You are never too old to wear a Leather Jacket, and over 40 is not old anymore. However, styles change, and as we get older the leather jacket needs to be of a more classical design. Whether you are a man or a woman your leather jacket will always look elegant for evening outings to dinner and the theatre and will keep you warm in the depths of winter.
Where a wool coat will often look bulky, leather is the perfect material to keep the wind and cold out without making you look heavy and overdressed. Many people put on excess weight as they age, and layers of clothes add that look in winter. There is something slimming about a leather jacket and we will take a look at how to wear it for the over 40 age group.
Is it Too Old to Wear a Leather Jacket Over 40?
Have you noticed that fashions and styles change every year, but leather is always in fashion? The colors will be different, as will the lengths and design, and this is so we will be tempted to purchase another jacket. After 40 there is only one rule and that is to stick with the classic design.
The truth is, what suits a 20-year-old, is not going to suit you when you are 40. and most of us are wise enough to recognize this fact, especially those who like an understated look and don't want to stand out in any way.
According to the Designer Amanda Wakely, a favorite designer of Britain's most influential women, and reported in the Daily Mail, she says.
Yes, you can wear leather at any age, and to prove a point, she put the then PM Theresa May into some 995-pound leather trousers. The Prime Minister at the time looked resplendent in the Khaki leather trousers, and a leather jacket that went with it, and as she was 65 years old, everyone was surprised at how amazing she looked in the outfit.
Don't Give up Your Signature Style Just Because you are Older
Throughout life, there will be clothes that will define you and they will be the clothes that you love. If you wear leather jackets throughout your life, keep wearing them, and if you have always worn bright colors don't stop now, as fashion should continue to evolve as we age.
The main thing to remember is that you want your clothes to look good and fit well. Not have that dowdy look that can manifest with poorly made clothes.
So always buy good well-cut leather jackets, and have several in your wardrobe, so that you can alternate them when you go out.
Can You Wear a Leather Jacket Over 40?
Some of the world's most fashionable women are over 40, think Angelina Jolie, and many others wear leather. Of course, their clothing constantly changes, but their style doesn't and this is where the Leather jackets come in, as it is always fashionable.
Men have no qualms about wearing leather all their lives, and if they look good in it when they are young they will keep wearing it long after they turn 40. Why? Because it is their signature look, and they look good in their leather jackets and continue to buy more of them.
For older men, a timeless leather jacket is essential as a cold-weather wardrobe item, it can be worn year after year, For a man the best leather jacket is edgy, often worn over straight-legged jeans, and it can last a lifetime.
In fact, the leather Moto Jacket has remained almost the same since it appeared in 1928. It is slim through the shoulders with high cut armholes, looking just the same as it did 60 years ago.
Back in the 1980s we had leather blazers that were then, considered a style item. They were oversized, and are now back in fashion paired with roomy trousers and sneakers.
Last fall we had the leather trench, making it perfect for cold days, the normal trench is not warm and we often feel cold when it's raining. Paired with knee-high boots this was the perfect look for fall and winter. Some people even wear faux leather, which is an amazingly good imitation of the real thing.
A vegan friend explained to me that this is the only way to go, but I can't quite adapt to that look yet!
I remember a time when the animal rights activists stood outside Harrods and sprayed any of us wearing fur with a red die from a spray can.
That was a sad end to my first 'Lapin' coat, however, we soon were wearing leather instead, as leather jackets were far more stylish and didn't attract the same adverse attention, and it was such good value at the time.
So, here we are nearly 50 years later, and still wearing leather, I can't see anything changing now as once we have our look we continue to allow it to evolve.
How to Wear a Leather Jacket Over 40
As we get older we realize that the leather jacket goes with absolutely everything. However, after the age of 40 women, more than men find it difficult to meet the challenge of adapting their leather jackets to suit their changing looks and figure. Pair your jacket with some neutral colors, and add a scarf for winter. In Summer, pair it with a silk blouse for evening wear, and add a pair of high heels.
A good iconic leather jacket gives you confidence when attending that job interview, or first date. In time, you may come to think of it as your lucky jacket as it has been with you through so many important days in your life.
The leather jacket will keep you warm in winter, and cool in summer, as it is a natural fiber that performs similar functions to pure wool. It will even go well with a summer dress, and when you get to your dinner date take it off while in the restaurant and then put it back on when leaving.
It doesn't matter how old you are, you can still wear a stylish well-cut leather jacket even if you are 90.
For people who are under 40, it is important to take care of your leather jacket, as many of us who remain a similar weight, can just keep wearing it, as leather jackets don't seem to wear out.
If you spill something on it like red wine, take it along to the specialist dry cleaner, as they will know how best to treat it and preserve it for the future when you will still be wearing it.
Purchasing a New Leather Jacket
When you decide to invest in a new leather jacket, over 40 years of age, it is just that, an investment in yourself.
It is important to try the jacket on, to get the perfect fit. As we get older, leather jackets need to be tried on, and not purchased online. This is because although we see ourselves as still being a size 10 or 12, shape changes over the years, and our body shape does change.
We are going to be spending a large amount of money on our new jacket, and we want to be sure that it looks just perfect. The other factor is if we have always worn really bright colors, our coloring changes a bit as we get older, and a lot of fashion experts suggest that we don't look as good in bright colors as we age.
Of course, there are exceptions, and we don't need to go totally beige, but often a more muted color can work better for us when we are older. Men don't seem to notice this change, and just go and purchase the colors that they have always worn, often black and brown, with a few opting for white
On the right person, a white or red leather jacket can look sensational on a night out. Most men will get by with two or three good leather jackets in their wardrobes, that they can keep wearing until they are in their 90s because we are never too old for a night out.
Now that lockdown is over, many of us are back on the cruise ships, and we need to take our leather jackets with us. At night after dinner, it is cold on the deck, and the evening walk can be freezing without a leather jacket, as it is always much cooler at sea than on the land.
Conclusion
As you can see when you lead a full and active life, you are never too old to wear a leather jacket, and when you watch some 25-year-old movies, you will notice that both women and men are wearing leather jackets, and it is because they are glamorous and stylish. Leather is a way of evoking happy times when we were out wining and dining regularly, and most of us are reluctant to let those times go.