It was the mid-90’s when I was 16 and I wanted a black leather motorcycle “biker” jacket and I wanted one bad. You could find knockoffs for about $100 then in a hard, inexpensive leather {much like this one} & I was willing to settle for that. Yes, I would have preferred an original vintage leather, even then, but I asked my dad for a new one for Christmas that year, knowing it was in his wheelhouse of gifts he could deliver on. He lived in Vegas at the time so I was really specific and overly detailed in my request. I told him where he could get one, how much it would cost, what size and what color. It was really all I wanted that year.
Cut to Christmas Eve, 1993: exchanging gifts with my dad’s side of the family as we always did, and my dad handed me my gift. It was a large enough box and had weight to it and I knew it had to be my leather biker jacket I had dreamed about.
I opened the present… and I found a leather jacket alright. But instead of silver buckles and zippered hardware, there was a hidden zipper with a buttoned flap and rounded collar… and instead of straight arms and shoulders, it had the biggest 80’s shoulder pads and quilted puffy arms I had ever seen. By the mid 90’s big shoulders were NOT happening.
I tried to act excited. He could tell by the look on my face it was not what I wanted… and reassured me that it was very fashionable, extremely nice and cost over $300. I replied, but the jacket I talked to you about, dad, was only $100… and it wasn’t made for a woman in her 30’s back in 1987.
When I returned home later that evening I said, Merry Christmas Mom! Dad got you a new leather jacket! {she wore that thing into the next century… and probably still has it}
As the 90’s passed, so did my desire for the original biker jacket I wanted… but through the years I searched every thrift shop I could for the perfect fitting vintage version and it just never happened. I have a white leather one that I love {see it here and here} but still no great black one.
As the years passed and my style evolved, a sleeker leather moto jacket became my new object of desire but finding the perfect leather is not an easy task when you have my brain rattling around upstairs. So when I spotted this Helmut Lang waxed leather jacket last year at GILT, I admittedly splurged… and it’s. like. butter. and it fits. like a dream.
Recently, after spying my Helmut Lang Leather jacket in an outfit post, a reader sent me an email asking if I’d do a leather motorcycle jacket roundup in various price ranges and I thought it was a splendid idea.
While I love my patchwork leather jacket with a center zip that hits just at my hip bones {see it here and here}, the style I’m focusing on here is a shorter/cropped version with a flap and/or no collar & generally an off-center zip closure. I’m featuring leather and faux or leather-like options to hit all price points. {links below}
* Find more Helmut Lang here
Most Similar to Mine…
1 & 2. bebe Trapunto Stitch leather jacket $249 {most similar to mine}
3. Blank Denim Vegan Leather Moto Jacket $98
4. Express Crackle Knit Moto Jacket $88
5. Oasis Quilted Faxu leather jacket $96
6. Michael Michael Kors leather jacket $425 {avail in 10 & 16 only}
7. Express Crackle Knit Moto Jacket $88
8. 2b Trapunto Moto Jacket $49.95
9. Rick Owens leather biker jacket with shearling $3720
10. DKNYC Faux Leather Moto Jacket {Plus} $189
**Looking for more plus size options?
Check out The Curvy Fashionista for 5 Plus Size Leather Jackets to wear now!
Biker…
1. Acne Mape cropped leather biker jacket $1200
2. Nasty Gal Moto Zip jacket $88
3. Vintage biker jacket $428
4. True Religion leather moto/biker jacket $697
Wild Cards…
1. Red Leather Simone biker jacket $1275
2. 525 Plaid moto jacket $205
3. Iro Gray lamb leather jacket $766
4. Majess zip-off sleeves leather jacket $498
N/S. Theory quilted Madigan jacket $975
Happy Shopping…
And Happy Friday!
