Women's Leather Jackets

A womens leather jacket has to do two jobs that pull against each other. It has to be warm enough to leave the house in, and it has to sit properly over everything from a jumper to a dress. The cut is what decides whether it manages both, which is why the shape matters more here than the colour does.

Real leather, not faux

Faux leather looks convincing in a photograph and gives itself away the moment you handle it. Real leather has an uneven grain, it creases rather than springing back, and it warms to your skin instead of staying cold. It also lasts. Faux cracks along the fold lines after a couple of winters and there is nothing to be done about it once it starts.

Everything in this category is real leather, mostly lambskin because it is soft and drapes well. The product page names the leather every time, and anything faux says faux.

The shapes

Biker. Asymmetric zip, lapels, usually a belt. A womens leather jacket biker cut is the one most people picture and the one that works hardest with jeans.

Bomber. Ribbed collar, cuffs and hem. Softer round the shoulders than a biker and much easier over a jumper.

Cropped. Finishes at or above the waist. This is the one to buy if you wear high waisted jeans or dresses, because a longer jacket cuts you in the wrong place.

Collarless. No collar, no lapels, flat at the neck. Leaves room for a scarf or a roll neck and looks smarter than any of the above.

Cafe racer. Straight zip, short band collar, nothing extra.

Women’s leather bomber jackets

The bomber has quietly become the shape people ask for most. It has no hardware to catch on anything, the ribbed hem holds it in place without a belt, and the boxy body means it goes over a thick jumper without pulling across the back. A women’s leather jacket bomber cut also suits more body shapes than a fitted biker does, because it is not trying to follow your waist.

Motorcycle jackets for women

Worth being clear about this one. Our motorcycle women’s leather jackets are cut in the biker style and made from real leather, but they are fashion jackets. They are not armoured and they are not CE rated for riding. If you actually ride, buy protective kit from a motorcycle specialist and keep these for off the bike.

Warm enough for winter

A plain leather jacket stops being enough here around November. Our shearling jackets have the fleece attached to the hide, which is the warmest thing we sell, and the longer coats cover the hip. Suede belongs to September, October and the spring rather than deep winter.

Black, brown and burgundy

Black goes with everything and is the sensible first jacket. Brown and tan are warmer against most skin tones and have been selling harder than black these last two seasons. Burgundy behaves almost like a neutral once it is on, which surprises people.

How to choose the right size

Measure round the fullest part of your bust over a light top, keeping the tape level and not pulling it tight, then compare that with the table on the product page. The table lists the jacket measured flat, not the body it fits. Check the shoulder as well, because a shoulder seam that hangs past the corner of your shoulder cannot be altered later. Between two sizes with a jumper to fit underneath, take the larger.

Men’s and women’s cuts are not the same

People ask this often enough to be worth answering. A women’s jacket is narrower through the shoulder, shorter in the sleeve and body, and shaped through the waist. A men’s jacket in the same chest measurement will hang straight and sit lower. If you want the oversized look, size up in the women’s cut rather than buying a men’s one, or the shoulders will land halfway down your arm.

Made to order, and how long it takes

Each jacket is cut and stitched in your size after you order, which is why it takes longer than ready made stock and why the fit is closer. The delivery date on every product page is a real date. UK delivery is free and returns are open for 14 days.