For many people hip flasks are one of the more popular luxury corporate gifts, and certainly they’re a welcome change from watches, gift vouchers or clocks. Professional leather products today are manufactured from soft, high quality leather that’s not split, but sourced from lambs and goats, giving them a beautiful soft, supple and smooth feel that makes them every bit as inviting to touch and hold as to look at and admire.

Hip flasks may be a display item, but they’re also very handy when out and about on a hunt or a walk. Whether you enjoy a strong coffee, liquor or a little of Scotland’s finest oak matured water, hip flasks are available in a wide range of styles, sizes and appearances.

From 4oz hip flasks to 6oz and even 8oz hip flasks, the choice is often available to have a decanter, cup, or glass incorporated into the design, making them perfect for sharing. Of course, luxury leather goods are not the preserve of men, with hip flasks continuing to prove very popular with ladies too, and today there are several beautiful designs available, giving ladies the chance to warm their cockles on a cold winter’s hunt.

If you’re looking for luxury corporate gifts then you may be considering traditional items such as portfolios, desk blotters and travel bags, but hip flasks could prove to be a much appreciated alternative, and certainly one likely to receive good use.

But don’t assume that all hip flasks advertised as being ideal luxury leather goods are the same. Hip flasks made from soft, supple leather, especially kid, goat or sheep leather is likely to provide years of use without cracking or wearing, as well as being warm to the touch – useful on a typical British day. With soft, warm leather wrapped lovingly around a decanter of your favourite invigorating tipple, you’ll be ready for anything this green and pleasant land can throw at you!

Leather coats

You don’t need to spend a mint on a decent leather jacket – many quality stores often have sales, and not always on last season’s stock. Clearance lines may be the end of the run; stock that is still current but not being made again. An inexpensive coat could be yours, if you simply bide your time and are prepared to shop around. If you take the time to try on a few, you’ll find one to suit your unique shape and size.

The next thing to consider is whether you want a short, medium or full length jacket. All can be worn with practically any outfit, but all give quite different looks. For example, a long leather coat teamed with a short skirt and low cut blouse might not be appropriate for the theatre. However a short, classic, tailored jacket would look great with a straight skirt and dress blouse (or trousers and shirt) for a dinner date. A jacket that covers the bottom is better suited to cooler weather, while a short cropped jacket is ideal for summer evenings.

If budget is a constraint, you might need to think about whether or not you want something timeless or current. A classic leather jacket won’t date, and can be paired with many items in your wardrobe – and will last you many years. A fashionable, up-to-the-minute jacket will possibly date quickly, and perhaps necessitate a new jacket next season. They might be more pricey, too, although expensive doesn’t always mean trend-setting!

The kind of leather will also dictate the look, to a large extent. Soft, luxurious nappa will be more suited to a classic style jacket while a thicker, coarser leather might be more in keeping with a biker jacket or similar.

There are a multitude of places, even online, where you can source a decent leather jacket. Bearing in mind your requirements and budget, you’re sure to find one to suit you, as long as you are prepared to shop around and try some one – after all, that’s half the fun!

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!

How to become more ethical in the home

If you watch television programmes about green living you may feel exasperated by the amount of money spent by some people to make their homes eco-friendly. If you can afford it, and if you live in a part of the country with plenty of land around you, then this type of lifestyle is achievable, however for the majority of us it’s a case of making the best out of what we already have. But don’t think for one moment that living in a house or flat in a city means that you can’t do your bit for the environment.

Five simple steps to being eco-friendly at home

1). Energy is the one of the biggest factors in becoming more ethical in the home. Reducing your energy bill is a major step toward being green (and having more money in your pocket). Simple things such as not leaving appliances on standby and turning the light off when you leave the room can cut your usage dramatically.

Switching to energy-saving light bulbs and buying appliances with a high energy-efficiency rating can also make a huge difference to your bills. You can also buy your energy from companies who offer electricity from renewable sources (such as wind power). Although the main providers such as British Gas and E-On have green tariffs, a dedicated green energy company is committed to generating energy from a purely environmental point of view.

2). An ethical lifestyle can also be a natural one too. Being more environmentally friendly is better for your health so look for eco-friendly cleaning products that aren’t produced using chemicals. Ethical hygiene and beauty products produced using natural ingredients will help reduce your body’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

3). When carrying out improvements to your house or flat, buy eco paints and products made from sustainable materials. Reducing exposure to toxic chemicals found in traditional paint products is better for your health and sustainable materials reduce the devastation on natural resources.

4). Recycling is easily carried out these days. All councils provide a recycling collection service or facilities so ensure any waste in the home that can be recycled is put out for collection or taken to the appropriate place. Also try to buy products that have been made using recycled materials to continue the cycle and buy products that have the minimum amount of packaging to encourage manufacturers to produce less waste.

5). When it comes to food, look for products that are organic and fairtrade (make sure to look for a certified logo). Reducing food miles or buying products that help impoverished communities is a great way to do your bit for the environment and society as a whole. You can also try growing your own herbs, vegetables and fruit.

Green gifts for friends and family

Some of these recommendations will be down to you to implement in your own home but you can encourage others to do the same by explaining the benefits to them. If they’re not doing so already, they’ll learn something new and hopefully save themselves some money.

You can also steer them in the right direction by giving a green gift. Sustainable gifts for the home and garden are readily available online and when you give the present, you can explain the benefits of the gift so they’ll know what to look for in future when buying for themselves.

However, buying a leather jacket is something that people still tend to think about at a particular time of year. The start of the Autumn/Winter season traditionally sees a surge in sales of leather jackets and coats as they are often thought of as being only suitable for wearing during the colder months despite the fact that many modern leather jackets are actually ideally suited to wearing on a summer evening out.

The more astute shopper though will plan ahead and buy their mens leather jacket or ladies leather jacket earlier in the year as during the summer months there are some great bargains to be had on various styles of jackets and coats.

Many styles of leather jacket are timeless classics that, unlike many other types of clothing, never go out of style. This makes buying a leather jacket during the summer sales period an entirely sensible choice. You will basically be buying the same jacket as you would be during the autumn or winter, but you could be saving pounds on the price.

For over 30 years, Blue Moon has been designing leather coats and jackets for both men and women. They offer a wide choice of classic styles at great prices coupled with excellent customer service. They have leather jackets suitable for all occasions and their range includes styles that are smart and casual and suited to all tastes. They also offer some great deals on jackets bought during the summer so now is the perfect time to visit their website and save money on your perfect leather jacket.

Although most leather jackets are preconditioned, you should still apply a leather protector to keep the leather waterproof. Try to use products specifically designed for leather which do not contain waxes and oils. These additives can clog the leather and prevent it from breathing properly.

If your mens leather jacket or ladies leather jacket becomes wet, dry it in at room temperature away from sources of heat or fans. You may find that it will also dry better if it is placed on a towel to absorb water. When the leather is almost dry, add a leather conditioner or moisturiser to keep it supple, and when it has completely dried, add another coat. Caring for your leather jacket well when it gets wet is essential because if it is left the leather can be badly damaged by moisture and mildew.

Other measures that you should take to care for your leather jacket will depend upon the climate and conditions where you live. If you live in a dry location, you should make sure that you frequently apply leather conditioner to keep it from cracking. If you live in a wet location, make sure that you use products designed for waterproofing leather as well as conditioning it, to keep the jacket supple and dry. In snowy conditions, make sure to gently sponge salt off your leather jacket to keep it from damaging the material.

The best way to store your leather jacket is to hang it on a wide padded hanger. Do not wrap leather in plastic or other non-porous materials, because leather needs to breathe. If you must store a leather jacket in a plastic garment bag, leave it open slightly for ventilation. Never fold a leather jacket to store it.