Leather Jacket Season Is Back… But Not as You Know It

Image may contain Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley Clothing Coat Jacket Adult Person Head Face Accessories and Glasses
Getty Images

All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

The impact of Saint Laurent’s spring/summer 2025 show is already being felt on the streets. The morning after the night before, Vogue’s Daniel Rodgers boss-bitched his way into The Adelphi wearing a gently outsized pinstripe blazer as a subtle nod to Bella Hadid’s tailored return to the runway. In Paris, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gigi Hadid have been making slouchy leather jackets the crux of their street-style looks, while models nipping between casting calls are throwing their own bikers over basics on the run.

Vogue’s Favorite Leather Jackets:

Of course the leather jacket is not a new wardrobe staple, but something about Saint Laurent’s drop-shouldered, buckled, supple style feels particularly fresh for now. On the catwalk, the popped-collar pieces served as protective outerwear to louche suiting, for a toughened up take on office wear. “You’re dressed. It’s about control, and power, in a way,” said Anthony Vaccarello of his razor-sharp approach to realising the “relaxed” look.

Image may contain Fashion Clothing Formal Wear Suit Adult Person Accessories Tie Performer and Solo Performance

Saint Laurent SS25

Image may contain Divinity Roxx Fashion Person Performer Solo Performance Accessories Jewelry and Necklace

Saint Laurent SS25

Away from the impossibly glamorous Left Bank headquarters of YSL, the Hadid sisters have been deploying their softly sloping jackets to bring both nonchalance and grit to downtime looks (and Rosalía’s birthday party). No one wants to swan around Paris looking “done”, or as though they’ve curated their fashion week wardrobe–even if, like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, they have. A textured leather jacket offers the swagger of that biker lifestyle, but with all the luxury of a satin lining.

Image may contain Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley Clothing Coat Jacket Footwear Shoe Accessories Glasses Bag and Handbag

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Jacopo Raule/Getty Images
Image may contain Bella Hadid Clothing Coat Jacket Accessories Belt Adult Person Footwear Shoe and Glasses

Bella Hadid.

MEGA

Autumn always ushers in leather jackets in their various iterations (fitted All Saints-adjacent zip-ups, aviator Acne Studios styles, Saks Potts-meets-The Matrix trench coats), and indeed, new versions proliferated on London’s AW24 runways, with burnished moto jackets at JW Anderson, corseted numbers at Dilara Findikoglu, and balloon-sleeved, funnel-collared takes at Knwls and Supriya Lele. Laura Hawkins reported that the most memorable iteration came from Daniel Lee at Burberry, where Maya Wigram walked the runway in a belted design that balanced heritage-chic with moto-babe glamour. That Maya is the daughter of Phoebe Philo, who has been keeping Chloë Sevigny in covetable high-neck leathers, only made the moment that much more perfect.

Image may contain Gigi Hadid Kendall Jenner Clothing Coat Jacket Adult Person Photobombing Accessories and Glasses

Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner.

Backgrid
Image may contain Hailey Baldwin Justin Bieber Sarah Hoffman Clothing Footwear Shoe Wristwatch Adult Person and Hat

Hailey Bieber, earlier this summer.

Backgrid

While indie sleazers will be chuffed they got their leathers (and their second-skin jeans) out of hiding, this season’s jacket diktat demands super-sized zip-ups. Now is not the time to channel your inner Marianne Faithfull in Girl on a Motorcycle, it’s about rifling through second-hand stores and finding someone’s late grandpa’s rough, tough flight jacket. This year’s autumn essentials should look well-loved and lived in. Just don’t forget the attitude of Faithfull, Marlon Brando, Patti Smith and the other leather icons who contributed some small part to that Saint Laurent swagger we’re seeing today. Failing that, scoring one from YSL is never, ever a bad idea.

Image may contain Clothing Coat Jacket Accessories Bag Handbag Person Teen Glove Adult Footwear Shoe and Glasses

Paris Fashion Week SS25 street style

Photographed by Phil Oh
Image may contain Liu Wen Clothing Coat Jacket Adult Person Accessories Bag Handbag Walking Backpack and Footwear

Paris Fashion Week SS25 street style

Photographed by Phil Oh

Shop an edit of our favorite styles:

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Nour Hammour

Beck oversized jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Cos

oversized collared jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Banana Republic

oversized bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Proenza Schouler

Beck bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Khaite

Hewit oversized bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

The Attico

bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Saint Laurent

leather jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Zara

bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, and Jacket

Loewe

Balloon jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Lemaire

leather jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Dries Van Noten

cropped ruffled bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Dunst

vintage-inspired blouson jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

The Frankie Shop

Viper oversized jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Róhe

leather bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

Wardrobe.NYC

oversized bomber jacket

Image may contain: Clothing, Coat, Jacket, and Leather Jacket

LaMarque

Theia oversized bomber jacket