Leather a way of life. Timeless Leather Clothing



How to Clean Leather Goods

There are general rules for how to clean leather, however. These rules apply to how to clean car upholstery, belts, purses, jackets or other clothing, as well as furniture, luggage, and leather shoes. All leather needs an environment that is not too wet, not too dry, not too hot, or not too cold. Any extremes in the atmosphere can cause irreparable harm to the hides.
One of the first fabrics that man fashioned to wear or use, leather has been a popular material from its beginnings. Leather is a beautiful, long wearing, breathable, natural fabric that has multiple uses, i.e., clothing, shoes, furniture, luggage, and vehicle interiors. This valuable fabric is an investment that will last for years if it is treated with care. Owners want to know how to correctly clean leather products because leather can be quickly ruined if handled incorrectly.

Leather hides can be categorized as belonging to several types, depending on the process to preserve the hides. The piece of leather can be smooth, suede, dyed in a variety of ways, coated, or tanned naturally. The dye used to color the fabric can be of different types that demand different handling. A product that works beautifully on one type of leather can permanently stain a different type. It is important to read any manufacturer’s instructions to understand what type of finish was used to create the item.

There are general rules for how to clean leather, however. These rules apply to how to clean car upholstery, belts, purses, jackets or other clothing, as well as furniture, luggage, and leather shoes. All leather needs an environment that is not too wet, not too dry, not too hot, or not too cold. Any extremes in the atmosphere can cause irreparable harm to the hides.

Because leather is a natural fabric, it needs to breathe. Store leather in a cool area where it can have air circulating around it. Its color can also fade if it is kept in full sun. Furniture should be placed carefully in a room to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Cars with leather seats need to be stored in a garage to preserve the color and to avoid permanent marks from the sun shining through the windows in the same pattern daily.

Leather can also dry out over time. Exposure to heat or direct sun can hasten this drying process. Moisture can and should be restored to the leather by rubbing in conditioners on a regular basis. This conditioning also helps leather repel some substances that might soak into a dried-out piece.

Removing stains can be a challenge on leather goods. Only use products that are specially formulated for safe use on leather. Always test the product on an inconspicuous spot to see if its use will change the color of the item. If the garment is one of a set (for instance, one of a pair of gloves) treat both items to maintain a color match. Small spots may respond to careful application of alcohol, corn starch, or cuticle remover applied with a cotton swab. This last suggestion will work by removing a thin layer of the leather, so be careful to test in an inconspicuous spot on dyed items. A water-stained garment may be saved by wetting the entire garment to attempt to match the "new" color.

An expert may need to be consulted to discover how to clean car upholstery that has unusual or extensive stains. Following a regular maintenance schedule and wiping up any spills immediately should keep the interior of the car attractive and comfortable.

Certain natural leather finishes can be permanently stained or turn a different color if exposed to too much water or other liquids. One key rule is to clean the piece immediately, before a substance has a chance to soak in or dry onto the hide. Homeowners should not panic or look the other way when their leather furniture is spilled on or marked because they are unsure how to clean it.

Leather, because it is a natural fabric, should be maintained by washing at least twice a year. This washing should be done gently, by hand. Use a mild soap or a saddle soap. (A good, all-purpose leather cleaner is Fuller Brush’s Vinyl and Leather Cleaner/Polish/Protectant.) Create suds in a bowl and apply the suds to the leather surface with a soft cloth or sponge. Do not use the soapy water. Be careful to keep the cloth barely damp -- not wet. After washing, buff the leather item dry with a second soft cloth. Do not try to dry the leather item near heat, as this will cause the leather to become brittle and possibly shrink. After washing and drying the item is complete, rub a good leather conditioner into the fabric. This conditioner serves to protect the leather from spills or stains, and helps keep it soft and supple. If unsure about using a leather conditioner, the manufacturer’s directions will explain how. Clean leather by hand, gently, with the proper products, and this fabric will last for years.

 

Leather

The Easy Way to Organize Your Wardrobe

1. Separate clothing into categories. Pants with pants, skirts with skirts, and so on.

2. Find five containers (boxes, baskets, plastic storage) and label as follows: Donate, Mend, Trash, Hold, Store Until (date six months from today). Over the next three days, you will sort your clothing. Any item that doesn't fit or look beautiful on you goes into the donate container. If buttons are loose or alterations are needed, the item belongs in the mend pile. Trash is for anything stained or beyond repair. Hold is for items you're not sure about. Put them away for one month and then make a decision. Store Until is for items which don't currently fit but might in six months if you continue on your weight loss program.

3. Go through your pants, skirts and shorts. Try on each pair. Sort.

4. Today, try on all your shirts and sweaters. Sort.

5. Go through cardigans, jackets and dresses. Sort.

6. Take the donate box to The Salvation Army or a consignment shop today. Mend items or drop them off at the seamstress. Store your other two containers elsewhere in your home.

7. Organize each category by color -- from white to cream to tan to brown to green and so on. You did it! This is your current wardrobe. Everything fits and is ready to wear.

Handbag Styles and which one to choose

There is always that woman; you know the one I am talking about. The one who seems to always look good, the one who can take an ordinary outfit and make it seem as if it was meant just for her, the one with that innate fashion sense. What is it that makes her outfit look so good? Chances are that it is that she pays as much attention to her accessories as her choice in clothing. One accessory that can make the difference between ordinary and fashion chic is a handbag.

 

Short or Long - Huge or Small?

Here are a few tips that will help you understand when short handbags should be chosen over your normal handbag.

You should look for a bag that is opposite of your figure. If your tall and thin look for something rounded, if you’re a bit shorter and a little more round look for a squarer or more rectangular bag like a clutch. However, you also want to think about proportions. A very petite woman should not be carrying round a huge bag and a tiny bag next to a more curved woman will give the illusion that she is bigger than she really is.

Leather handbag Length Rules

Now, comes the rule for bag length. What parts of your body do you like and want to accentuate? Having a handbag at this part of your body will accentuate the feature. Generally short handbags will make your chest area look larger, so if this is not a part of your body you want looking bigger, I would suggest trying a bag with a little longer straps. With short handbags you will also want to try it on. Fashion may be important, but you also want comfort, and if the bag is too cramping around your arm or keeps hitting your chest the bag will be a waste of money no matter how fashionable.

Remember that the “in” style may not always be the best style for your figure, your outfit or your needs. So be sure not to just pick up whatever everyone else says is fashionable; take your time and find the bag that is perfect for you.

Leather is now a symbol of luxury and fashion and it has carved a niche for itself in the fashion industry. Leather goods are being manufactured by most leading brands and it has been molded to adorn the body, in the form of furnishings, leather jewelry etc. Buying leather goods is no longer restricted to leather jackets, leather coats, leather boots, leather belts and such other leather products. Leather goods now command a lot of attention and have a specific role to play in the market.

Leather goods have scored a high point in the lives of people because of the durability factor. Besides, these are very high on the glam quotient, which is probably why most of the fashionistas find it compulsory to have at least a branded leather jacket, or stylish black leather boots in their wardrobe. Designer leather products and leather apparel hit the runways in a big way and buying leather goods merely became a way of life to some.

Apart from fashion, leather apparel was also used as a protective measure from the winter chills. Most hardcore bikers found themselves incomplete without adorning the leather jacket to battle the winter season. Now-a-days, various techniques are used by the designers which makes the leather lighter and thus, easier to adorn. This further enhances the skin and one can see the use of beautiful textures finishes and colors in the leather products.


Leather Clothing

Celebrities and their association with leather clothing has been visible since the 1950’s. Here’s a look at this craze for leather clothing and what makes these garments really uber cool even today.
Who can forget the 1950’s look sported by Marlon Brando in the movie, ‘The Wild One’! Leather clothing has always been a favorite with our stars no matter what the era! We can therefore see, leather has been around for a long time and is one of the most versatile elements used for clothing. The versatility of leather is such that one can create different looks through various applications and treatments given to leather. Leather clothing therefore, has proven to be one of the most sought after items especially with celebrities! A wide range of animal leather is used to create leather-based products such as jackets, gloves, handbags, belts etc. Some of the most commonly used types of leather remain to be cow leather, buffalo and ox leather. Sheep leather is most preferred due to the softness it lends to leather garments. So, have you often wondered about the uniqueness of leather garments and the part they play in the fashion scenario? Or do you think leather clothing is really passé? Take a look at the various roles played by leather clothing!

Leather Clothing: Ultra Glam or Dead Boring?
Leather has been around for a long time and has always been used to create glamorous clothing. Sometimes, such clothes were known to create a stir but at times, such clothing invited criticism as well. Madonna was seen sporting kinky leather boots and George Michael flaunted leather jackets in their respective music videos. Celebrities and their fascination for leather clothing is definitely old news now; and they have often influenced many young teens to go their way.

Cowboys and leather have always had a long association. Cowboys in leather chaps created quite a rage way back then! Leather-clothing items such as jackets and gloves were associated with the sexy biker look! This was the time when Marlon Brando created a revolution and men on the streets tried to emulate him in every possible way! Although leather jackets were worn as a protection against windblast and various factors that affected riders, these ultimately evolved into a style statement and were often purchased only to be ‘in’ with the crowd. Of course, one also needed an equally sexy motorcycle to complete the look! Well, fashion comes with its huge price tags and this is the price probably one pays to follow the latest trends! Leather jackets were therefore seen as a symbol of being macho and therefore, attractive to members of the opposite sex!

The fetish for leather clothing did not end here. Leather clothing has also helped some major rock groups to complete an entire look as well. Could you ever imagine Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses fame, in a flowered shirt? Well, one can thus surely agree our favorite heavy metal groups would never look complete without leather clothing and tattoos! In some cases, the use of leather was even extended to pants and accessories as well. Leather pants were a rage when Michael Jackson sported them as he danced the moonwalk. Leather pants were then considered to be hot and women were also quick to follow this trend. Black leather pants with belts that had big shiny buckles became a style statement especially with the youth.

Today, one can see many new styles that are structured as per the designs sported by celebrities in the recent years. Madonna’s leather bomber jacket can be seen in the many imitations that have flooded the market. Leather lingerie is also catching up big time due to the particular look and the kind of feel it offers. Leather clothing is therefore preferred, due to the timeless and glamorous look it offers!

Leather Clothing: Does Fashion Really Kill?
Leather clothing may be popular due to the glamorous and versatile looks it offers, but is it really necessary in our wardrobe? Many questions have been raised by animal rights activists about the use of leather for clothing and other products. Many groups concerned with the rights of animals boycott the use of leather and promote the use of synthetic leather.

Leather clothing still dominates the fashion scene although it does evoke mixed reactions! One thing is for sure; fashionistas the world over cannot really ignore its timeless appeal.

Stylize Your Wardrobe

5 ways to make the most of what you already own

SintamaIf you're anything like Lovergirl, you have a closet jam-packed with clothes of all shapes and sizes, and NOTHING to wear! The very best example of this is jeans. Twenty-five pairs and none that look perfect a panoramic view of your closet includes Jeans-From-High-School, your Skinny/Normal/Fat Jeans, and Maternity Jeans - you get the picture. Here's Lovergirl's top five suggestions to make the clothes you feel and look GREAT in come to the forefront of the jumble you call your wardrobe.

#1 TRY EVERYTHING ON - EVERY SINGLE THING!

Be vicious. Take every single thing out of your closet and put it on. Look at it in the mirror, and give your honest, unbiased opinion. If it doesn't fit, pitch it. I don't care if you are losing weight - by the time you get into it again, it will be out of style, and you will want something new anyway. This could hurt a little, but be brave. Think of it as a psychological exercise in self-actualization.

#2 IF YOU HAVEN'T WORN IT FOR A YEAR, GET RID OF IT!

Say goodbye and good riddance to some of those shopping mistakes - like the bright yellow peasant blouse you bought when you were in the cowgirl stage, and when you bought into the leggings trend - bad decisions, but hey, you're human! If you think it still has some life in it, like a long skirt you could shorten to the oh-so-current mid-length, attempt to alter it - you have nothing to lose. Try donating all usable items in good condition to your local women's shelter.

#3 CREATE A SMALL SECTION OF SPECIALS

The sexy dress you wore the night you got engaged (hey, it worked, didn't it!) - the fantastic stilettos you bought on the whirlwind NYC shopping trip (you cant walk in them, but, oh man, they look so hot!) - the rhinestone belt from Vegas (its been around the block too, ok?!). You are allowed to keep these, and add items to this special section of your closet which you deem worthy (the first jeans you were able to zip up post-pregnancy do NOT count).

#4- MAKE A DETAILED LIST OF REPLACEMENTS

You count four white t-shirts, and they all have stains? Pitch every single one (no, you are not allowed to keep them for PJs) and spend the $15 on a brand-new one. Make sure it fits you perfectly, and you will wear it under everything, dress or casual. Do you have twelve pairs of black pants, and still not the perfect, 365 days a year style? Get rid of all of them (painful, I know - be brave). If you cant bear to give away perfectly good (if only slightly last year) styles, sell them online and use the proceeds to buy THE perfect pair, even if it sets you back a few hun. Ditto for all your denims.

#5 PUT THE WINNERS BACK INTO YOUR CLOSET AND EVALUATE!

Now, what you have left, after reliving your glory days, intermittent crying jags and laughing fits, and some tough soul-searching, is the Best of the Best the epitome of the Fashion Called You! This will become the basis for your signature style - pieces that make you feel great, pretty, sexy, smart - who knew fashion could be such a pick-me-up. If there's not much left, you know what to do (Can you say..."Little Brown Bag"!)