It shouldn’t be a challenge to wear leather jackets without the stereotypical look of a biker chick. Not that there’s anything wrong with looking like a biker girl. If your style leans more toward tough leather ensembles, go for it! Own it!
But this concise how-to guide is for those who want to sample the leather jacket trend sans that aesthetic. Below are some bloggers and celebrities who incorporated leather jackets into their more feminine ensembles.
1. Modernizing Leather: The Plaid Shirt Twist
One way to make a leather jacket look more modern is to inject current and trendy pieces. Jessica Alba wore hers with a plaid button-down shirt.
The then-32-year-old actress kept things low-key and easy by teaming these pieces up with boyfriend-style jeans rolled up at the hems. She took the comfort level up a notch by wearing a pair of spotted flats and a beanie.
This look is so versatile that it is perfect for running errands, taking the kids out, hanging out with friends, and many more!
Jessica Alba pairs animal-print flats with a black leather biker jacket for a shopping day in Beverly Hills on December 12, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
2. Winter Chic With Summery Pieces and Leather
We’re pretty sure you have rocked the popular denim dungarees last summer. Transition them to winter, just like what Fearne Cotton did!
The TV presenter wore her denim dungaree dress over a shirt with a summer stripes print. It’s amazing how she gave this outfit an appropriate winter vibe by donning a quilted leather jacket and a pair of tights.
Fearne Cotton arrives at BBC Radio 1 in Central London sporting a stylish quilted leather jacket on December 10, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
3. Elegant Fusion: Lace Cropped Top and Pencil Skirt with Leather
We don’t mind the cliché that is the lace and leather combo. The contrast works! And although this has been done before, Jennifer Lawrence gave it a fresh look by wearing a cropped lace top with a peek-a-boo skirt.
There’s an interesting combination of textures. Like the Catching Fire actress, you can add a semblance of toughness to an otherwise feminine look with your leather jacket.
Jennifer Lawrence spotted entering the ‘Late Show With David Letterman’ in New York City, showcasing a chic leather and lace ensemble on November 20, 2013, in New York City (Credit: WENN)
4. Casual Edge: Leather and Ripped Jeans Combo
You can’t go wrong with a leather jacket and ripped boyfriend jeans combo. It epitomizes no-fuss dressing without looking like you didn’t think about your outfit.
Even better, you can wear it with pretty much any top. You can opt for a dainty lace top, a cropped top, a band muscle tee, or a plain shirt. Copy Julianne Hough’s styling and wrap a tartan shirt around your hips for a touch of ’90s glam.
Julianne Hough sports a laid-back look with a leather jacket and ripped jeans in West Hollywood on November 15, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
5. Soft Meets Tough: Feminine Pink Dress and Studded Leather
A biker jacket and a pink dress? It can work! SJP took her tulip-hemmed pink dress to the red carpet and gave it a semblance of toughness by covering her arms with a studded leather jacket.
To complete the look, follow what she did here by wearing sheer tights and a pair of pumps.
Sarah Jessica Parker pairs a studded leather jacket with a pink dress at the City Ballet premiere in NYC on November 5, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
6. Classic and Chic: Skinny Jeans and White Shirt with Leather
The combination of jeans and a white shirt is like a blank canvas. You can take it to different routes depending on how you style it.
Former Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr made the classic combo look ten times more stylish by wearing a structured Balmain leather jacket and opting for animal-printed flats. How easy can this get?
Miranda Kerr steps out in Paris in a sleek Balmain leather jacket and animal-print flats on October 3, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
Aren’t these looks inspiring? So, ensure your leather jacket is in high rotation in your wardrobe by adding these inspiring ensembles to your list of outfits to copy.
7. Bohemian Rhapsody: Summer Maxi Dress Under Leather
A striking, bold-printed summer maxi dress uniquely contrasts the toughness of leather pieces. Take it from Maggie’s ensemble. Unfortunately, her excellent fashion blog, ‘Clothes to Midnight,’ is no longer available online.
Maggie demonstrates a feminine touch in a leather jacket with a bold-printed summer maxi dress
Colorful prints will help balance out the ruggedness of your leather jacket.
8. Vibrant Contrasts: Bright Dress and Dark Leather Jacket
What’s the easiest way to make leather pieces look more feminine? We say, wear it with bright colors!
Nancie brightens her look with a neon yellow dress under a classic black leather jacket
Nancie’s summery dress in neon yellow stands out against her black leather jacket. Her blog is, unfortunately, no longer available online.
9. Monochrome Magic: Styling All-Black with Leather
Don’t be afraid to wear leather paired with other black pieces. If you choose soft, billowy, and flattering pieces, you’ll pull them off quite nicely and look like a million bucks. Estefania did so in this outfit.
Estefania combines elegance with edge in a black leather jacket and matching slitted maxi skirt
She wore her jacket with a slitted maxi skirt, a simple top, and black loafers. We also like how comfy this outfit looks. Her blog is, unfortunately, no longer available online.
10. Romantic Rebel: Pairing Leather With Lace
You can’t go wrong with leather and lace. You just can’t. The contrast between feminine and masculine is interesting.
Nancy explores the intriguing contrast of feminine lace with a masculine leather jacket
Try something like what Nancy wore. It has a bit of a bohemian vibe, don’t you agree?
11. Edgy Elegance: Origami Skirt and Leather Jacket
If you are a massive fan of the origami skirt, why don’t you try matching it with your leather outerwear? This creates an edgy ensemble that will have heads turning your way.
Romina turns heads with her edgy origami skirt and leather jacket ensemble
Romina’s outfit is a nice inspiration. She even has on an ombre button-down top for extra spice. Her fashion blog is, unfortunately, no longer available online.
12. Retro Revival: Vintage Dresses and Leather Jackets
Loose-waisted dresses, ’60s-inspired frocks, and even ’40s-style tea dresses should work great with this jacket. Check out this outfit by Style Peaches.
Peaches blends retro charm with a modern twist in a lavender gingham dress and leather jacket
We love her lavender gingham dress, worn with a leather jacket.
13. Floral and Leather: A Match for All Seasons
Even if the summer season is over, it’s not yet the end for your floral dresses. Like the actress/business mogul, you can get more wear out of your floral dresses by pairing them with leather moto jackets. Finish off the look with leather booties for that edgy touch.
Jessica Alba wore a Saint Laurent cropped motorcycle jacket and Anine Bing’s “Bianca” boots.
Jessica Alba elevates her floral dress with a cropped motorcycle jacket in Santa Monica on October 16, 2015 (Credit: WENN)
14. Textural Play: Quilted Leather with Crochet Details
This isn’t a cold, weather-proof outfit, but it works for those slightly warmer days. We love the juxtaposition of the textures of her quilted leather jacket and skirt.
Cara sported the Burberry Resort 2016 skirt and Burberry “The Rucksack” bag in technical nylon and leather.
Cara Delevingne mixes textures with a quilted leather jacket at the Love Magazine Party in London on September 22, 2015 (Credit: WENN)
15. Red-Hot Elegance: Maxi Dress with a Leather Twist
The pop singer looked impeccably edgy in this striking red camisole dress. The leather jacket added a nice touch to her look.
Jessie J exudes edgy elegance in a red camisole dress and leather jacket in Manhattan on September 2, 2015 (Credit: WENN)
16. Mix and Match: Creative Separates With Leather
Here’s an interesting outfit from the singer. She mixed a sheer white skirt, a black top, and a below-the-waist leather jacket.
Carly Rae Jepsen combines a sheer white skirt and a leather jacket for a unique look in London on September 17, 2015 (Credit: WENN)
17. Relaxed Yet Chic: Comfortable Jeans and Leather Look
The then then-24-year-old actress proved that form-fitting jeans work wonderfully with leather jackets. She mixed it up with a pair of platform boots.
Georgia May Foote keeps it casual yet chic with jeans and a leather jacket in London on September 12, 2015 (Credit: WENN)
18. Print Paradise: Mixing Patterns With Leather
Trust Queen Bey to pull off not one, not two, but three prints in one outfit!
Beyonce masterfully mixes prints with a leather jacket and Alexander McQueen accessories in London (Credit: WENN)
The geometric-printed blouse, the polka-dotted midi skirt, and the striped Alexander McQueen pointy pumps worked together because of one common ground: their black-and-white color scheme.
Beyonce visited the London Art Fair in London, England, on October 15, 2014, wearing a Saint Laurent classic leather motorcycle jacket (Credit: WENN)
Pull off a similar ensemble using only black and white pieces and tie the look with a black moto jacket.
VEDA Lazer Classic Leather Jacket, $895.00
19. Sweet with an Edge: Midi Dress Meets Leather Jacket
As usual, the Queen of whimsical frocks is dressed in another covetable dress.
But the actress gave it more character by adding that quilted jacket and opting for a pair of green Jimmy Choo Mimi pumps.
Keira Knightley adds a tough twist to a tiered embellished dress with a quilted Balenciaga jacket in London on October 11, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
In the same way, you can toughen up a sweet-looking dress with a similar jacket.
DKNY x Cara Delevingne Leather Moto Jacket, $735.00
20. Androgynous Allure: Leather in Gender-Neutral Fashion
The Twilight star looks so fiercely stylish on the red carpet, but off it, you can almost always see her in an androgynous style.
The androgynous actress Kristen Stewart in black pants styled with a leather moto jacket and dirty shoes (Credit: WENN)
This time, she wore a simple white tank top with black pants and dirty black sneakers and completed her outfit with a leather motorcycle jacket. Rocker chic?
Kristen Stewart embraces androgynous style in a leather moto jacket and black pants at Los Angeles International (LAX) airport in Los Angeles on October 11, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
J Brand Ready-to-Wear Ranya Leather Jacket, $1,295.00
21. Sleek and Sophisticated: Black Dress and Leather Detailing
Jamie Chung shows how to wear a black leather jacket with a matching dress and shoes (Credit: WENN)
Are you going for a monochromatic look? Why not do what Jamie Chung did and keep it interesting with the texture.
Jamie Chung at the US launch of William Rast at Lord & Taylor on the rooftop of Lord & Taylor’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City in New York on October 8, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Mix your leather jacket up with suede or velvet. Or better yet, opt for a jacket with only leather accents.
Nina Ricci Black Leather Jacket, $1,395.00
22. Bold and Bright: Color Pop with Leather and Jeans
Jessica Alba styled a hot pink Ralph Lauren Hyacinth Glove Leather Davidson jacket with Vans Authentic Slim sneakers in washed leopard (Credit: WENN)
Let your colored leather jacket be the star of the show, pair it up with understated pieces like black pants and a graphic-printed shirt.
Jessica Alba takes her two daughters, Honor Marie Warren and Haven Garner Warren, out for breakfast in West Hollywood California, on September 20, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Giorgio Armani Leather Peplum Jacket, $2,644
23. Chic Contrast: Two-Tone Leather With White Ensemble
Do you love the all-white trend? Why don’t you make it more cold-weather appropriate by throwing on a cute jacket, preferably of the two-tone variety, just like Suki Waterhouse’s?
Suki Waterhouse shows how to wear a white dress with a black leather jacket in London on September 16, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Again Bowie Moto Jacket, $990.00
24. Daytime Dazzle: Floral Dresses and Leather Jackets
Floral and leather are a match made in heaven. Try breathing new life into your springtime floral dress and pair it with a leather moto jacket. Punctuate the look with a pair of t-strap pumps.
Ashley James pairs a floral spring dress with a leather moto jacket for a pre-fashion week event in London on September 2, 2014
DSQUARED2 Cropped Calf Leather Jacket, $1,760
How would you like to copy these stylish outfits? Try rummaging through your closet right now and see what you can find. Wear your leather jacket even if you are a girly girl:
1. BLK DNM Leather Jacket, $795
2. BLK DNM Motorcycle Jacket with Quilted Stripes, $895
3. VEDA Max Classic Leather Jacket, $890
4. Lot78 Quilted Bomber Jacket, $836
5. Faith Connexion Studded Teddy Jacket, $1,235