How to Style a Leather Jacket: Wearing a Faux Leather Jacket

An easy way to style a leather or faux leather jacket is with simple basics: a top or knit sweater, plus jeans, wide-leg pants or a skirt and boots. Because the jacket already makes a statement, the rest of the outfit stays fairly calm.

The biker jacket is one of the classics of the transitional season. Today it often comes in a leather look, made of faux leather or imitation leather that resembles leather. For styling, that makes no difference: the rules are the same. This article shows what goes under and with a faux leather jacket, which colors and shoes work and how to wear it from day to evening.

What is a faux leather jacket?

A faux leather jacket looks like a leather jacket but is made of a different material, such as a coated fabric. The material composition is given in the material details of each item. Typical cuts are the short biker jacket with a diagonal zip, the simple blouson and the slightly longer jacket with a shirt collar.

What do I wear under a leather jacket?

• Basic top or T-shirt: a simple base in white, black or gray. You'll find styles among our basic tops.
• Knit sweater: a fine or chunky sweater gives the look an autumnal feel. There's a selection among our knit sweaters.
• Blouse: a flowing blouse creates a soft contrast to the smooth surface of the jacket.
• Hoodie or sweatshirt: for a sporty layered weekend look.

Which pants go with a leather jacket?

Jeans are the classic choice, whether straight, wide or light-washed. You'll find a selection among our jeans. Wide-leg pants make the look a little more elegant, because the flowing pants contrast with the short jacket. You'll find styles among our wide-leg pants.

Faux leather leggings work too, preferably with a longer top. How to style them is shown in the guide How to Style Leather Leggings.

Styling a leather jacket with a skirt or dress

With skirts and dresses, a faux leather jacket works especially well because it makes a feminine look more relaxed. Which jacket goes with which dress is explained in the guide jacket with a dress.

• Denim skirt: an easy combination with tights and boots. More in the guide How to Style a Denim Skirt.
• Skort: in fall with thick tights and ankle boots. You'll find styles among our skorts.
• Midi dress or maxi skirt: flowing fabrics, floral or leopard prints contrast with the smooth jacket.

Which colors go with a leather jacket?

A black jacket goes with almost everything, especially white, gray, denim, beige and burgundy. A brown or cognac jacket looks warmer and pairs well with cream, camel, khaki and the season's browns and reds. Patterns such as leopard print or check work well underneath as long as the other pieces are plain. Which colors go with burgundy is explained in the article how to style burgundy.

Which shoes go with a leather jacket?

• Biker boots and ankle boots: pick up the rugged character of the jacket.
• Knee-high boots: with a skirt, dress or skort and tights.
• Sneakers: for a relaxed everyday look with jeans.
• Heeled shoes: in the evening with wide-leg pants or a dress.

Which pants go with which boots is covered in the guide How to Style Boots. You'll find styles among our boots.

Leather jacket outfits for day and evening

• Everyday: black jacket, white basic top, light jeans, sneakers
• Office: brown jacket, cream knit sweater, wide tailored pants, ankle boots
• Fall: black jacket, skort, thick tights, knee-high boots
• Evening: black jacket, top with lace or shine, wide-leg pants, heeled shoes

Which jacket suits which occasion is explained in the guide Transitional Jackets for Women.

Shop the look: transitional jackets for women.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear with a leather jacket?

Simple basics such as a top, T-shirt or knit sweater, plus jeans, wide-leg pants or a skirt. Because the jacket stands out, the rest of the outfit is kept fairly calm.

Which shoes go with a leather jacket?

Biker boots, ankle boots and knee-high boots work especially well. Sneakers suit everyday looks, heeled shoes the evening.

Can you wear a leather jacket with a dress?

Yes, a faux leather jacket makes a dress more relaxed. Flowing fabrics or patterned dresses with boots look especially good.

Which color goes with a black leather jacket?

White, gray, denim, beige and burgundy are especially easy to combine with a black jacket. Patterns such as leopard print work well too.

What is the difference between a leather jacket and a faux leather jacket?

A faux leather jacket looks like leather but is made of a different material such as imitation leather. It is styled in exactly the same way as a leather jacket.