Leather jacket to compliment your look - advise for the guys

Leather is one of the few materials out there that can manage to be classic and timeless while at the same time projecting an edgy confidence. No matter who you are, there's no reason to shy away from leather. No matter what your attitude or image, there's a style of leather jacket to compliment your look. Need a little help? Read on!  

There are a number of styles, both classic and modern. Biker jackets, bombers, and blazers being the most common. Biker jackets are probably the most casual of the bunch, and a nice leather blazer would fit in among the snootiest of gatherings. Each style comes in a number of different cuts, textures, colours, and styles, and can be found leaning toward the edgy or the conservative, depending on your needs. Leather dusters and trench coats provide protection from the elements, but typically come off when you go inside, and so offer less opportunity to flaunt at work and play. As for colour, black and brown - top the list, though you can find leather jackets in nearly any colour of the rainbow. I recommend your first leather jacket be one of these two main colours, though, as blacks and browns are incredibly versatile, and can be worn most anywhere. Save the burgundies for when you get bit by the leather jacket bug, and decide to pick up a second (or tenth) garment.

My next recommendation is less forceful, but you probably ought to lean toward a softer, supple jacket for your first piece. The comfort and luxury of a soft leather jacket for daily wear is pretty tough to over-value - it's great. Unless you plan to do a lot of biking, or the jacket is meant to be utilitarian more than a fashion choice, go as soft and buttery as possible. You'll be glad you did. The thing to remember is that when you buy a leather jacket, you are making an investment in your wardrobe. Leather is durable, and picks up an appealing patina as it ages - a good leather jacket may well outlive you, and is sure to be with you for many, many years. I point this out in order to make it clear that the purchase of a leather jacket is not like the purchase of a tee shirt or even a nice wool blazer - it's a lifetime purchase. Don't skimp here if you really want a lifetime garment.  

Gents, think body type, PLEASE! I don't know why, but guys are far more likely than girls to pick up an unflattering style of leather jacket for their body type because they thought it looked cool on a friend or on television. Skinny guys should think about something form fitting - some of the more modern styles of zip jackets and blazers fit the bill here.

Average guys, and those with a couple of extra pounds will find a dark trench coat or other long style coat to be extremely slimming - try to buy a coat that falls to your mid thighs or below for this effect. These middle-of-the-road folks can pull off most of what's out there. Just avoid anything that hugs you too tightly if you don't want to point out your chunky bits.

Gentlemen carrying around too much extra weight should consider the classic styles - blazers, bombers, and bikers. Make sure that the jacket is full enough and long enough that it won't ride up over your belly. You should probably avoid long coats as they tend to hang a bit strangely from the rotund among us.

Beyond this general advice, buy a leather jacket that calls to you and reflects your personality.