The Leather Jacket Report™

Breaking down some leather jacket history, sharing some personal favorite styles, plus a list of options on a budget that won't break the bank.

Leather jackets are a staple item that will never go out of style, but more recently I’ve noticed an uptick of them on the streets. Getting proper leather isn’t cheap, but this is an item you don’t just wear a few times and forget about it—this is a piece that tells a story through wear and tear that ultimately ends up becoming unique to its owner.

Of course, not everyone has thousands to spend on some of the options out there, and I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to. The secondary market is filled with options that will save you hundreds of dollars—you can also go with the faux leather route which is perfectly fine too.

In today’s newsletter, I want to highlight some personal favorite styles that I’m obsessed with, some history behind some of the most iconic leather jackets that have inspired many brands, where you can purchase the perfect leather of your own and rounding up over 60 different options from secondary markets that won’t break your bank, and are available to purchase right now.

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MILITARY REPRODUCTION

Leather jackets come in all types of shapes and styles, and it could feel overwhelming at first as you try to figure out what works best for you. One of the first styles that everyone should start their journey at is the stunning A-2 flight jacket—The A-1 has its differences and overall a great piece that was issued to US Military personnel in the 1920’s, but quickly got replaced by the new and improved A-2. I’m personally a big fan of the A-2 myself, but the A-1 still holds is ground as a style to consider.

A-1 and A-2 reproduction jackets from The Real McCoy’s

While these jackets were mainly designed to provide adequate functionality to the US pilots, they were also designed with style in mind—At the time, the military wanted these pieces to represent pride and prestige which would hopefully drive higher enlistment into the military program.

As you can see from the photo above, both jackets still share similarities, but yet differ in their own way. The snap down collar and zipper detailing on the A-2, which actually was one of the earliest military pieces of clothing that was designed expressly to use a zipper. In the early 1930s, majority of these jackets were made using horsehide, and because people began to go from owning horses to cars, there was a horsehide surplus which made the cost of manufacturing of these jackets much cheaper than it is today.

A-1 and A-2 reproduction jackets from Buzz Rickson’s

Today you can always locate some military-issued versions of this jacket, that will run you between $100-$300 depending on the quality, but there are a variety of brands today that focus on reproducing these styles using the newest materials—Aero Leather, The Real McCoy’s, Buzz Rickson’s, Good Wear Leather, and Eastman just to name a few brands. The beauty of these brands is that they offer these in a variety of finishings using different hides and techniques that create unique colors.

There’s something special about buying a brand new leather jacket and giving it that wear and tear that’s unique to its owner. Now I get it, it’s not as easily accessible to everyone due to the retail price, but if you’re able to take some time to really save up and make the plunge, it will be all worth it because putting on a piece like this will end up generating that unique excitement of owning a garment that you won’t be able to replicate with a lot of different pieces out there.

What’s interesting to me is that even though these jackets are typically worn in a menswear centric fit, this is a piece that could work just as well in a streetwear type fit—it’s all about experimentation, and seeing what works.