How to Buy Your First Leather Jacket (2024)

Michel suggests sizing down from your standard outerwear size.

When you try a leather jacket jacket on, button or zip it all the way up. It should feel snug and hug your armpits closely.

You shouldn’t have any more than three inches of extra fabric at any one spot. Leather stretches out as you wear it, so you don’t want a roomy jacket to get even bigger.

Leather bomber jackets and motorcycle jackets should hit at your belt. It might feel a little shorter than you’re used to, but that’s normal.

If the bottom of your jacket hits below the crotch, it’s too long—and the longer the jacket, Michel says, the shorter you will look.

Related:The Perfect Jeans to Fit Your Build

Buying an investment piece like a leather jacket is not the time to opt for a bold print or trendy details.

Stick with black or brown for your first leather jacket. You’ll never get sick of it, and the classic look will never go out of style.

If you already have your first black or brown leather jacket, consider a midnight blue as your second. It’ll look black from far away but subtly cool upon closer inspection. We like this streamlined motorcycle jacket from Andrew Marc ($695,nordstrom.com)

Related: How to Pull Off a Monochromatic Outfit

Our top three styles for first timers: a café racer (named after the lightweight motorcycle), a bomber, or a biker jacket.

A café racer jacket, like the refined version above by Schott NYC for Ball and Buck, will have a banded collar and minimal bells and whistles, making it the most formal option.
($798,ballandbuck.com)

For something a little more casual, this lambskin bomber from Andrew Marc with a comfortable knit collar and cuffs is a great choice. The style is sportier, and it’ll look great with jeans.
($650, allsaints.com)

And, of course, your most badass option: the motorcycle jacket. This one, with its classic lapel collar, gives any outfit attitude, and the asymmetrical zipper sets it apart.
($598,calvinklein.com)

Whatever style you choose, always look for a classic silhouette with minimal detailing, Michel says. That means no quilted shoulders, gold-plated zippers, fur collars, or accent pockets.

Unless you really love the look, avoid suede—the soft fabric can be difficult to maintain.

You can find good leather jackets for less than $500, and great ones for under $1000. The price difference stems from the quality of the leather.

You’ll pay top dollar for full-grain leather—where the skin hasn’t been sanded to hide imperfections—or vegetable-tanned material, which uses eco-friendly vegetable dye instead of petroleum-based products. Vegetable tanning is better for the earth, but the labor-intensive approach is harsher on your wallet.

If you can’t afford real leather, Michel recommends saving up rather than buying faux. “You can spot it from across the room,” he says,

A better affordable substitute: coated canvas jackets. They have a similar vibe as leather jackets, but they’re much cheaper—and they don’t pretend to be something they’re not, like fake leather.

We like this waxed cotton jacket from Johnston Murphy. ($228,johnstonmurphy.com)

Because a leather jacket should fall at your waist, baggy or low-rise jeans will make you look dumpy, Michel says. Avoid anything relaxed or with a boot cut. Instead, opt for straight or slim pants.

For a dressier look, wear a cafe racer in place of a blazer, or slip a turtleneck underneath for a sophisticated vibe.

When it comes to footwear, your leather shoes and leather jacket don’t have to match perfectly. If fact, they shouldn’t—it’ll look like you’re trying too hard.

Go ahead and mix black and brown leathers. Stick to dark shades and you’ll never go wrong.