But if you mention the idea of biker jackets or leather coats of any kind to people they generally think of heavy leather made from cow hide that’s thick, less flexible and can make you feel too warm. After all, it’s summer, not winter, and leather jackets should be flexible enough to cope with the cooler days as well as the frozen days.

Can leather be lightweight, comfortable, flexible and yet still provide enough protection? What is the best type of leather for the variable British summer?

The answer is something called either nappa leather or napa leather. It’s unmistakable, because nappa leather is considerably thinner than the heavy duty cow hide leather you see biker jackets made out of. Nappa leather is warm, soft and comfortable, as well as looking extremely stylish.

The difference is all down to where nappa leather comes from. Unlike most high street leather jackets nappa leather jackets are made from unsplit sheep skin, lamb skin or even kid skin. This type of leather is very soft, very flexible and is used to make a range of luxury items from furniture coverings to luxury car interior upholstery.

If you’re looking for a leather jacket for the summer, and well into the autumn, then look out for nappa leather – it’s the best way of combining comfort with style, whilst not losing out on the practical benefits of having a real, genuine leather coat.

But a quick word of warning, because you might have noticed the word ‘unsplit’ used just now. What does that mean?

Basically you may find that some manufacturers of leather jackets cheat a little, trying to make cow hide into something more like nappa leather. The way they do this is to use a laser to slice through the cow hide, peeling layers away to create a much thinner form of leather.

But although his method is sophisticated, it can never achieve the same level of comfort, style, feel or look as real nappa leather. It’s simply a cheaper alternative, and as with anything – you get what you pay for.

Luckily, you can get around this, should it ever happen to you. If you’re shopping for leather jackets online, and find that what you want is no longer available, you can email us, and hand over your vital measurements. We’ll not only check that there’s really, truly no more in stock, we’ll check what we do have to make sure there’s nothing else that will suit your measurements.

The measurements needed have to be exact – no fudging to hide that Christmas pudding you’re carrying. Remember to measure wearing what you’ll normally wear under the leather jacket – a t-shirt or jumper etc. The chest should be measured around the widest part, as too, the waist. Throwing in your shoe size will give an indication of how tall you are, and your frame. However, telling us how tall you are will help, too! Let us know your build (don’t be shy) – are you large, small, thin? What size do you normally take? And lastly, tell us how you want the jacket to fit: fitted is 1" larger than your chest, semi-fitted is 2", comfort is 3 and loose is 4. Oh, don’t forget the actual jacket you saw – the name of the style, the colour and the kind of leather you’d like it in.

By sending in these details we can see if there’s something that you might like, if we don’t have the actual jacket in stock. Bear in mind, however, that with sale stock it’s generally what we have at the time. Usually, there’s no more and so once that particular style, colour or whatever is sold out, that’s it. Having said all that, clearance and sale items are a great way of picking up cheap leather jackets that will boost your wardrobe with a piece that can be worn anywhere, with anything, and by anyone. Whether timeless and classic or modern and hip, a decent leather coat is something that everybody should own.

Some great bargain buys can be picked up in clearance sales. Cheap leather jackets are now being sported by the younger generation due to their versatility and low cost. They can be worn with anything, and their affordability makes them attractive to the younger crowd. They can be seen to and from work (and even some schools), in town with pals or out with families.

Leather blazers, on the other hand, scream expensive – but need not be. A well-cut leather coat can look like it cost a packet but actually cost very little; it all depends on where you source it. Of course, having one tailor-made might run up the price, but it’ll fit you like a glove and no doubt look like it cost far more than it actually did. And if you don’t put on too much weight as you get older, a leather jacket made to your measurements can be worn well into your twilight years!

Leather biker jackets are huge at the moment, especially with the current tattoo trend. It seems everyone these days is sporting ink somewhere on their bodies, and what better way to compliment the look than with chunky, belted, zippered, low-slung leather coats. Designed to be functional and practical, a biker jacket will ensure your back doesn’t get too cold while you’re motoring down the highway with your gal (or guy) riding shotgun. And slung over the bike when you pull up, you can still maintain the look as you show off your tatts.

Classic ladies’ leather jackets are indeed timeless. Whether made-to-measure or off-the-shelf, a women’s leather jacket can be teamed with jeans, a skirt, or trousers. In an emergency it can be worn over a formal outfit and not look too out of place. It is equally at home on a picnic or out at dinner.

Even the not-so-humble red leather jackets are still being seen (how can you miss them!). Can be worn to revive an old outfit or set alight a new one, a red coat can make you stand out in the crowd – it’s just up to you how much and how good you’ll look while doing it!