How To Buy A Leather Jacket

The jacket picture above:
Dress It Up
Sure, you can wear a tie with a leather jacket—as long as you keep both items on the slim side. This isn’t business attire; it’s night-out gear.

Jacket, $750, by Ksubi. Shirt, $45, by Gap. Tie, $125, by John Varvatos. Cords, $265, by Z Zegna. Sneakers, $60, by Adidas Originals.

Dress It Down
If you’re going to buy a leather jacket with attitude, the rest of your outfit needs attitude, too. A trim-cut biker jacket doesn’t jibe with comfortable casual-Friday khakis and a polo shirt.

Jacket, $1,295, by Polo by Ralph Lauren. T-shirt, $98, by John Varvatos Star USA. Pants, $275, by Nice Collective. Sneakers, $180, by Adidas Originals. Watch by Burberry.

The Perfect Fit

• A leather jacket should hug your shoulders, not slouch off them.
• Well-made leather jackets come with high-cut armholes, eliminating excess fabric—like a quality steak trimmed of unnecessary fat.
• Notice how slim and snug—and cool—this jacket is? Don’t be afraid to try on a jacket a size smaller than you think you need. It will often give you the fit you’re hoping for.
• Slim sleeves—that aren’t too long—are the final ingredient. And you want that ingredient list complete. Unlike with a suit jacket, you’re not going to get your leather jacket tailored.
• Your jacket should not reach halfway down your thighs. Like a good jean jacket, it should hit at your waist.

Jacket, $625, by Emporio Armani. Sweater, $195, by Calvin Klein Collection. T-shirt, $30 (pack of three), by Calvin Klein Underwear. Jeans, $215, by Ksubi.

How Not to Buy a Leather Jacket

• You are not Indiana Jones; leave the distressed brown leather bomber jacket to Harrison Ford.
• And on that note, those World War II tobacco-brown replica bombardier jackets? Absolutely not.
• No patches.
• Leather jacket, good; leather blazer, not so good.
• Unless you just climbed off a Ducati, please refrain from padded, striped racing jackets.
• Zippers, yes; buttons, no.
• And remember, you’re not buying a leather coat, you’re buying a leather jacket. It should fit like one.

Leather jacket, $448, by French Connection. Jeans, $225, by Acne. Photos by Eric Ray Davidson