So you’re looking for the perfect leather jacket. Join the club. As a men’s stylist, one of the questions I get the most is “where do I find a perfect black leather jacket?” Women have the LBD (Little Black Dress), men have the PLJ. Sort of like your favorite childhood sandwich, but way cooler. Below, we break down the three categories, and offer our edit of the best ones around at every price.
THE BOMBER
Easily the sportiest and most wearable take on a leather jacket. And the cleanest: with nary a zipper in sight and no collar to wrangle with.
THE BIKER
Not for the faint of heart, with connotations of The Fonz, Ramones, and Brando in The Wild One. As iconic as they come, and if you can pull it off, it’s so cool it might get the jukebox working again. These days, to take a little Danny Zuko out of the equation, try pairing it with something less expected, a little less “pass the grease.” A cable knit sweater. A pleated trouser. You get the idea.
THE BLOUSON
The chic stepchild of the flight jacket. The freshest and most current take on the leather jacket, and a little less, um, repeated than the ever popular bomber jacket. It’s also the most mature if you will—not as in I’m going grey, but as in elegant; less Rock’n Roll High School than The Biker, a little less varsity than The Bomber, and doesn’t scream, “I do my own stunts.” It’s also the easiest to dress up. Pair it with a t-shirt and chinos, and you’ve instantly elevated your look. Pair it with a trouser and sharp shoes, and you’ve just replaced your suit look.
