Distressed to Success—Worn-In Leather Jackets Are All the Rage

You can walk into just about any major vintage or secondhand store and come across this item, however, you might not have thought to until recently. The leather jacket of the moment has a new look and feel, which in reality is actually an old look and feel. Ever since Prada’s vintage-inspired biker jacket first walked the Spring Summer 2022 show, ultra-worn-in, distressed leather jackets have become the more relevant and sought-after choice. Tastemakers and street style stars can’t seem to get enough of the weathered “used” look; we’ve seen it pop up in each city this fashion month beginning in Copenhagen.

This idea of something already possessing wear and tear or being pre-owned is a theme we’re seeing across the accessories market too. Givenchy’s latest shoulder bag, for example, is so soft and slouchy, it appears to have been tucked under someone’s arm for seasons already. Not to mention, the leather itself is described as “tumbled.” Meanwhile, Miu Miu’s latest shoulder bag is made from leather that appears rugged, with brown and sand tones of leather throughout. Even Bottega Veneta is offering a crinkled leather option among their otherwise pristine selection of intrecciato leather. 

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Photo: Armando Grillo / Gorunway.com

Last night at the Saint Laurent Fall 2023 show in Paris, Anthony Vacarello showed his own iteration of the worn-in leather jacket, making it clear that these broken-in, oversized, leather pieces with a vintage patina aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.