned about the newly ordered shirt - whether it will be sweaty... I am planning on wearing it as a jacket, open and over a cotton top. But we will see when it arrives.

Katerina

Veteran

N., sorry, I missed the second part of your answer. Shame about the sneakers… I have a pair of faux leather Puma sneakers, They have held up, but they do not resemble leather and are stiff. They are black and golden - so again a fun piece, but not for a lot of walking.

I also think the technology has improved, the faux leather items do look great (many of them)…. I also think that today, it is not about “fake” leather, so perhaps the resemblance to real leather is not important any more… Hence the shiny patent rain coats trend etc.

RobinF

Veteran

I had a jacket that was faux leather and it was really hot. I avoided wearing it because of that and eventually passed it on. Since then I have avoided faux leather but I have seen nice items that tempt me to try it again. Maybe the quality has changed because they look so real that I have to read the tag to tell. Your items look great.

Vildy

Veteran

I read menswear blogs and forums from time to time and real leather shoes crack, also. A problem with faux leather is climate control where it can delaminate owing to humidity and sunlight. I had a couple of pair of faux leather ankle boots that I continually applied shoe polish to and people regularly admired them and assumed they were leather. Had no wear problems with them whatsoever and were not stiff. On the other hand, many nice leather shoes are lined in faux leather and tend to peel. I avoid this feature. I ordered the Nordstrom long black faux leather shirtdress and despite the "sueded" texture inner lining, it felt too heavy and too hot and I returned immediately. I also thought the snaps were shoddily done. Watch out and examine the snap placement on your new shirt because this is a place where you could get a tear in the surrounding fabric.

Katerina

Veteran

Yes, RobinF, that is exactly what I wonder about…. I will try the shirt around the house and see how it feels. Generally, I manage synthetics or faux leather quite well in bottoms, but have low tolerance for them in tops. I wear some synthetic blends in toppers and it works if I wear natural fibers close to my body.

Katerina

Veteran

Vildy, thank you! That is very helpful!

Ginger

Veteran

Faux leather technology is fascinating to me. Usually the pieces I have start to flake and shed within 4-5 years (soft jackets) but some things stand up really well.

Synne's mention of faux leather chairs reminds me of a sofa I grew up with. It's from the 1940s and has been passed down through the family. Curved back and scroll arms, lots of nailheads. At one point it was a wedding gift in the late 1950s, and re-covered in brand new Naugahyde of the bride's choice: Cream colored with embossed ribbon scrollwork. (I think her father worked for the company at the time! It was quite expensive.) That Naugahyde is still in great condition, only showing wear at actual wear points like the front of the arms. My mother cleaned it a couple times with 409 (and it's had crayon/marker clean off as well). I've always liked it.

Naugahyde is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), instead of polyurethane (PU), which is most of the faux leather garments now. I wonder why. The Naugahyde is very flexible and fused to a knit backing.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

To Vildy’s point, not all “real” leather is equal either! A lot of inexpensive leather items are bonded leather, which is to leather what particleboard is to wood. It can break down quickly and peel or crack.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Personally, I prefer natural fibres in my tops because I get too hot & sweaty otherwise (tmi lol sorry, but it's the truth!) Unfortunately the same goes for faux leather - I can only stomach it as bottoms, or something that sits away from the body (like a bag).

But even then, the pricier pleather pieces don't last well for me. They may feel nice at first (buttery soft, with some 'drape' as others have mentioned) but even they crack & disintegrate quicker than real leather for me (I live in a humid, subtropical climate though, so your mileage may vary with this).

I really wish it wasn't so (would love to be able to switch to vegan fabrics in my closet), but so far I haven't found the synthetic alternatives to natural fibres to be breathable enough for me (the only possible exception is some tencel & rayon/ viscose, but even those are strictly on a case by case basis).

Katerina

Veteran

Ginger, that is very interesting. I have some vintage faux leather bags from 50s and 60s and they are still in mint condition. Do not know what they are made of, but maybe PVC?

Janet, yes. I remember a couple of belts I bought years ago… They were marked “leather” and they cracked and literally fell apart quite quickly. They were made of some pressed leather mass. They were from Versace Collection. One was a gift to my husband. I remember I was quite disappointed.

Katerina

Veteran

Zaeobi, thanks for chiming in!

I think faux leather is tricky also because it usually photographs really well - easy to be tempted and order online. Another question is how it feels and functions…. I actually just ordered matching pants to go with the shirt. I have free easy returns, so I thought it would be worth a try. I am a sucker for all kinds of sets

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Joy

Veteran

I had a beautiful faux leather white jacket from a leather store before it basically disintegrated ( the coating peeled off). It was ok but felt tight in the arms. It does not stretch at all or mold to your body as leather does. I also had a faux leather bag that had parts peeling off after one season. I will not buy more faux leather. Real leather can be treated and the wear just adds character. Both are very warm and do not allow wind chill. My leather pants are reserved for the coldest days of the year. I wear leather jackets and coats open for air circulation. You can find leather at second hand shops very inexpensively. I have even washed some thrifted leather blazers in the washer and hung to dry. They look a bit distressed but that does not bother me as I wear them casually. I have two full length leather trench coats from a consignment store that was going out of business. They were deeply marked down even from the consignment price and have become favorites.

Good luck with your beauties. Faux leather does feel softer than real leather when new, but the real stuff softens with use, and stretches a bit.

ophelia

Veteran

Ginger thanks for that info! I’ve worn faux leather shoes, belts & bags for decades, & they have been indestructible. But in the past 5 years or so, I saw that flaking thing going on with 2 items & figured it was part of an overall quality decline. I never thought to compare materials (duh). This will be so helpful in future purchases!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Katerina, I LOVE the '70s vibe of that skirt. You look KILLER. Please wear it more often

Faux leather quality runs the gamut! As does the price point. I try to sass out the versions that feel and look best to my eye, and have had a GREAT run so far.

My red faux shearling aviator has been the BOMB! It's a workhorse and looks new. Never been washed! Just wiped. Had it for three years. I'm very impressed.

We have cream vegan dining chairs that are about 8 years old - maybe 10 - and have been INCREDIBLE. Still look new, and we sit in them a lot!

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CarolS

Veteran

This is such a timely thread. I brought home a faux leather "moto" (well, moto-ish) jacket on spec just the other day. (finally found something with some stretch and sleeves that can be pushed up, and looks pretty decent to my eye) BUT, as a couple of others have said, I worry it will be too hot to actually wear in an indoor situation. Sweaty is not a good look on me

Katerina

Veteran

Joy, thank you for the good advice. I remember your leather coats and love them - such great pieces. I am also amazed that you put leather jackets in the washer - wow…. Are they suede or smooth leather? I have some cream and some yellow goat suede gloves. They are unlined and I wash them by hand with a mild soap. It works well.

Katerina

Veteran

Angie, I remember when you bought that red jacket - it is gorgeous and so fun! Has it already gone three years since then? Thank you very much for the compliment on the skirt. In fact, you have literally saved it from the purge pile where I put it this afternoon. Suddenly I thought I wouldn’t wear it any more. Now I keep it and give it a new chance

Katerina

Veteran

CarolS, exactly! When my shirt arrives, if the size works, I will wear it around the house for a while to see if “it breaths”. My office is otherwise very cold, so it might not be a problem there.
I thought of you directly when I ordered the matching black pants. I broke my own no buy black pants rule, lol. The day after I proclaimed it on your thread. Oh, well…

CarolS

Veteran

LOL, Katerina. I am breaking my own general "no buy" rule right left and centre! I need something to wear to a wedding in a couple of weeks and have ZERO party clothes -- so I guess one wedding appropriate outfit IS on my buy list. But in the meantime, other things tempt me. The good news is there are no black pants or other bottoms in my most recent haul. I do have a faux leather jacket that I will wear around the house a bit to test fo the heat factor. I tend to be fine until I am suddenly waaaay too hot. Doesn't happen a lot, but it's exciting when it does.

Joy

Veteran

Katerina, the jackets were smooth leather. One is a blazer and the other a bomber jacket. My sons both wanted the bomber jacket which I’d thrifted. It looks like a military airman’s jacket and is definitely an outdoor piece. One son took it.
you reminded me that I have also washed smooth leather gloves by hand . They were a bit stiff when dry, but quickly softened again.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My experience with pleather (“plastic” leather) is a wallet snd a bag, both from leSak, and two armchairs. The purses have held up well, even after years of use for the wallet. The chairs were comfy to sit in, but not with exposed skin—they felt very sweaty very soon. This was in Florida, not Scandinavia, so YMMV. I got them used from a nation-wide chain of bookstores that was closing. They were very sturdily made. A couple years after I got them, the pleather began to flake off. Once the process started on a piece, it was a quick progression from cracks to a couple little crumbles falling off to big flakes exposing the fabric beneath. My leather & suede bags, 2 leather jackets & 2 suede skirts, otoh, seem to hold up fine.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Along with others above, I would say quality matters a lot with faux leather. I have had bad experiences with things cracking, peeling and so on, but I think on the higher end these are not so much a problem. I have seen older Stella McCartney shoes and bags that have held up beautifully for example.

rachylou

Veteran

I had a shirt with a faux leather collar that disintegrated simply hanging in the closet. But then I have a really cheap fake leather jacket that’s chipped only a little bit in a way that’s not unlike a well-worn leather jacket. And then I have my top quality purse that’s lived through rain. It’s incredibly variable. But I will say I think all leather, whether fake or real, is hot!

Katerina

Veteran

ETA - UPDATE
- the shirt has arrived this evening and I must say I am impressed. I didn’t know what to expect and it was not expensive, but boy it looks good. It looks like very soft well made real leather shirt. It is difficult to see that it is pleather without touching it. It is very soft and the stitching looks very good. I also tried all the snaps extra carefully and they seem to work fine. So far so good. Tomorrow, I will try some styling and wear it a little at home to see how it feels in terms of heat and breathability. I look forward to the matching pants, they have not arrived yet.

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