The Best Leather Jacket Colours for Men (and What to Wear Them With)

For most men, black or dark brown is the right first leather jacket colour: black is sharp and goes with almost everything, while brown is warmer and easier to wear casually in daylight. Once you have one of those, burgundy, dark green, tan and grey all make practical second jackets that still work with everyday clothes. Below we go through each colour, what to wear it with and which jacket shapes suit it.

Quick answer: leather jacket colours compared

Colour	Look	Wear it with	How easy to style
Black	Sharp and classic, day and night	Grey, white, navy, black or blue denim	Very easy
Dark brown	Warm and relaxed	Blue jeans, cream, olive, navy knits	Very easy
Tan	Lighter and outdoorsy, ages visibly	Indigo denim, white, navy, grey	Easy
Burgundy	Rich but still dark	Grey, navy, cream, denim, black	Easy
Dark green	Distinctive and earthy	Cream, stone, grey, denim, brown boots	Moderate
Light grey	Smart, close to tailoring	White shirts, navy, charcoal, fine knits	Moderate

Black: the one that goes with everything

Black is the classic for good reasons. It hides wear, looks right in the evening as well as during the day, and pairs with almost every other colour in your wardrobe. It also suits the sharpest jacket shapes. A black leather café racer has the clean, minimal lines that black leather shows off well, while the Harrington full-grain leather blouson in onyx black is a softer, more everyday option.

What to wear with a black leather jacket:

• A white or grey T-shirt with dark blue or black jeans for the classic look.
• A grey or navy knit with chinos when you want it a little smarter.
• All black, as long as you mix textures, such as a matt knit under smooth leather.
• Black or dark brown boots, or white trainers to keep it casual.

The one thing to watch is mid-brown accessories. A black jacket with tan shoes and a tan belt can look unplanned, so keep shoes and belts dark.

Brown and tan: easier in daylight

Brown is warmer and more relaxed than black and tends to look more natural with casual daytime clothes. Darker browns are almost as versatile as black, and they sit especially well with blue denim, cream, olive and navy. The men's brown leather racer jacket is a streamlined way into brown, with a minimal collar and a slim body.

Tan is the lighter end of brown. It looks more outdoorsy and changes the most over time, darkening and softening into a patina as you wear it. If you like a jacket that shows its history, The Heritage tan calfskin leather jacket is made for exactly that.

• Pair brown with indigo jeans, white or cream T-shirts and navy or ecru knitwear.
• Brown suede boots or brown leather shoes tie the outfit together.
• Avoid matching jacket and trousers in the same brown; some contrast looks better.

Burgundy and dark green: the next step

If you already own black or brown, a deeper colour is the natural next jacket. Burgundy is dark enough to wear every day but shows a hint of colour in daylight. It works with grey, navy, cream and denim, and even with black. Try the structured men's burgundy leather jacket, or the deep burgundy full-grain leather Harrington for a more casual shape.

Dark green is a little more unusual but behaves almost like a neutral. It looks good with cream, stone, grey and mid-blue denim, and with brown boots rather than black. The men's dark green leather Harrington jacket is a simple shape that lets the colour do the work.

With both colours, keep the rest of the outfit quiet. One coloured piece is plenty, and plain neutrals around it make it look deliberate rather than loud.

Grey and lighter colours: leather worn like tailoring

Lighter leather sits closer to smart clothing than to biker gear. A light grey leather blazer can stand in for a wool jacket over a white or pale blue shirt, a fine merino knit or a roll neck. Pair it with navy, charcoal or black trousers and simple leather shoes or clean white trainers. Lighter colours show marks more readily than black, so a little regular care is worth it; our care guide covers the basics.

Suede colours: mocha, brown and tan

Suede changes how a colour looks. Its matt surface makes browns appear warmer and softer, which is why brown suede is such an easy jacket to wear with denim and knitwear. The men's mocha suede shirt jacket works buttoned as an overshirt in spring or open over a jumper in autumn, and the men's brown suede trucker jacket is a western-inspired take on the denim jacket shape. If you are torn between finishes, read our guide to suede vs leather jackets.

How to choose your colour

• Start with your wardrobe. If you mostly wear navy, grey and denim, black and brown both work. If you wear a lot of black, choose black or burgundy. If you wear earthy colours, brown, tan or green will sit better.
• Think about where you will wear it. Black suits evenings and city wear; brown and suede feel more natural at weekends and in the countryside.
• Match the colour to the shape. Sharp shapes like café racers and bikers suit black; relaxed shapes like truckers and shirt jackets suit brown and suede. Our guide to biker vs café racer jackets helps you choose the shape.
• Consider contrast. Very dark colours give strong contrast against most skin tones and hair colours; tan and lighter browns are gentler. Neither is a rule, just a way to narrow it down.

FAQs

What is the most versatile leather jacket colour for men?

Black, closely followed by dark brown. Black works with almost any colour and at any time of day. Dark brown is nearly as flexible and often looks more natural with casual daytime clothes, especially blue jeans.

Can you wear a brown leather jacket with black jeans?

Yes. It works best with a darker brown and a simple top in white, grey or cream. Keep your shoes brown or black and avoid a third strong colour, so the outfit still looks connected.

Is a burgundy leather jacket too bold?

Not usually. A deep burgundy reads as a dark colour from a distance and only shows its warmth up close or in sunlight. Wear it with grey, navy, denim or black and it looks as easy as brown.

Does a tan leather jacket get darker over time?

Yes. Tan leather gradually darkens and softens with wear, light and conditioning, building a patina. If you want a colour that stays exactly as it arrived, black or dark brown will change less.

Every jacket we make is real leather or real suede, made to order after you buy it, and made to measure costs nothing extra: just send us your shoulder, sleeve, chest and length measurements. Browse every colour in our men's leather jackets, or check the size guide before you order.