An excellent leather jacket never goes out of style, but choosing a leather jacket style can be daunting. Not only are there dozens of styles and silhouettes to parse through, but a high-quality leather jacket is an investment, regardless of whether it's faux, upcycled, or genuine leather. To cut through the noise, we've rounded up 13 timeless leather jacket styles that you'll never regret buying, thanks to their versatility and fashion-staying power.

From edgy motorcycle jackets to cozy aviators and sleek trenches, there's something for every flavor of fashion enthusiast to love in the roundup ahead.

Biker

It doesn't get more quintessentially "leather jacket" than the classic motorcycle style. From its shoulder snap epaulets to its diagonal zipper pockets, every element of the motorcycle jacket has been refined and honed through generations of devoted fashion fans from the punk rock movement of the '70s to the '90s grunge scene and the aughts' indie sleaze. While a close-fitting motorcycle jacket is a chef's kiss fashion moment, if there ever was one, keep in mind that you'll get more wear out of a jacket you can fit at least one sweater under.

Racer

A favorite of Gen Z fashion girlies, the racer jacket shares some traits with moto jackets but features a rounded, sportier collar. You'll likely find this leather jacket style with a contrasting color palette. If you're a fan of vintage shopping, you might even get your hands on a leather racer jacket featuring the sponsors of an erstwhile racecar driver. This colorful leather jacket style lends itself to equally contrasting looks. If you love to play with proportion and subvert trends, consider suiting up in one of these.

Bomber

A sleekly rounded collar and scrunched sleeves define the vibe of this type of leather jacket, which shares features with varsity and racer jackets. Oversized bomber jackets were one of 2023's biggest outerwear trends, but don't shy away from closer-fitting styles. Shrunken bombers were one of the aughts' hallmark jacket styles which gives them a fun throwback flavor.

Aviator

The motorcycle jacket's effortlessly relaxed silhouette and design details meet the cozy cuffs and collar of a shearling coat in this mid-weight leather jacket style. Aviator jackets, sometimes called flight jackets, come in both close-fitting cropped and oversized fits. Still, a roomier jacket captures a particularly fun vintage vibe by way of big Top Gun energy.

Western

Even if you're not a fan of the coastal cowgirl aesthetic and have never set foot on a music festival campground, you shouldn't sleep on western leather jackets. Instantly identifiable by its unique fringe detailing, this leather jacket style delivers movement, impact, and a bit of rock n' roll energy.

Utility

Sometimes referred to as field or army jackets, utility leather jackets are best known for having at least two — and often more — roomy front pockets and a relaxed fit. While this style of leather jacket often falls to the hip, you can find them in more fitted silhouettes. If you're looking for a leather jacket that can hold all your essentials including your keys, wallet, and phone, skip the moto jacket and go for a utility style.

Blazer

Leather blazers blend the shape and silhouette of a business casual essential with the cool factor of elevated streetwear. Before investing in a leather or faux leather blazer, we recommend choosing a style that will work with your wardrobe. If you spend your days in dresses and skirts, a regular or slim-fit blazer will likely blend seamlessly into your wardrobe, but if you prefer layered looks with lots of thick knits or sweaters, you'll want to opt for a more oversized silhouette.

Cape-Effect

If you're looking for a truly unique leather jacket, we recommend reaching for a modern classic: the cape-effect jacket. While this jacket style goes by many names — capelet, caped, cape-style — we like the most apt moniker the best. A "cape-effect" jacket like the Tod's jacket worn by Olivia Palermo in the above photo, gives the illusion of a cape thanks to a pellegrina-style layer set over the shoulder.

Trench

It doesn't get sleeker than a leather trench, a leather jacket style that works equally well with formal and casual 'fits. While leather trench coats come in a range of silhouettes, our favorites have to be the classic belted trench coat style or the slightly more streamlined button-down double-breasted silhouette.

Shearling

One of the heavier-weight options on our list, shearling jackets are a type of leather jacket best reserved for chilly or cold temps. Unlike an aviator or flight jacket that often feature a fluffy collar and cuffs, shearling jackets have soft and fuzzy lining throughout, adding an extra layer of warmth.

Shacket

Like leather blazers, leather shackets have the look of a shirt with the weight of a jacket. Our favorite way to style a leather shacket is to wear it in place of your favorite flannel or denim jacket — two wardrobe staples with a similar vibe. This approach is a foolproof way to add a bit of sleek polish to your favorite spring and fall outfits.

Belted

If you love a cinched silhouette, chances are the best leather jacket style for you will be belted. There are lots of belted leather jacket options out there, but we're especially fond of the dramatic proportions created by a short belted leather jacket with large lapels like the one Sara Sampaio wore with a matching skirt during FW23 Milan Fashion Week.

Oversized

While all of the above leather jacket styles can be found in oversized or relaxed fits, we think the oversized leather jacket is a style unto itself. Not only has it been certified fresh by Gen Z fashion girlies like Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa, but oversized leather jackets also go far when it comes to styling options. When worn over formal gowns or dresses, oversized leather jackets add a layer of street style edge, but they're also capable of elevating casual looks from sweats to jeans and sneakers.

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