You’ve probably heard of the Aritzia Melina pant by now. (If you haven’t, where exactly have you been?) The best-selling style from the Canadian fashion brand’s Wilfred line went viral on TikTok over the pandemic and has since graced the gams of Megan Fox, not to mention cool girls all over the world. And it turns out there are a multitude of reasons why.
For starters, the Melina has an ideal high rise and fit that’s right for almost everyone. Truthfully, should I ever spontaneously start my own sisterhood of the traveling pants, I would pick the Melina for its diverse offering of styles (ankle, cropped, and slim), rises (high-rise and super high-rise), and lengths (short, regular, and tall) alone. It’s worth noting, though, that the size range—00–16—could definitely be better. In terms of sustainability, they’re made with vegan leather that could likely fool even the biggest skeptics.
Given the profound hype surrounding the pant, I took it upon myself to take them for a test drive. Spoiler alert: they are, in my humble opinion, worthy of every bit of praise.
Wilfred The Melina Pant
Let me start with the design. Featuring a five-pocket style and zipper fly, the Melina is the epitome of classic-meets-modern, even more so when you consider the 21 color options. I went with black because I’m a purist and a New Yorker, and I’m happy to report that they go with just about everything in my closet (including this Reformation sweater and pair of By Far boots) and retain their shape well thanks in large part to Aritzia’s proprietary vegan leather that’s buttery soft and drapes just so.
It’s no wonder, then, that the Melina is constantly sold out. With a $148 price tag, the pants are a great buy that moonlights as real leather. As an added bonus, they’re machine washable. Because who among us has time for dry cleaning?
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Claire Stern is the Deputy Editor of ELLE.com. Previously, she served as Editor at Bergdorf Goodman. Her interests include fashion, food, travel, music, Peloton, and The Hills—not necessarily in that order. She used to have a Harriet the Spy notebook and isn’t ashamed to admit it.
Let’s play a quick round of Family Feud: Fashion Edition, shall we? If Steve Harvey were to ask, “What’s a quintessential investment piece in every wardrobe?” the top-grossing answer from a stylish pool would likely be a leather jacket.
Leather jackets of all iterations dominated the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 runways, from Khaite to Prada to Saint Laurent. Most fashion folks love their ability to single-handedly punctuate an ensemble, even one as simple as jeans and a T-shirt; as a bonus, the innate ‘idgaf’ attitude they exude is unmatched. As Sandy famously demonstrated when she traded in her girl-next-door persona for a leather motorcycle jacket in “Grease,” the right one can instantly imbue authority, fearlessness and killer sex appeal.
Prada Spring 2023. Photo: ImaxtreeLoewe Fall 2022. Photo: ImaxtreeMiu Miu Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
There are a few routes you can go to procure the right leather jacket for you. I’ve personally gone so far as to enlist the help of The Jacket Maker, a leather-making service offering a customizable step-by-step design process, to bring my visions to life. There’s also Atelier Savas, which offers made-to-measure leather jackets to fit you perfectly.
Bespoke options can be pricey though, and there are no shortage of excellent off-the-rack leather jackets. Although dubbed an “investment piece” for good reason, bargain shoppers and animal lovers can find equally covetable options made from faux or upcycled materials, like those of responsible leather brand Deadwood Studios.
From moto to puffer, Fashionista’s favorite leather jackets for 2023 and beyond are presented below to shop and peruse. (And, once you find your new baby, be sure to care for it wisely!)
Leather Jackets With Shearling
Hefty, cozy and durable, shearling-trimmed leather jackets are the most timely of the bunch given their hygge practicality. On recent snowy escapades, none other than the Jenner sisters have been cycling through this season’s hottest shearling jackets, from rustic Aviators to vintage Alaïas. Professional Hot Girls™ Kendall, Gigi Hadid and Doja Cat covet Simon Miller’s shaggy Penny Lane-esque Jetz coat, so the cropped version feels like a sound investment. And for fans of faux, House of CB’s new-season bomber jacket will stand firm through ever-changing outerwear trends.
Diesel Shearling-Trimmed Leather Jacket, $2,700, available here (sizes XXS-M)
House of CB Fauz Leather Bomber Jacket With Faux Shearling Trim, $239, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Remain Filima Jacket, $1,830, available here (sizes 32-38)
Simon Miller Mini Jetz Jacket, $595, available here (sizes XS-XXL)
Leather Bombers
Oversized bomber jackets took over both Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 runways and the fashion set hastily jumped on board. Relaxed, oversized silhouettes cinched with ribbed-knit cuffs and collars are the sartorial drug of choice at the moment. The Attico and Magda Butrym launched luscious sheepskin renditions while House of CB offers a vegan alternative that equally embodies the 90’s grunge look.
House of CB Larissa Black Vegan Leather Oversized Bomber Jacket, $209, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Magda Butrym Oversized Leather Bomber Jacket, $2,660, available here (sizes 34-42)
The Attico Punk Oversize Leather Bomber Jacket, $2,350, available here (sizes 8-10)
Stand Studio Leather Track Jacket, $725, available here (sizes 2-10)
Leather Puffers
Ah yes, the evergreen puffer coat, an east-coast staple every winter. The whole crew of fashion’s cool girls — Taylor Russell, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner — are all head over heels for Loewe’s Spring 2023 cropped, padded, puffer jacket right now. But we’d be remiss not to mention Aritzia or Stand Studio, two of the most beloved labels for their highly sought-after (and often sold out) quilted leather puffer jackets.
Free People Dolman Quilted Vegan Leather Jacket, $198, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Stand Studio Tatum Faux Leather Puffer Jacket, $545, available here (sizes 4-12)
Super World The Super Puff Shorty (Vegan Leather), $199 (from $275), available here (sizes XXXS-XL)
Nanushka Hide Vegan Leather Puffer Jacket, $445, available here (sizes XS-L)
Leather Varsity Jackets
House of Sunny kickstarted the letterman trend last winter when its buzzy varsity jackets took over Instagram, and they return this season in a batch of new colorways so good that I can’t choose (but if I had to ,the Barbie-core option takes the cake). Also highlighted at Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2023 menswear show, (and previously Versace, Monse & Jeremy Scott), this trend is clearly picking up steam.
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House of Sunny Take a Trip Jacket (vegan leather), £133.60 (from £133.60), available here (sizes XS-XXL)
EB Denim Varsity Jacket, $550, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
LaQuan Smith Leather Varsity Jacket, $5,000, available here (sizes S-L)
Oversized Leather Jackets
If fashion’s hottest runways or “It girls” are any indication, the supersized look will continue to reign supreme well into 2023. The crowd favorites? Del Core renders a larger-than-life aviator silhouette’ Maja Dixdotter of By Malene Birger advocates for a vintage feel and Ronny Kobo unveils the perfect leather topper for her party-ready frocks.
Prada Hooded Leather Jacket, $6,800, available here (sizes 36-40)
Camille Oversized Faux-Leather Jacket, $728, available here (sizes XS-XL)
By Malene Birger Beatrisse Leather Jacket, $1,700, available here (sizes 32-44)
Del Core Boyfriend Leather Biker Jacket, $9,895, available here (sizes 0-10)
Leather Racer Jackets
Few would have put the motorcore trend on their 2022 BINGO cards, except for fans of F21 and Rosalía, of course. The cool kids (see: Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid, and *ahem* Kim Kardashian) have all taken to the sportif look with open arms; suffice it to say, Motomami-core has surpassed micro trend status. Diesel offers a subtle interpretation in sleek black, or get the full race-girl look with House of Sunny’s matching Racer Pants.
Deadwood Racer Jacket, $500, available here (sizes 34-44)
Diesel L-Silvy Jacket, $995, available here (sizes XXS-XL)
House of Sunny The Racer (vegan leather), £210, available here (sizes XS-XXXL)
Kim Shui Black Moto Jacket, $228 (from $325), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Leather Trench Coats
Oozing sex appeal, it-factor and dominance, a long leather coat will get any job done — point blank. The multifaceted style can skew a mélange of ways so approach the trend with your aesthetic goal in mind. Now’s the time to live out your Zoë Kravitz dreams as a Saint Laurent Catwoman in Brandon Blackwood’s ostrich feather-trimmed trench, or in Zadig & Voltaire’s longline blazer style, which feels very “High Fidelity.”
Brandon Blackwood The Sena Trench, $1,100, available here (sizes S-XL)
Good American Faux Leather Trench Coat, $265, available here (sizes XXS/XS-4XL/5XL)
The Row Traviesa Checker Patchwork Leather Coat, $8,900, available here (sizes 4-10)
Veda Crosby 90s Longline Leather Blazer, $448, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Cropped Leather Jackets
The simplest way to elevate a leather jacket is to bare a little midriff. Marc Jacobs takes inspiration from eveningwear with his “ball jacket” while Et Ochs’ version is belted at the waist. Loewe takes ‘cropped’ extra literally with a short-sleeved moto style which, let’s be honest, is a leather jacket-lover’s dream top. Coupled with a coordinating mini moto skirt? A biker-chic moment to die for.
Et Ochs Parker Leather Cropped Jacket, $1,895, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Marc Jacobs Cropped Leather Ball Jacket, $6,410, available here (sizes XS/S-M/L)
Loewe Leather Biker Jacket, $4,750, available here (sizes FR32-42)
Khaite The Cordelia Jacket, $2,800, available here (sizes 0-12)
Leather Blazers
Similar to the trench coat, the tailored blazer jacket is another professional workwear staple that feels extra striking in leather. Victoria Beckham offers a cropped, fitted blazer while Gauchère sent oversized jackets down the Spring 2023 catwalk. Good American offers an affordable faux version, while Autumn Adeigbo’s rich mahogany style can be worn right into the boardroom, and it’s thoroughly sustainable to boot.
Alexander McQueen Grommet Single-Breasted Tailored Leather Blazer Jacket, $6,950, available here (sizes 2-8)
Autumn Adeigbo Faux Leather Blazer, $695, available here (sizes 0-14)
The Giving Movement Cut-Out Pleather Blazer, $125, available here (sizes XS-3XL)
Good American Leather Unisex Blazer, $195, available here (sizes 0-8)
Leather Moto Jackets
Out of all the names in the hat, moto jackets warrant no introduction but, for the history buffs: Using leather in outerwear first originated with shearling-lined aviator silhouettes during World War II, and shortly thereafter, Irving Schott developed the first motorcycle style that still serves as our blueprint today: bulky, durable hyde and heavy silver hardware. Off-White and Wilsons present archetypal options with a classic look and feel. For something edgier — and trust a moto jacket should skew edgy, if nothing else — no one’s nailing punk-themed leather right now quite like Enfants Riches Déprimés, beloved by goth couple Kourtney and Travis.
Enfants Riches Déprimés Rose Print Classic Moto Jacket, $3,950, available here (size M)
Lita by Ciara Oversized Leather Biker Jacket, $598, available here (sizes XS-L)
Wilsons Faux Leather Moto Jacket, $145, available here (sizes XS-XXL)
Off-White Leather Biker Jacket, $2,635, available here (sizes 0-12)
Leather Shackets
A leather boyfriend shirt is both dependable and versatile, making it a fail-safe option for unreliable forecasts come spring showers. Plus, a leather shacket looks just as good with jeans and a baby tee as it does over a mini dress while commuting to cocktail hour. A simple leather polo jacket pairs beautifully with knee-high leather boots and virtually any dainty Reformation dress. Cinch the relaxed shape with a self-tie belt a lá Ksubi or try a bright color via Staud.
Good American Faux Leather Shacket, $170, available here (sizes XXS/XS-4XL/5XL)
Isabel Marant Etoile Berny Shacket (vegan leather), $690, available here (sizes 34-42)
Ksubi Voyager Oversized Leather Shacket, $700, available here (sizes XS-L)
Staud Voyaging Jacket in Moss Vegan Leather, $395, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Embellished Leather Jackets
Strong, stark and powerful, leather jackets are a statement all on their own. But for the bold types, embellished, printed, and sculpted renditions may be just the boost your alter ego needs to make power moves this year. If you’re looking to turn heads, Deadwood’s two-tone diamonds, Akira’s heavy studs, or Other’s painted bones are all very striking, rock n’ roll-approved options.
Deadwood Konnor Jacket, $570, available here (sizes 32-44)
Moschino Abstract-Print Belted Biker Jacket, $3,950, available here (sizes 38-42)
Other Skeleton Deuce Biker Jacket, $925, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
Akira All Out Lucifer Stud Moto Jacket (vegan leather), $189, available here (sizes 1X-3X)
Leather Vests
Between Miu Miu and Raf Simons‘ final show, Spring 2023 collections predict vests will have a big moment in the new year. Leather jackets’ sleeveless counterparts are partially the result of motorsports’ sudden foray into fashion, but they also call to an impending rockstar-core trend which, if you haven’t caught a whiff of it yet, entails lots o’ leather, hardware and animal prints — think “Coyote Ugly” vibes. Take the biker route with Harley Davidson or try a gorp-core-approved tactical vest from Iro Paris.
Deadwood Spector Vest, $320, available here (sizes 34-42)
Harley-Davidson Women’s Avenue Leather Vest, $225, available here (sizes XS-2XL)
Iro Maira Lambskin Sleeveless Jacket, $1,400, available here (sizes 32-36)
Rag & Bone Black Vanessa Vest (vegan leather), $585, available here (sizes 00-8)
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