Johnny Depp's Tom Hanson in "21 Jump Street" opened my eyes to the appeal of leather jackets—what can I say? I am a 90s kid. The plot of the show that made him an international heartthrob is unimportant for this piece. But all you need to know is that he was often dressed in a loose white t-shirt and blue jeans combo and was rarely without a biker jacket. I thought, young and naive as I was, that I not only wanted to be that man's girlfriend, but I also wanted to be that cool—perhaps even cooler. All I needed, I was sure, was a great biker jacket.
I have since learned that there are more leather jackets than the classic biker, and clothes don't necessarily make the man or woman—it is more like vice versa.
Though once synonymous with rock 'n' roll and motorcycle subcultures, leather jackets are now a tough-luxe wardrobe essential. They come in a range of styles, from 80s shoulder-padded pieces to minimalist 90s designs. Here is our roundup of the must-have vintage pieces you can pick up in-store.
2)
The 90s Minimalist Piece is sleek, classic, and preferably a little tailored. Neutral hue designs in
brown and black are currently trending. Best to choose a cropped version or opt for pieces with a blazer silhouette. This
classic brown is perfect for day or night and for a pop of color, we recommend this
red number
3) The 80s Statement Piece tends to come with shoulder pads and tout an oversized and sporty silhouette. Great for your off-duty wardrobe, opt for pieces with cool details like this l
eather design with a faux fur trim. The green details on
this piece make it a statement jacket. And we love the pops of animal print on this
showstopper
4)
The Leather Trench is about channeling your inner Neo from the matrix. They ooze a mysterious sophistication that is timeless and cool.
5)
The Leather Bomber takes the
classic bomber silhouette and elevates it to a tough-luxe piece. An everyday design we love ours a little oversized and in a cool neutral hue.
So whether you are team Neo or Tom Hanson, versatility is key to the enduring appeal of leather jackets. They can be paired with jeans for a casual look or thrown over a dress for a touch of glam, and they are truly the perfect pieces to get vintage as leather merely gets better with age—so do many 90s heartthrobs for that matter.
