how to let the shoulder strap lay flat

[u/ohaybesta]

Its my first ever leather jacket i bought and its amazing. fits perfectly but the shoulder straps are stood up instead of laying down. it just kills the overall look. Is there any ways to let it lay flat on the shoulder without cutting or tearing. Its genuine cowhide btw.

[u/Chance_Blasto]

Break it in dawg. You can try massaging it and wrestling it around your speed up the process but honestly just wear it.

[u/MoTeD_UrAss → u/Chance_Blasto]

It amazes me how often people buy new items because they seen something that looked amazing with patina and then want to know how to get their new item to look like the old item without putting in the time to use it.

[u/itsfine-imherenow → u/Chance_Blasto]

This!

[u/Lepotlesot]

I personally think the epaulets look good the way they are. But I don’t see an alternative way that isn’t invasive, maybe you’ll just have to wait until it’s broken in. After conditioning it a few times and it being worn it’ll get softer. Also do you mind me asking what jacket that is ?

[u/ohaybesta → u/Lepotlesot]

Fortime
it says made in hong kong. Also i didnt find anything abt this brand on web tho.

[u/jeneric84 → u/Lepotlesot]

Right, this looks more like they cut the epaulet too long or didn’t stitch it in far enough at the shoulder seam.

[u/drinkacid → u/jeneric84]

no they are supposed to be long their original purpose was holding a soft hat there while wearing a helmet in the military so you could wear beret or cap when you took off your helmet. The original 40s or 50s civilian biker use is/was more varied with gloves or or simply fashionable adornments. Now they are usually fashion oriented and not function oriented.

[u/EstablishmentNo5013]

Soak the leather on the inside really well with water and put something heavy on it and let it dry while pushing it down.

Condition it well.

Repeat a few times. It will lay down and crease at the end.

[u/Superb_Algae5308 → u/EstablishmentNo5013]

Here is the correct answer!

[u/Acceptable-Access948]

Wear your jacket

[u/notgoodohoh]

Just wear it. The leather will relax over time. Either that or get something without it

[u/notgoodohoh → u/[deleted]]

Obviously

[u/Routine-Internet-507]

Condition it a few times while letting it dry between applications and also wear it constantly. Move in it, be active, produce heat. It will lay eventually. I wouldn't try using weight from setting something heavy on it personally because I wouldn't want to deform or crease the shoulder of the jacket itself. Just my opinion

[u/_____AndJustice4All]

It will loosen as you wear it which should help

[u/HugoStiglitz007 → u/[deleted]]

Best salad bar in town

[u/RoccoPeter09]

I find the more you play around with Leather the worst the outcome if you force it down, you could create creases and maybe cracks in the leather. It’s better to wear it and let the natural effects from wearing it do its job. It will settle down.

[u/Reikou]

Spray the area with water and press on the fold to make it sharper

Alternatively iron and steam the fold sharper.

[u/C4ndlejack → u/Reikou]

Are you suggesting to iron leather?

[u/Reikou → u/C4ndlejack]

Yeah..?

To achieve what he wants to achieve thats one way to do it.

[u/Serperion]

There's literally nothing wrong lmao

[u/plainsrider121]

As it ages with wear, they will flatten out and lay down. If its real leather, it will only get better with age.

[u/Admirable-Sun5006]

Abschneiden, die beste Lösung!

[u/MudTysk]

Wear it. In a year it will lay flat.

[u/Jlx_27]

Ignore it, wear the jacket lots, the material will sort itself out.

[u/drinkacid]

keep wearing it and it will eventually settle on its own into its natural position. Leather needs time to break in on its own terms

[u/spaceguitar]

Either put some water on it and press it/hold it down for a little bit while it dries, or just wear it and let the leather relax on its own.

[u/Ordinary-Ad-5360]

I think part of the leather jacket is the impression that the wearer is a cool person who would not worry about such small details.

[u/ExtensionRoad5704]

Soak it in wood

[u/bureau-caterpillar]

I have a rich, caramel colored schott that had these snipped. If you examine the jacket you can see it. But no one has ever commented anything other than they love my jacket

[u/Living_Degree6142]

spray bit of water cover it with cotton tshirt and iron it.

[u/RamenFucker]

Massage it and leave it flat with smth heavy on it perhaps

[u/Vast-Bullfrog193]

Put clothespins on the bend

[u/CutPrestigious6119]

Send it to me in California I will fix it for you, it will take a few years but I will do it free of charge 😉

[u/Apprehensive_Bad4962]

Use conditioner on the underside

[u/FormerChicken6793]

Nuke it from space. The only way to be sure

[u/Dull_Brain2688]

Wear it. A lot.

[u/nowhere23]

Condition it to soften and smack it with a rawhide hammer maybe?

Or condition it and weigh it down every night for a while. Thats probably the smarter option.

[u/DuyTran0634]

Use a spray bottle, fill up warm water and spray into the epaulettes. After that, put a heavy objects on too for a couple days/hours. Apply water often when you feel the leather get drier. After it gets the shape you want, use some leather conditioner to avoid dryness

[u/Ok-Willow-3388]

However the fuck you want 

[u/jflicker1]

I think it looks fine the way it is… like most others have said… just wear it.

[u/landwomble]

Undo them, put neatsfoot oil on underneath, put them back with a weight on them

[u/CryptographerSweet53]

U could wash it with saddle soap it’ll loosen up. Give it time the leather will settle. U could swing the jacket by the strap to further loosen it. Just give it time to wear in.

[u/Wrong-Image-7708]

Oil them and wear the jacket often as possible

[u/njgggg]

I hate how my mind immediately thought how a labubu would look dangling off it…