When thinking about true wardrobe staples, denim, tank tops, T-shirts and trench coats inevitably come to mind. Yet few pieces carry the same appeal as the leather jacket. Each season, it reappears on the runway in subtly recalibrated forms, reflecting fashion’s shifting moods while remaining steadfastly “timeless” – a word often overused, but in this instance, feels entirely justified.

On the autumn/winter 2026 runway, leather jackets were a study in contrasts. Sleek silhouettes sat alongside worn-in, distressed finishes, while cropped proportions counterbalanced elongated cuts. As is often the case, Miu Miu was exemplary in capturing the leather jacket’s two new moods. Chloë Sevigny walked the show in a neat, clean-lined leather blazer, styled with a fuzzy-trimmed shift dress and bubble shoes. Elsewhere, deliberately crinkled, crumpled and cropped zip-through jackets came in shades of brown, black, tan and burgundy with a decidedly lived-in feel.

Miu Miu AW26.

Launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Miu Miu AW26.

Launchmetrics.com/spotlight

On that note, wine-tinged leather jackets were another notable runway trend. Paloma Wool opted for a longline, slim-fitting leather trench in a deep burgundy, while Balenciaga and Hermès offered cropped silhouettes. The subtle shift from black and brown gives the jacket an autumnal richness without straying too far from its classic appeal. Shopping’s Naomi Smart has recently acquired a burgundy leather bomber jacket from Arma, which she’s been wearing on repeat since the weather has turned.

Flight jackets, meanwhile, received the fur-trim treatment at Isabel Marant, Zimmermann, Gabriela Hearst and Louis Vuitton – all of which had vintage outerwear appeal and were a little more rugged than the polished leather blazers seen elsewhere, and particularly well suited to the continued appetite for clothes that look as though they have a history.

Alaïa AW26.

Courtesy of Alaïa

Perhaps more unexpectedly, the leather jacket adopted a new silhouette altogether, borrowing from the architecture of the trench coat. Double-breasted buttons and more structured proportions appeared at Alaïa, where mid-length leather was paired with tiered rah-rah skirts, while Isabel Marant styled similar shapes with denim miniskirts and Celine with corduroy straight-leg trousers. If some of fashion’s hottest brands at the moment are anything to go by, the double-breasted leather jacket deserves a spin this season.

Whether thrown over tailoring by day, layered with knitwear between seasons, or used to offset eveningwear with a new toughness, it goes without saying that the leather jacket remains one of fashion’s most reliable styling tools. Scroll on to discover the best leather jackets to shop now.

The funnel neck

The minimalist style

Leather High Shine Collared Cropped Jacket

The classic biker

The ’90s blazer

The bomber jacket

The distressed style

Y2K 00s Eddie Bauer Leather Shearling Flight Bomber Jacket

The leather trench

Athene Burgundy Crinkle PU Trench Coat

The form-fitting cut