14 Best Leather Jackets for Women, According to Fashion Experts
The ultimate fall accessory.

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A chic leather jacket is the ultimate wardrobe staple: add it to any outfit for instant edge whether you're rocking athleisure, a formal dress or jeans and a T-shirt. From edgy motorcycle styles, classic trench coats or boxy puffers and bomber fits, leather jackets continue to be a best selling item year after year, never going out of style.
"A leather jacket [is] something that can be passed down for generations," says Liv Schreiber, a NYC-based wardrobe stylist and social media influencer. Fashion experts note that the leather jacket just never goes away and "have been around since the early 1900s but have been a style staple since the 1950s when they were adopted by greasers and Hollywood bad boys," says Amanda Constantine, Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab Home and Apparel Reviews Analyst. "In the '70s and '80s, aviator style jackets were popular, as well as punk rock jackets adorned with studs and patches. In the '90s, oversized leather jackets were in to pair with grunge fashion, and in the early 2000s, long trench versions grew popular, a la The Matrix."
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab partnered with Liv Schreiber to find the best leather jackets for women. GH analysts evaluated over a dozen leather jackets in the Lab, looking at the jacket's construction, ease of laundering and unique features. Then, we had testers wear each jacket to give feedback on fit, comfort, appearance and more.
Our top picks:
Note that leather requires special cleaning and care, so GH experts also included faux leather jackets that cost a fraction of the price without sacrificing style. After shopping our best leather jacket picks, keep reading to learn how to clean leather, the different styles of leather jackets and expert shopping tips. Pair these stylish leather jackets with a warm pair of boots and classic jeans.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
