Affordable Leather Jackets + A Little History Of Them

Just as the little black dress is an essential timeless staple in your closet, so is the leather jacket

Who doesn’t like a leather jacket? It’s one of those things that when you see it on someone else and you don’t have one, it makes you want one. Leather jackets have been with us since the early 20th century, when the US military had WWI pilots wear them due to the cockpits being cold. These flight jackets were lined with sheepskin and became synonymous with proper military wear. But it was Irving Shott in the 1920s, who made leather jackets the sartorial vernacular for everyone. He ditched the typical buttons found on flight jackets for the zipper, which allowed motorcycle enthusiasts to lean over without a button annoying them.

By the 1950s, leather jackets were in Hollywood films where the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean were seen looking ever-so suave on the silver screen in them. The look spilled over into the music industry and by the 1960s, The Beatles were sporting shiny black leather jackets on stage and getting off planes. Leather jackets continued to rise in the 70s and 80s, with musicians of all genres adding the jacket to their everyday style. The leather jacket is a timeless garment that has survived every generation since the early 1900s, and it’s not going anywhere.

If cut and designed right, this type of jacket has the ability to define your figure just right, no matter your shape. Perfect for fall, they can be worn in the winter when paired with a thicker sweater and scarf, so it’s be wise to buy one a little larger for this reason.

These are the most affordable leather jackets on the market: