Facts on Shearling Coats

One of the most popular items for fashionistas is a beautiful jacket. Considering we get to wear jackets over and over again, and sometimes for years, it completely makes sense why it's such an important purchase. There are some extremely pricey jackets on the market, including jackets made with fur. These happen to be one of the most sought after jackets out there.

When it comes to purchasing a fur jacket, there are many options to choose from. Everyone has a different preference in their favorite type of fur, but sheepskin has climbed to the top of the popularity polls. Sheepskin, also known as shearling comes from many different countries, with some producing better quality than others.

The quality of shearling varies depending on what part of the world it's produced in. Some of the features of high quality shearling include its durability, softness and how light the material is. A quality shearling coat can be used during extreme cold or on more of a mild day.Spain is known to produce some of the best sheepskin products in the world. What separates their sheepskin from many other countries is the way the material feels; it's supple. Argentina is also known for high end products. When sheepskin is heavy, it loses its flexibility. A high quality sheepskin should be flexible, which keeps it lighter. England and New Zealand do produce a lot of shearling, but it's usually on the heavier site.

When the shearling is heavy, it becomes difficult to make use of them in jackets. One country that has done a very good job with heavier materials is Uruguay. Despite the fact that Uruguay has heavier materials, they've still managed to produce some quality stuff. They produce some of the best quality jackets for intensely cold weather.

Keep your eyes open for faux shearling coats. These have become more popular as the demand for authentic shearlings is on the rise. There's obviously a huge gap in price between an authentic high end shearling and a faux jacket. A high end shearling can cost thousands of dollars. If it's high end, it should last for many years and possibly even a lifetime.

This author loves fashion and is an expert on shearling coats. Not only does she love authentic shearlings, but has purchased a [http://shearlingcoats.org/faux-shearling-coat]faux shearling coat that's one of her favorites. You can find more on [http://shearlingcoats.org/shearling-coats-for-women/]shearling coats for women at shearlingcoats.org.

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Why Everyone is Looking For a Shearling Bomber Jacket

The original bomber jackets designed for bomber pilots in the Second World War came in different styles identified by the United States Aviation Clothing Board by code numbers. Two of the most popular types were the A-2, designed for the Air Force and the G-1, designed for the Navy and Marine Corps bomber pilots. Then came shearling jackets , which were lined with sheepskin. All the pilots had to have one because they were so warm and well insulated, and they were flying at 30,000 feet in the middle of winter in open cockpits.

There were various styles ranging from the B-3 shearling bomber jacket to the M-455, also a Navy jacket. Of all these sheepskin bomber jackets, the B-3 is considered to be the military classic. Not only were they worn by the bomber pilots, but also by non-flying officers who liked its stylish looks and found it to be incredibly comfortable. Of course it wasn't long before the same style had made it into commercial factories along with A-2 and G-1 designs all intended for sale to civilians - all of whom also had to have one.

The original B-3 was a relatively heavy jacket, made from hand-dyed leather, giving it a lovely russet-brown color and a slightly mottled finish. These jackets had a shearling (or sheepskin) lining that extended below the cuffs and below the waist, which is where they get their name. It was ideal for high altitude flying missions where it was extremely cold for bomber pilots. Like all the other bomber jackets, this new design had a zippered front, but only one outside pocket, on the right hand side.

In 1942, the design of the B-3 was changed slightly, probably to save manufacturing costs. Instead of sleeves being cut from one piece of skin, strips of leftover russet-hued hand-dyed leather from the last 1941 production were used and stitched to darker brown leather on the topside of the arm. This was the same leather used for the body of the jacket.

The B-3 was replaced by the AN-J-4 in 1943, before the end of World War II. This design was also lined with sheepskin but the lining didn't show at the cuffs, and there was a single strap that closed the neck, instead of two. This shearling bomber jacket also had a zippered waist adjustment, and it had two pockets on the inside.

Today both the vintage style shearling bomber jacket and the contemporary lookalike mens bomber jacket are still popular because they look good and are extremely warm.

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Where do the Best Shearling Coats Come From?

When you go to buy your shearling coat it is very important that you know the country of origin. The reason is that the sheep from Australia are very different from the sheep of Spain. The difference is in the thickness and suppleness of the skin. Why this is, is due to numerous factors such as diet, weather conditions of the environment and just plain genetics.

For a shearling coat or shearling jacket one wants warmth but also the supple soft buttery feel without stiffness. For supple softness you can't beat a shearling coat from Spain or Argentina. These countries have been producing the best quality shearling pelts for centuries.

If your interested in a shearling coat that provides the maximum warmth available then look to shearlig pelts that have originated in Uruguay. The shearling coats from Uruguay though soft are not as supple as a Spainish shearling coat, but provide superior warmth.

You can order a top quality shearling coat online in any length, size or color from AspenFashions.com. They also have a great selection of mens shearling coats and plus size shearling coats.

Bohemian Style

Do you enjoy looking earthy and natural? Are casual, comfortable and artistic - words that describe your style essence? Do you normally wear sandals in the spring/summer and boots in the fall/winter with jeans or peasant style free flowing skirts with tops that are just as comfy and free flowing? When you wear jewelry is it normally hoop earrings, bangle bracelets or ethnic looking beads? Then your style is probably Bohemian or Hippie Chic.

When you need to keep that free spirit warm head straight for a shearling coat. Shearling coats are the quintessential coat for anyone that has a casual, comfortable and earthy style. They come in so many colors that it's so easy to find one that will go with the rest of your hippie chic wardrobe.

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What Is A Shearling Bomber Jacket?

The Oxford Dictionary does not shed much light on just what the word "shearling" means. It says tersely in my concise version: "Wool from sheep shorn once." That suggests that "shearling" wool is a sort of virgin wool that is shorn from a never-before adulterated animal. The Oxford Dictionary therefore suggests that the word "shearling" refers to the wool itself.

However, if you look a little further afield, it appears that there is a lot more to "shearling" than merely some woolen locks taken from a young animal. Other references to "shearling" make it clear that this is not the wool itself but the wool plus the hide. One authority says that shearling is a sheepskin (or lambskin) pelt that has gone through a limited shearing process to obtain a uniform depth of the wool fibers for a uniform look and feel. This means that the wool still adheres to the skin when the animal is slaughtered.

So the Oxford Dictionary is wrong. "Shearling" is not wool. Instead it is the pelt (skin with wool) of a sheep that has been shorn only once. The skin to which the wool adheres is soft, sometimes as soft as suede. It seems, therefore, that the young animal is shorn just once simply because its wool is long enough for the first time for the animal to be shorn. Soon after that it is slaughtered.

What most people do know about "shearling" is that luxury apparel and footwear is made from this soft and warm pelt. The skins are tanned with the wool of uniform length to create a luxurious pelt that is then transformed into bomber jackets and other wonderfully warm items of apparel and boots.

The beauty of "shearling" for footwear is that typically the wool fibers on the woolly side tend to either repel moisture or retain it, depending on the atmospheric humidity, and therefore these boots tend to be comfortable at any time of year.
So it appears that "shearling" is not just the wool but the entire pelt, consisting of soft leather with the wool still adhering. No wonder that advertisers of shearling bomber jackets market "shearling" as "a soft, natural fleece material, usually made from natural wool and used as a lightweight and comfortable insulating lining."

There is another variation on this interpretation of what "shearling" is. Some experts say that the wool adhering to the skin must still be "curly" when tanned to lend the rugged appearance and great warmth of excellent quality "shearling".
The fact that the lamb or sheep has to be shorn just before slaughter in order for "shearling" to be produced, and the fact that the animal must not have been shorn before, suggests one of two things: that the animal was raised for meat rather than for wool and secondly that the animal was a young one, whether classed as a sheep or lamb. Old wool on and old skin would not produce a soft, luxurious, flexible "shearling"", no matter how carefully it was tanned.



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About the Author
When purchasing a bomber jacket, you will find that every second advert claims to be for a "shearling" bomber jacket. This is very infrequently the truth. You should investigate exactly what the various different vintage, collectible and modern bomber jackets are made of by visiting Bomber Jacket World where you will find many authoritative articles on the subject.
Be warned that not many bomber jackets manufactured these days are truly "shearling" bomber jackets, and those that are generally expensive replicas. It is more common to find nylon and cowhide bomber jackets for men, women and children that do the job just as well as the classic "shearling" bomber jackets.

Hello Shearling Coats!

Bye bye shearling boots like UGGS and HELLO shearling coats!

A few years ago the Australian boot/shoe company UGGS made shearling boots all the rage. Fashionistas were even wearing them in the summer with shorts because nothing was so comfy and cozy for the toesies. : )

Now the boots have fallen back from the ever changing fashion forward frontier. But many that fell in love with the shearling boot cozy concept are moving on to shearling coats. It's a natural progression that something so soft and luxuriously cozy for the feet would be coveted for wrapping one's body in! The good thing is shearling coats have been around for ages and are timeless unlike the UGGS boot fad.

Oil tycoons, ranch owners and Colorado natives have long known about the exquisiteness of a shearling coat.

Now's the best time for purchasing your shearling coat that you can enjoy through the last cold weeks of early spring and have it ready for next fall!

Best Shearling Coats - Tips on What to Look For

By Gary Bartholomew

The desire for a fur coat seems to be rooted in two parallel but seemingly contradictory themes: having a taste for something the symbolizes the height of modern elegance and style, and the primal connection that fur coats offer to our great human forebears who wore fur coats to keep warm for thousands of years.

Fur coats come in many varieties. The richness of variety in fur coats is rooted in the different types of fur available and in the various cut choices. The fur itself can vary significantly in its qualities depending upon the country of origin and other factors. Meanwhile, the fur coats themselves vary in quality depending upon how they are made.

One of the most popular types of fur coats is the shearling coat. If you are looking to purchase one of the best shearling coats, here is a quick overview of fur coats, with some tips on what to look for in a shearling coat.

Types of Fur Clothing

Fur itself is animal skin (leather) which is processed with the natural fur still attached. It can be shorn very short to create a felt effect such as would be used in a hat or gloves, or it can be cut mid-length or long for use in jackets, coats and other articles of clothing.

There is a large range of fur clothing products available in the marketplace today. They generally vary by cut, fur type and country of origin, as follows:

Cuts: Fur clothing comes in a large variety of shapes and sizes, including coats, jackets, hats, muffs, capes, vests, trims, sheared, wraps, and shawls. Most of these products some in both men's and women's styles.

Fur types: Fur types vary of course by the animal from which they originate. Some of the most popular animals whose skins are processed as fur are: fox, beaver, sable, mink, and shearling (sheepskin).

Fox furs are among the warmest furs available. There are many types of fox fur, such as long-haired, fine and silky. These are found in Russia, Australia and many other parts of the world.

Beaver furs are not only warm, they have water repelling characteristics. Most beaver fur articles of clothing are brown, and most come from North America.

Sable fur are known for being very silky. Russian sable fur, in particular, is known for its silky qualities.

Mink fur coats retain the reputation of being among the finest and rarest of fur coats. They enjoy a timeless image. Most mink is found in North America, although some are sourced from parts of Europe.

Shearling coats are made from sheep who have been recently sheared. The fleece (fur) is retained to the leather and then sheared. Shearling coats are excellent all-weather wear. They are soft to the touch and very warm.

Popular countries of origin: As mentioned above, fur coats are sourced from all over the world, including Australia, England, Iceland, New Zealand, Scandinavia, North America and South America.

How the Best Shearling Coats are Made

Choosing the right shearling coat is all about the craftsmanship. Every stage of the production process requires great skill to complete if high levels of quality are to be attained. It takes about a year from the time a trapper or farmer auctions his furs until a coat is actually ready for purchase and delivery.

Here are the stages to examine when considering the purchase of a fine shearling coat:

1. Tailoring: For custom coats, the tailoring process includes measuring for coat length and arm length, as well as body girth.

2. Fur Selection and Sizing: The template for the new garment, based in part upon the measurements taken during the tailoring stage, is laid out for the new coat. It outlines the shape of the coat and resembles somewhat a snow angel. The designer can then assign certain pieces of fur to each part of the coat to see how it will look. Individual pieces of fur are usually about 3 inches wide and 12 inches long.

3. Stitching: The individual pieces are then sewn together with needle and thread. Once all of the pieces are sewn together, the lining is added and then double-stitched to the coat.

4. Additions: Finally, exterior or interior pockets are added to the coat. A label is adding, along with buttons and button hole stitching.

The Best Shearling Coats: What to Look For

If you are looking for the best shearling coats, here are tips on what to look for:

1. Inquire about the origin of the coats in which you are interested: avoid sheepskins coats from Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and England. The sheepskin from these countries is heavy and not as flexible, thus making it not suitable for coats and jackets. However, if you are in the market for boots, slippers and seat covers, sheepskin from these countries will do just fine.

Meanwhile, in terms of sheepskin coats, those made in Spain are among the best. Reason: the climate in Spain produces the ultra-softest sheepskin in the world. Also, sheepskin from Argentina are among the finest in the world.

2. For thicker and heavier coats, consider one from Uruguay. These are ideal if you plan to wear one during extremely cold weather conditions.

3. If necessary, ask about whether they cater to plus size women.

Choosing the right shearling coat can be made easier once you understand the various choices available to you.

Aspen Fashions offers the largest selection of styles and colors of shearling coats of any online store. Buy online and we ship to your door. Visit us at: [http://www.AspenFashions.com]http://www.AspenFashions.com.

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Care Of Shearling Coats

By Daniel Sickafus

If your shearling coat or jacket gets wet, let them coat dry
naturally. Don't place by a fire or other high heat source. Heat
can dry out the natural oils in the hides.

Do not wash your coat or jacket in a washing machine or put in
a dryer. Most shearling coats are meant to be dry cleaned. When
looking for a dry cleaner, make sure that they know how to
properly clean them. The process must include putting the
natural oils back into the hides. Without doing this process,
the hides will dry out and the coat will be ruined.

When hanging your coat or jacket use a sturdy, well shaped coat
hangar. Don't use a wire hanger that's going to put "pokies" in
the shoulders and don't hang it up on a knob for extended
periods of time.

Avoid stain resistant treatments that are made of silicone. We
recommend Meltonian brand Protect-All. It will give you a layer
of protection without changing the color or finish.

Do not put adhesive stickers on shearling coats or jackets, as
part of the adhesive can either get left behind or the adhesive
may itself pull off some of the fabric.

Never place your coat or jacket right next to a open fire or
other strong heat source, such as a heater. The high heat from a
fire or heater can damage the coats.. Also, do not store them in
direct sunlight as it can bleach them over time.

When storing your coat or jacket, never put them in a plastic
garment bag for any sort of extended time because they need to
breath. Cloth garment bags are highly recommended for both
storage and travel.

Never leave your coat in a car or trunk for any amount of time
on a hot day, especially if it is wet. The combination of water,
being crumpled & excessive heat generally results in the coat
shrinking, smelling musty and losing its shape. (Even the best
cleaner or restorer will have a tough time restoring it.)

You can choose to have coat stored over the summer but most
people tend to keep them at home in a climate controlled room
and this seems to work fine. Never put them in the attic or
basement for storage.

About the Author: Manufacturer and retailer of shearling coats
and mink coats. http://www.VillageShop.us

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