Leather Jacket Colors: Black, Brown, Burgundy and How to Match

Black is the easiest leather jacket colour and goes with almost everything; brown and tan are warmer and more casual; burgundy and other colours are statement jackets that work best over neutrals. This guide covers what each leather jacket colour says and what to wear with it, how to match a jacket with leather shoes, belts and bags, and how to pick a colour for your wardrobe.

Leather Jacket Colours at a Glance

Colour	Look	Wear it with	Best as
Black	Sharp, classic, edgy	White, grey, black, navy, denim	A first jacket
Dark brown	Rugged, warm	Cream, navy, olive, denim	A first or second jacket
Tan and cognac	Relaxed, vintage	White, navy, khaki, light denim	A casual jacket
Burgundy and oxblood	Rich, bold	Grey, navy, black, cream	A statement jacket
Navy, green, blue	Modern, unusual	Grey, white, black, tan	A second jacket
White, beige, pastels	Fresh, fashion-led	Denim, white, soft neutrals	Spring and summer

Black Leather Jackets

Black is the most classic and the easiest to wear: it works with jeans and a tee, all black for the evening, or a shirt and trousers. It's also the most forgiving, hiding scuffs and marks better than lighter colours. If you only own one leather jacket, make it black.

Shop the Men Black Classic Real Leather Biker Jacket →

Shop the Classic Women Black Real Leather Biker Jacket →

Brown, Tan and Cognac Leather Jackets

Brown looks warmer and more relaxed than black, and it ages well, showing a patina as it's worn. Dark brown is the most useful; tan and cognac are lighter and more casual. Brown works best with earthy colours, cream, navy and denim. All black under a brown jacket can look flat, so add a lighter layer.

Shop the Men’s Trendy Tan Biker Leather Jacket →

Shop the Classic Women Cognac Quilted Real Leather Cafe Racer Jacket →

Burgundy and Oxblood Leather Jackets

Burgundy is a deep red-brown that stands out without being loud. It's a good second jacket once you own black or brown. Wear it over grey, navy, black, white or cream, with dark jeans or charcoal trousers. Keep other strong colours away from it, and match it with brown or black shoes.

Shop the Men’s Burgundy Distressed Leather Biker Jacket →

Burgundy also comes in other styles, such as the burgundy trucker leather jacket.

Colour Leather Jackets: Navy, Green, Blue, Red and More

A colour jacket becomes the centre of the outfit, so wear it with plain neutrals: white, grey, black or denim. Navy and dark green are the easiest; bright blue, red, pink and yellow are the boldest.

Shop the Women Blue Leather Cropped Biker Jacket →

White and Light Leather Jackets

White, beige and pastel jackets look fresh in spring and summer, over denim, white or soft neutrals. They show marks sooner, so wipe them often and condition them more regularly than dark jackets.

How to Match Leather Colours

• Belt and shoes: match these to each other first. A brown belt with brown shoes, black with black.
• Jacket and shoes: they don't need to match exactly. A black jacket works with black or brown boots; a brown jacket looks best with brown shoes.
• Two browns: pair different shades on purpose, for example a tan jacket with dark brown boots, rather than two almost-matching browns.
• Black and brown together: it works when the contrast is clear, like a black jacket with tan boots.
• Bags: keep a bag in the same family as your shoes or belt.
• Hardware: keep metals the same: silver zips with a silver belt buckle and watch, gold with gold.
• One leather statement: a leather jacket with leather trousers works best in the same colour, like the burgundy leather pants under a black jacket; otherwise keep one leather piece per outfit.

How to Choose a Colour for You

• Look at your wardrobe: if you wear a lot of grey, black and white, black is easiest; if you wear navy, olive and earth tones, brown fits better.
• Skin tone: warmer skin tones usually suit brown, tan and burgundy; cooler skin tones suit black, grey and navy. Both can wear black.
• How you'll wear it: black and dark brown suit work and evenings; tan and colours are more casual.
• How much care you'll give it: dark colours hide marks; light colours need more cleaning.

Sizes and Custom Options

Every jacket we sell is made to order, so you can have it made the way you want:

• Sizes: XS to 4XL or 5XL, depending on the style.
• Custom size: send us your measurements and we'll make the jacket to fit you.
• Custom colour: ask for any of our jackets in another leather colour.
• Leather type: choose lambskin, sheepskin, cowhide or suede.
• Lining and shearling: change the lining, or ask for real shearling instead of the standard faux shearling.

To order a custom jacket, see our custom order process (free design consultation) or contact us with the product link and the colour you want.

See every style in our men's leather jackets and women's leather jackets collections, and how to wear them in our men's leather jacket outfit guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular leather jacket colour?

Black, followed by brown. Both go with most wardrobes and suit every style of jacket.

Should my shoes match my leather jacket?

Not exactly. Match your shoes to your belt, and keep the jacket in the same family or in clear contrast.

Can you wear a brown leather jacket with black shoes or jeans?

Black jeans, yes. Black shoes can work with dark brown, but brown or tan shoes usually look better with a brown jacket.

What goes with a burgundy leather jacket?

Grey, navy, black, white and cream, with dark jeans or charcoal trousers and brown or black shoes.

Is a black or brown leather jacket better?

Black is more classic and dressier; brown is warmer, more casual and shows a patina with age. Many people own both.

Do light leather jackets get dirty easily?

They show marks sooner. Wipe them often with a damp cloth and condition them regularly.

Can I order a jacket in a different colour?

Yes. Every jacket is made to order, so you can ask for most styles in another leather colour.