A leather jacket is one of those classic and timeless menswear pieces that can add a rugged and masculine edge to almost any outfit you can imagine.
Surprisingly versatile, a leather jacket can be worn with something as simple as a plain white t-shirt and jeans, or it can be dressed up with a pair of dress pants, a dress shirt, and a necktie, serving as a sort of "blazer with an edge."
Not all leather jackets are the same, however. From quality to construction methods, and of course, the colors and specific styles, choosing the right leather jacket can be daunting because not every guy can pull off just any style.
While there are some exceptions, I believe that certain types of leather jackets are significantly safer for most, if not all, men to wear and pair with other versatile pieces.
For instance, I don't think that just any guy, young or old, can wear a black motorcycle jacket. However, I believe that nearly every man, whether fresh off the heels of puberty or a seasoned "silver fox," can successfully adopt a neutral-colored bomber jacket style.
But before we dive into the details of how to style this one piece, let's discuss the jacket I'm showcasing.
My Brown Suede Bomber Jacket (From The Jacket Maker)
The Jacket Maker is a direct-to-consumer brand offering well-made, affordable leather jackets with a wide range of styles and made-to-measure ("custom") options.
This brand provides leather jackets for men and women, emphasizing timeless elegance and sophisticated style. The Jacket Maker’s mission is to deliver well-constructed products at fair prices by eliminating the middlemen.
These jackets are reportedly made from full-grain natural leather, ensuring durability and a great fit.
The richness of a suede bomber jacket, both in texture and color, works well for pairing with various garments. As you'll soon see, it can be worn in numerous ways.
Proper Fit
This particular jacket from The Jacket Maker is one of their custom Blain Mocha Brown bomber jackets. It has longer sleeves, is slightly cropped, and is form-fitting without restricting the shoulders.
It sits close to the chest and body, landing just past the waist, which aligns with the classic MA-1 bomber jacket style originally designed for pilots in the exposed cockpits of the early days of flight.
What About An Oversized Leather Jacket?
I know that the "baggy trend" is still considered stylish by some these days, but my advice for wearing anything is that the fit should always be on point, especially when investing in something as expensive as a quality leather jacket.
At the end of the day, your style journey is your own, but if you ask me, having a tailored fit for a leather jacket—meaning it fits close (not too snug) to the body—and both the sleeves and the side fronts and back hit where they should (in most cases, around the upper to mid-seat) is essential to nailing any leather jacket outfit, regardless of the level of formality.
After all, we want to appear stylish and masculine, not careless and inexperienced.
Black vs. Brown Leather Jackets
The heated debate between black and brown is a constant presence.
Here's my position on things...
When in doubt, a brown leather jacket (either in suede or regular smooth leather) will almost always provide you with more options because it is a neutral color that pairs well with other neutral tones.
That said, black is often considered a neutral color, but like white, black isn't really a color.
Instead, black and white both exist on what is known as the Grayscale. As such, various amounts of black can be added to the standard twelve-color wheel to create shades of each color, while white can be added to create tints.
Gray is, of course, black with various levels of white added to it, of which there are many tones. With all that said, though, black, gray, and white are great for pairing with neutral colors because they can fill in any "gaps" in an outfit. Think sneakers, undershirts, pants, tasteful accessories, etc.
In all honesty, you can't go wrong with either choice. I think it really comes down to your personal style. A black leather jacket may fit the types of clothes in your closet best, but if you're just starting to build your wardrobe, I always recommend a brown leather jacket first.
7 Brown Leather Jacket Outfit Ideas
Outfit #1: Ultra Casual (Chinos & Jeans)
A plain white t-shirt and either blue jeans or chinos are as classic (and often easy) as it gets. The choice of boots or sneakers is up to you, depending on your desired look.
Remember what I said about white being a great way to fill in the "gaps" to any outfit? Here's the proof with the inclusion of the white sneakers. Of course, the texture of the suede leather jacket looks great with the subtle texturing in the denim when paired with blue jeans.
Simple and effective, yet exceedingly stylish and timeless.
Outfit #2: Elevated Casual (Green Chinos & GATs)
Brown and green are quintessential earth tones. Not many men have a pair of green pants in their closets, but I think any man who doesn't is simply missing out on numerous outfit possibilities.
The foundation of this look is similar to that of the previous outfit, but I believe a few subtle changes can elevate an otherwise basic outfit to a whole new level. In addition to the olive green chinos, I've decided to swap the clean white leather sneakers for a pair of leather German Army Trainers (GATs).
If you're unsure what these are, don't worry because I have a full guide to the best sneaker you've probably never heard of right here, along with over ten ways to style them throughout the year.
Outfit #3: Smart Casual (White Pants)
I need to include a white pants outfit on every list like this. It just wouldn't feel complete otherwise.
Once again, white is a great way to fill in other parts of outfits, whether they are sneakers or, in this case, pants.
The green polo shirt is light and breezy, featuring a very natural shade of green that looks sharp alongside the brown mocha suede jacket.
Speaking of suede, the Chelsea boots from Beckett Simonon are rich in texture and color, providing a nice subtle contrast on the feet without going overboard.
Outfit #4: Baseball Cap & Dad Sneakers
For all the dads out there who want to rock a brown suede bomber jacket while also sporting their chunky New Balance sneakers, this one is for you. Just like white and black, gray fills in outfits nicely, this particular look demonstrates that well, I think.
A plain black t-shirt, smartly cropped black trousers, plain white socks, a canvas ballcap, and gray New Balance 990 sneakers will make you the coolest dad around, guaranteed.
And even if you're not a father yet (like me), you'll still look great in something like this.
Outfit #5: Black & Brown Out In Town
Let's pair black and brown together for a bit, this time with no white or gray at all. This look features all-black attire, including a turtleneck, slim-fit jeans, and leather Chelsea boots from Thursday Boot Company.
It's perfect for breezy autumn evenings or nights out with friends or that special lady in your life. Masculine and rugged, an outfit with a leather jacket like this will turn heads wherever you go (and keep you warm in the process).
A turtleneck is one of the most flattering sweaters a man can wear, so owning one should be a priority if you live in a place that requires it.
Outfit #6: Leather Blazer
I like to think of a brown suede bomber jacket as a blazer "with an edge" (hence the term leather blazer).
This look is a blend of business casual and rugged style (but not excessively so). The best way to achieve this look is by paying close attention to colors and textures.
Here, we have a classic pairing of brown and blue, complemented by mid-gray dress pants. This dressy ensemble is rich in subtle texture without being too stark.
For instance, the suede in the brown dress shoes from Beckett Simonon pairs perfectly with the jacket, while the soft flannel gray dress trousers complement the softness and richness of the suede outer and footwear.
Of course, the ice blue Oxford-cloth dress shirt is subtly understated but contrasts boldly with the heavily textured navy grenadine tie. Overall, I believe that a look like this becomes more than just the sum of its parts, thanks to the carefully considered combinations of texture and color.
Outfit #7: Cozy Fall & Winter
Of course, we need an outfit suitable for the colder months of the year. Depending on your geographical location, this might be too much or too little warmth, but like the previous outfits, this is a textbook example of brown, blue, and gray all working together to create a neutral-colored "feast" of an outfit.
Ideal for dates, outings with friends, early morning church services, or just for running errands.
Other Versatile Leather Jacket Options
It would be remiss of me not to provide some honorable mentions of other leather jacket types to round out this leather jacket style guide, so I will do so now.
Any of these other leather jacket types would be fine, but just know upfront that not all of them may suit your style as easily as the tried and true brown suede bomber jacket.
Suede Trucker Jackets
I actually think that this particular style of leather jacket in brown or tobacco color would look great on pretty much every guy. In fact, I believe there is a strong argument that the suede trucker jacket is even more versatile than the suede bomber.
Simple, rugged, masculine, and form-fitting, the timeless style of a jacket like this is a no-brainer, if you ask me.
Band-Collar & Racer Jackets
Here's where we delve into more youthful and edgier styles of leather jackets. Personally, as a man just shy of thirty, I believe I can pull off something like this quite well.
In most cases, a band-collar or racer jacket looks better on men with broader shoulders and more athletic frames.
Just because you're not currently in shape doesn't mean you can't be in the future.
Leather Biker Jacket
Here's where we encounter a leather jacket style that I don't actually own because it isn't quite my speed: the biker leather jacket.
This incredibly stylish and timeless design may remind you of films like Grease or Mad Max. These jackets serve as sleek additions to any outerwear collection, emphasizing classic fashion rather than merely style.
Similar to the previous jackets, I believe younger men look better in these. Unlike the previous jacket types, I think slender men might fare better with leather biker jackets, as the larger collar and lapels can help fill out their shoulders (my opinion, of course).
The Key to Superior Rugged & Masculine Style
Hopefully, this guide has provided you with the information and inspiration necessary to consider the type of leather jacket that is best for you.
There are many options, from a fake leather jacket to something like The Jacket Maker, which is perhaps the best choice for the average guy looking to own a well-fitting and well-made jacket that won't break the bank.
Leather bomber jackets, in particular, offer the perfect balance of ruggedness and classic elegance that is simple yet effective. Avoid oversized leather jackets due to their departure from classic styles, but if your personal sense of fashion is more "bold and loud," then go for it.
Whether you choose to wear it with dark wash jeans, a hoodie, a dress shirt and tie, a sweater, or various other types of clothing, a leather jacket can be a chic and stylish way to dress and impress.
