Prada is one of the most renowned Italian luxury fashion powerhouses known for its nylon and leather products – jackets being one of them. But…are they hot garbage or something worth spending your hard – earned money on? Well…you’re about to find out!
Read: The WORLD’S ULTIMATE Guide to Prada Lines
#1 – Introduction
If you’ve been following me on Instagram and/or reading this blog, you know that one of my favorite pastimes is looking for good deals in thrift stores and on the Internet – especially eBay. One of my biggest and latest scores in the last few years are the two Prada leather jackets (the black flight jacket coming from the Prada Linea Rossa line and the blue suede from the Prada mainline) whose total price was far less than their MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price).
After a couple of months of wearing both of these jackets, I believe that the time for their (and Prada’s) in-depth, honest and, most importantly, non-sponsored review has finally arrived 🙂 .
N. B – Pictures of me wearing the Prada mainline jacket will be uploaded at a later date. For now, pictures of that model that I’ve found on the Internet will be used instead.
Read: How to Buy HIGH-END CLOTHES on eBay FOR VERY CHEAP
#2 – Quality of Prada Leather Jackets
The quality of Prada leather jackets is AWESOME – the leathers (and shearlings) they’re made of are only bested by Hermes (whose jackets are multiple times more expensive than Prada’s) in terms of quality.
The types of leather Prada uses are full-grain (considered the best among all leather types in terms of appearance as it has less imperfections and a smoother surface giving it a luxurious look and feel), top grain (considered the best among all leather types in terms of strength since it hasn’t been sanded or buffed in order to remove imperfections that’d make it more pleasing to the eye) and suede (leather whose outer layer of leather is completely removed, giving it velvety texture that is smooth and soft to the touch). From what I’ve seen, the vast majority of Prada products (not just jackets) are made of full grain and suede leather, whilst top grain leather is much more rarely used which makes total sense since the former are much more pleasant for the eye and, as an added bonus, easier to work with – for example, if my Prada Linea Rossa jacket was made from top grain grain instead of full-grain leather its hem and cuffs wouldn’t have a “crumpled” look (seen in picture below) which would make it look far less cooler.
The quality of stitching on Prada leather jackets is top notch – the seams of both of my jackets are meticulously and evenly stitched. On stress points (like the shoulder areas) the seams are, from what I’ve seen, reinforced with double stitching that’ll greatly extend the longevity of the jacket. As you can see, Prada takes the idiom “The devil is in the details” very, VERY seriously – it leaves absolutely nothing to chance as even one loose thread, uneven stitching or non-reinforced stress point can ruin everything.
As far as the hardware (that is, buttons and zippers) of Prada leather jackets is concerned, it’s of great quality and it’s the same their more expensive counterparts from Hermes, Brioni and some others whose names I can’t recall use – buttons are made from mother-of-pearl, horn or corozo whereas the zippers and snap buttons (which feature the Prada logo as in the picture below) are made from metal, have interesting designs and are sourced from very reputable European and Japanese brands like Ipi, Lampo, Riri and YKK.
And finally, a word or two (well… a couple of sentences 🙂 ) about the lining on Prada leather jackets. From what I’ve seen, the vast majority are lined with specially-made polyester which is one of the strongest I’ve ever seen so far, not too rough to the touch and incredibly warm – ideal for persons with cold intolerance (for which there are also some models with shearling lining). Us (un)fortunate souls who can handle the cold no problemo but are instead more prone to sweating (like me) need not despair – Prada has also models that have lighter linings (usually cupro and viscose) or are completely unlined.
Now, let’s tackle the most important question of all – …
Read: Are Giorgio Armani Suits REALLY That Good?
#3 – …Should You Buy a Prada Leather Jacket?
The answer to this question, my dear friend, primarily depends on your own preferences!
If you’re looking for a high-quality trendy leather jacket with loud colors, interesting details and eye-catching patterns, I can guarantee that Prada leather jackets won’t be to your liking because they, for the most part, feature none of that (my Prada Linea Rossa is, as I said earlier, one of the rare exceptions). Some good alternatives that may better suit your taste(s) are Gucci, Etro, Dolce & Gabbana and, if you’re female, Prada’s diffusion line Miu-Miu.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a high-quality jacket of simple yet elegant design (“elegant simplicity” as I like to call it 🙂 ) that’ll still be in style 100 years after purchase (provided the human race survives that long), then Prada leather jackets are something you might be interested in. Also, while you’re at it, I suggest that you also check out the offerings from Giorgio Armani’s Black Label line, Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Brunello Cuccinelli as well since their jackets, like Prada’s, embody the concept of “elegant simplicity”.
Read: WHERE to Find and Buy High-end and Designer Clothes FOR CHEAP
#4 – Where to Buy a Prada Leather Jacket for Cheap?
The main reason that prevents many from wearing Prada leather jackets is, as you might’ve guessed, their RIDICULOUSLY high MSRPs – on Prada’s official site, one of the cheapest jackets (seen in the picture below) costs…4100 Euros. But, yuh brotha Leon plays de game ah little bit differently an inna dis section mi ah guh show yuh weh yuh get dem fa much cheapa (check dis site if yuh want to learn Jamaican Patwah).
The best place where a Prada leather jacket can be had for cheap is, as you might’ve guessed, eBay. From what I’ve seen, BNWT (brand new with tags) Prada leather jackets cost around $1500 on average – a pretty good deal if you consider that this is around half of their MSRP. If that’s too much dinero for you, there’s a rather good selection of BNWOT (Brand New Without Tags) and used leather jackets as well, whose prices are, depending on condition, materials and style, from $300 to $1000. Of course, don’t forget to check out auction listings daily as well because they’re always lots of amazing deals out there!
The second best place where one can buy a Prada leather jacket for relatively cheap is Vestaire Collective. What makes this site stand out is that they’ll, for a small fee, perform a very, VERY strict QC (Quality Control) for every item you buy, in order to ensure that it’s as described and/or not a fake – a few months ago I bought a Gucci leather overcoat and around a week later, I got a notification that it didn’t pass QC. At first, I thought it was something serious, like a small tear or some weird smell but no – the reason why it didn’t pass was because the seller forgot to send its original hanger. Since this issue was rather trivial to me, I said that I’m fine with that and allowed the deal to go through (the seller, by the way, contacted me and offered to send it, but I said there’s no need). This story of mine shows the professionalism of Vestaire Collective 🙂 .
Unfortunately, Vestaire Collective’s professionalism and high QC standards come at a cost – the selection of items is smaller than on eBay and prices, due to high fees, tend to be higher. Regardless, there’ll always be some good deals to found on that site – I’ve seen plenty of Prada leather jackets, both used and brand new (with and without tags), whose prices are well, WELL below their original MSRPs.
And finally, the last place I suggest to check is Styleforum’s Buy and Sell section where you’ll find plenty of high-end and designer clothes for sale – including, of course, Prada leather jackets. Before you begin your hunt … :
(1) … keep it mind that the items that’re listed there are, for the most part, used (but usually in excellent condition).
(2) … pay attention to the date of the listing (an item that was listed in 2012 was either sold or the seller gave up on selling it).
(3) … realize that there’re scammers on any forum. In order to protect yourself, DON’T GIVE ANYONE YOUR CARD NUMBER – conduct ANY and ALL transactions using services like PayPal and Payoneer because they got your back in case things ever go sour!
There are plenty of other sites where you buy high-end designer items, used and brand new for cheap like Mytheresa, TheRealReal, Fashionphile and others. Due to my closets being full, I haven’t checked them out yet. If you did, let me know in the comments 🙂 .
Read: The Most Comprehensible Clothing Labels Guide ON THE INTERNET
#5 – Frequently Asked Questions
Do Prada Leather Jackets Run Big or Small?
Prada leather jackets generally run big – if you want a tighter fit, then size down. On the other hand, if you plan to layer it on top of a blouse, or sweatshirt, then size up.
Where are Prada Leather Jackets Made?
Prada leather jackets are made in Prada’s facilities in Northern Italy, a region known for producing high quality leather goods since the early Middle Ages.
Read: The ULTIMATE Guide to Ralph Lauren Lines in the Milky Way
Are Prada Leather Jackets Faked?
As is it the case with many high-end designer clothes, Prada leather jackets are faked, but not as much as bags, shirts and polyester jackets. If you’re unfamiliar with Prada your best bet is, after reading this guide, to buy your first few leather jackets on Vestaire Collective . After you become more familiar with the brand, then you can start looking for some more deals on eBay and elsewhere.
Thank you for reading. If you’ve liked this article and want to see more like them, make sure you bookmark this site and to follow me on Instagram!
Until next time.
Your man,
-Leon
