Take a peek in any New York fashion girl’s closet and one thing will be clear: they love leather jackets. They’re a staple because they can use them to dress an outfit up or down, and they add a bit of edge to anything you wear them with. The type of leather jackets that are “in” varies depending on the year but 2022 has been a time of many different leather jacket trends. Oversize, moto, bomber, blazer, shacket, cropped, long—you name it, NYC girls love it, as long as it’s made of leather (or faux leather). And honestly, they’ll wear them with anything from sweatpants to fancy dresses, but each season they all seem to gravitate toward certain leather jacket pairings.
So what are those pairings this year? The below list of seven items is comprised of both trends and basics, all of which are low-key, versatile, and of course, cool enough to wear in NYC. Scroll on to shop the New Yorker-approved pieces, as well as some of the best leather jackets out there right now.
Yes, wearing leather with more leather (pants, skirts, etc.) is cool, and no, you won’t look like you’re in The Matrix. But just to be safe, you could go with different shades of leather, as Christie Tyler did here with the vintage brown jacket and black pants.
Cargo pants are one of the year’s biggest trends, so this combo makes perfect sense. Leather jackets add a bit of polish to the loose, casual cargos.
Slim maxi skirts are as sleek as skirts get, so it’s fitting to pair one with an equally sleek leather jacket. A cropped or long style works here, and my personal preference is that it be oversize to balance out the proportions.
On the flip side of the skirt spectrum, a mini and leather jacket is another popular pairing among NYC girls. Pair this combination with sneakers during the day and platforms at night.
Puddle pants have really taken off this year, and what cooler way to style them than with a leather jacket? Yusra’s expertly layered outfit is a 10/10.
Knee-high boots are the reigning boot trend this season, and they look chic with everything—leather jackets included. Chrissy Ford’s leather trench coat is particularly chic with them.
Baggy jeans and a big leather is an NYC-girl match made in heaven. I was in the city last month and spotted this pairing practically everywhere I went.
