Last weekend I scored what looked like a killer vintage leather jacket at a thrift store for just $15. The tag didn’t say real leather, but it felt pretty good and smelled like it too, so I went for it. After a day of wearing it, though, I noticed the material started peeling a bit on the sleeves and the collar felt stiff and plasticky. Turns out it’s faux leather, which I didn’t expect and now it’s losing that cool worn-in vibe fast. I really want to keep using it because the style is perfect for fall, but not sure how to soften it up or stop the peeling without making things worse. Has anyone dealt with faux leather thrift finds falling apart? What’s the best way to condition or fix it so it looks decent longer? Any DIY tips or products that won’t break the bank?

On 02/15/2026 at 6:10 AM, ThriftGuru said:

Last weekend I scored what looked like a killer vintage leather jacket at a thrift store for just $15. The tag didn’t say real leather, but it felt pretty good and smelled like it too, so I went for it. After a day of wearing it, though, I noticed the material started peeling a bit on the sleeves and the collar felt stiff and plasticky. Turns out it’s faux leather, which I didn’t expect and now it’s losing that cool worn-in vibe fast. I really want to keep using it because the style is perfect for fall, but not sure how to soften it up or stop the peeling without making things worse. Has anyone dealt with faux leather thrift finds falling apart? What’s the best way to condition or fix it so it looks decent longer? Any DIY tips or products that won’t break the bank?

That peeling is such a bummer, especially when you really dig the style! Faux leather can be tricky since it’s basically a plastic layer over fabric, so once it starts flaking, it’s tough to reverse. I’ve had some luck gently rubbing a tiny bit of baby oil or coconut oil into stiff spots to soften them up without making it greasy, but it won’t fix peeling.

If you want to keep rocking it this fall, maybe try layering it with a thin long-sleeve underneath to reduce friction and slow down the wear. Also, avoid folding or crushing the collar too much to keep it from cracking further. For the peeling, some folks patch it with fabric glue and matching faux leather scraps or even use a clear nail polish to seal small flakes. Not perfect, but it can buy you some time!

Honestly, for $15, it’s a fun piece to experiment with. If it gets worse, you might repurpose it