Rowenta, the best steam iron...Let the heat and steam of your iron soften your leather wardrobe

Have you ever pulled out your coat from last winter only to find that it has a mind of its own? Instead of wrapping around you, it seems to want to remain in the shape you left it in since your last wearing. We love leather because it easily conforms to our shape. But with the varying temperature cycles our leather goods go through in the storing process, it stiffens and refuses to budge without a fight. It eventually gives way and we're loving the glove like hug it gives us, however, that re-breaking in period wreaks havoc on the natural fibers.

Hence the reason for the tears that appear in the leather giving it that worn look. Now if you're after that "bad boy/girl" look a weathered leather jacket takes on, then no worries. But if you want to enjoy that crisp look as long as possible try this.

Of course, one of the quickest ways to destroy the look and quality of leather is to take a heated iron directly to it. But using that heat to work in your fashionable favor is all in the technique.

The feature that makes your leather goods look and feel the way they do is the oil that is in the skin. Some is added or removed to get the desired look and feel. Over time, that oil will evaporate from they hide, giving it a distinct look and feel.

To renew your leather, try this...fill your steam iron with water and place it on its highest temperature and steam setting. Put your leather item on a flat surface and hover your steam iron over the leather item. You'll have to experiment with yours, but I find that four to six inches does well.

You don't want to directly touch your leather goods with the heat and sole plate of the iron. It can burn the leather and cause an unwanted shine to the skin. Unless the leather has been water proofed, the steam will cause the pores to open, letting the water atoms from the steam into the fabric.

 It's up to you if you want to add extra oil to it by purchasing type of leather oil such as mink or emu oil. Or you can just message the garment and revitalize the existing oil within the leather.

Before the garment completely cools, put it on and wear it until it cools completely. That step is not necessary, but it gets you the conforming process quicker. You may notice that you don't get as many small erosions in your  leather from season to season. It works the same on belts or any type of natural material.