So you are looking for the perfect leather jacket. Join the club. As a men’s stylist, one of the questions I get the most is “Where can I find the perfect black leather jacket?” Women have LBD (Little Black Dress), men have PLJ. Kind of like your favorite childhood sandwich, but much cooler. Below, we break down the three categories and offer our pick of the best at all price points.
THE BOMBARDIER
Easily the sportiest and most wearable version of a leather jacket. And the cleanest: with no zipper in sight and no collar to struggle with.
THE BIKER
Not for the faint of heart, with overtones of The Fonz, Ramones and Brando in The wild. As iconic as they are, and if you can pull it off, it’s so cool the jukebox could work again. These days, to take Danny Zuko out of the equation a little, try pairing him with something less expected, a little less “skip the grease.” A cable knit sweater. Pleated pants. You had the idea.
THE JACKET
The chic stepson of the flight jacket. The freshest and most current version of the leather jacket, and a little less, uh, say again than the ever-popular bomber jacket. It’s also the most mature if you will, not like in I’m going grey, but like in elegant; less rock ‘n’ roll high school than The Biker, a little less academic than The Bomber, and doesn’t shout, “I do my own stunts. It is also the easiest to dress. Pair it with a t-shirt and chinos, and you’ll instantly elevate your look. Pair it with slacks and pointed shoes, and you’ve just replaced your suit look.
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