Caring for Fur Jackets: The Basics

Winter is fast approaching, so it’s only right that you let your fur coats and jackets out once again. If you want your fur to keep protecting you from the cold (and your neighborhood fashion critics, too), you have to keep it clean and well-maintained throughout the season. Here are some cleaning tips that you can try out.

After Use

After a day of shopping or simply hanging out geared with your trusty furs, make sure that they are properly stored. Never use plastic to cover your fur jacket or coat; remember that the material will cause the fur to dry out and the silk lining to rot. Instead, use a dark-colored fabric cover and hang it on a padded, broad-shouldered hanger.

Closet Specifics

Never store your fur in a cedar cabinet, either, nor should you store it with moth balls, since being stuck up with the smells of these materials for a long time will allow the odor to stick to your fur. You should also keep the space as dark as possible, as direct contact with light can fade it.

Say No to Perfume

Don’t put on perfume while you have your fur jacket on; the alcohol will cause the pelt to dry up, not to mention that it will stain the lining and the smell could inadvertently remain and stay in your fur, much like the mothball and cedar from earlier. If you must, spray on the perfume first, and then put on your fur wear.

Classic Bikers' Fashion: The Leather Jacket

John Travolta and Olivia Newton John schooled us all on how to make leather jackets look cool in Grease. The fascination for this apparel, however, can not exclusively be attributed to the T-Birds. Bikers, in particular, have consistently been stereotyped as jacket-leather donning folks, paired up with a pair of mean cowboy boots and bandanas. It's not the most comfortable piece, though, so it does beg a lot of curiosity why a lot of people still prefer to wear this.

Some veteran riders say that leather jackets are highly versatile pieces of outer apparel. They state that leather’s thick composition allows the rider to withstand various environmental conditions out on the road. For instance, the material protects the riders’ skin from being singed by UV radiation during daylight and to prevent soaking the upper body from water during downpours.

The leather jacket may serve as an effective armor as well from small, flying debris that the bike rider is usually exposed to on the road. Most importantly, in the unfortunate event that they skid off the road, a biker wearing leather jacket can minimize scratches and bruises, thanks to the material absorbing the friction.

For these reasons alone, it should now be settled why leather jackets are actually an integral part in the bikers' wardrobe, not only because it fits the stereotype, but because they really do need an apparel like it.