Leather Jacket Shopping Guide

Shay modeling a black leather jacket in Mesa, Arizona

It’s no secret that I love a good leather jacket. They’re super cute and versatile- you can style them with almost any type of outfit and look fashionable and put-together!

What I don’t love about leather jackets is the price tag. Sure, you can find an affordable vegan leather jacket anywhere, but vegan leather doesn’t last long and is extremely bad for the environment. I’d much rather purchase a pricier jacket that I can wear for 20 years than a cheaper jacket that falls apart after 2.

Even though leather jackets may be more cost effective over time, they still come with a high sticker price. An “affordable” option can cost $500 or more, thus making leather jackets inaccessible for many consumers.

Luckily, there are many ways to snag a pricy leather jacket for a steal. Here’s how I built up a collection of leather jackets at a heavily discounted price.

LTH JKT – Kas Biker Jacket

A traditional bomber jacket, the Kas Biker from LTH JKT is the most versatile leather jacket in my collection. It looks fantastic layered over dresses, t-shirts, or even activewear.

The Kas Biker is my favorite leather jacket to wear while traveling. Because it can be styled in so many ways, I can use it to create at least a week’s worth of outfits. That’s great for me, because I only need to pack one jacket, freeing up valuable suitcase space for other travel necessities.

The Kas Biker is the warmest leather jacket in my collection. While I wouldn’t wear it during a snowstorm in Tahoe, it does a great job of keeping me warm during an average winter day in the Bay Area. (Nights are a whole other story!)

Stats

Sizing: I love the look of an oversized biker jacket, so I sized up from an XS to a S for a roomier fit.

List Price: $596

Sale Price: $417 or lower

Where to find a deal

LTH JKT has regular sales offering a minimum of 30% off the Kas Biker and other items. I snagged mine for 50% off on Labor Day 2020.

If LTH JKT isn’t running a sale, Farfetch regularly lists the Kas Biker for 30% off as well. Revolve and Saks Fifth Avenue stock the jacket in multiple colors, but both retailers usually sell out of the jacket before it goes on sale in between seasons.

IRO – Ashville Leather Moto Jacket

Shay modeling a blue leather jacket at The Peppermill in Reno, Nevada
Shay modeling an ivory leather jacket in Petaluma, California

The Ashville Moto Jacket by IRO is a lightweight leather jacket that is perfect to wear during spring or summer nights. I usually layer mine over a crop top, but I’ve layered it over bodysuits, t-shirts, and light sweaters for a more elevated look.

The Ashville is so wonderful, I purchased it in two colors! It’s also the most expensive jacket in my collection, so I watched sales for months before finally purchasing each one from two different vendors.

Stats

Sizing: I’m in between sizes for this jacket. Because I wanted different fits, I purchased my Ivory jacket in 34 and my Light Blue Jacket in 36.

The Size 34 jacket hits just at my waist and is form-fitting. While it fits well now, it was too tight in my arms after I gained the Quarantine 15 during 2020’s coronavirus lockdown. I have large biceps from lifting weights, so if you’re muscular you might want to size up.

The Size 36 jacket hits slightly below my waist and has a more oversized, but still chic, fit.

I’d recommend sticking to your usual size. If you’re between sizes like me, size up or down to get the fit of your preference.

List Price: $1200-$1274 depending on color

Sale Price: $500-$840 depending on retailer

Where to find a deal

Every season, IRO releases the Ashville Moto Jacket in fresh colors and heavily discounts jackets from the previous season, causing other retailers to follow their lead.

In their sale section, Blue & Cream lists older colors of the jacket from anywhere between $720 to $840. They have regular sales of 25% off sitewide, so it’s best to stack that discount on top of the sale price for an even better deal.

Revolve often discounts the jacket as well, but the jacket tends to sell out within a day or two once it hits its sale price. I wouldn’t recommend looking for a great deal on the Ashville from Revolve unless you want to check their site daily.

My favorite retailer to look for discounts on the Ashville Moto Jacket is Saks Fifth Avenue. Not only does Saks list the jacket for killer sale prices every season, it also offers regular extra discounts on sale items that stack up. I snagged one of my Ashville jackets from them for only $480, but I’ve seen certain colors and sizes sell for as low as $380 before. (It wasn’t a size or color that I wanted, but that’s an amazing discount!)

Finally, you can buy discounted Ashville jackets on IRO Paris’s website. While I snagged a great deal on my Ivory Ashville jacket through one of their sales, their customer service was horrible. I never received a shipping confirmation for my jacket. After weeks of waiting, I called their help line and was put on hold for over 4 hours before giving up. I was about to call my bank and cancel the purchase when my package arrived at my door a month late. I don’t recommend shopping directly through IRO Paris even if you find a great deal.

LTH JKT – Mya Cropped Biker

Shay modeling a cropped yellow leather jacket in Scottsdale, Arizona

The Mya Cropped Biker is another jacket that’s so cute, I just had to snag it in two colors!

As adorable as this jacket is, I can’t recommend wearing it in cold weather. This is strictly a summer jacket, although it does a great job keeping the wind out on chilly September nights!

I’ve worn the Mya with jeans a few times, but I think it looks best paired with an adorable romper or sundress.

Stats

Sizing: I stuck with my true size of XS, but this jacket is very fitted. If you want room for more movement, go up a size.

List Price: $595

Sale Price: $417 or lower

Where to find a deal

Just like it’s sister the Kas Biker, the best place to find a screaming deal on the Mya Cropped Biker is through LTH JKT’s website. Discounts of 30% off on old colors are common, but I snagged mine for 50% off on Labor Day.

The Mya also goes on sale at Farfetch pretty regularly for $417, but the colors and sizes offered there will be more limited.

Other Great Places to Find Leather Jackets

Shay modeling a black leather jacket in San Rafael, California

The stores I’ve listed above aren’t the only retailers that offer regular discounts on leather jackets. Here are a few other great places to try:

Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack is one of my favorite places to find discounted leather jackets. Before I lost weight, I purchased 2/3 of my old leather jackets from here. One of them was a brown Michael Kors jacket that I bought for $100 and the other was a black DKNY style for $200- both fantastic deals!

While Nordstrom Rack has a lot of leather jackets available online, I’ve found the best deals in person. Size guides on their website aren’t always accurate, and there’s a good chance you’ll need to exchange your jacket for a different size. It’s much less trouble to shop in person and try on your jacket before purchasing.

Saks off 5th

A bit pricier than Nordstrom Rack, Saks off 5th also has discounted deals on designer jackets (and unfortunately when it comes to leather jackets, it’s nearly impossible to find one that isn’t “designer”).

Unlike Nordstrom Rack, I’d recommend conducting your leather jacket hunt online rather than in person. I’ve visited brick-and-mortar Saks off 5th stores many times, and I’ve never once seen a leather jacket in person despite seeing many styles offered online.

Poshmark

If you have a specific style or brand in mind, try looking on Poshmark.

With the rise of sustainable fashion, buying clothes secondhand isn’t as “uncool” as it used to be (although I’ve been doing it for years without shame!) If you can find a great deal on a well cared-for jacket through Poshmark or another fashion resale site, go for it!

A few more things to keep in mind

Always remember that the best time to look for any fashion deal is the end of a season. Retailers offer the best prices when they need to get rid of stock to make room for newer items.

If you want extra discounts on top of sale prices, make sure to sign up for email alerts from your favorite stores. You’ll be the first to know when they offer sitewide discounts or an extra percentage off of sale items!

Finally, don’t feel pressured to buy an item you can’t afford even if it is on sale. It’s important to prioritize your financial health and well-being. There’s always going to be another sale, so don’t make any choices you can’t afford.

Happy shopping!

Shay modeling a black leather jacket in Mesa, Arizona