9 Costumes You Can Make With a Leather Jacket
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A leather jacket has been the uniform of rebels for seventy years: greasers, bikers, punks, rock stars and fighter pilots. If you own one, you’ve got the hardest piece of a dozen costumes.
Each idea here uses the jacket as the base and adds a few pieces. Most take under twenty minutes.
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1. 1950s Greaser
The original leather-jacket costume. A greaser needs a white tee, cuffed jeans and slicked hair.
How to do it: Leather jacket with the collar up, a fitted white T-shirt, dark cuffed jeans, boots and a pompadour held with pomade. Comb in the back pocket.
Worth buying: strong-hold pomade.
2. Punk
Studs, patches and safety pins. A leather jacket is the heart of every punk costume.
How to do it: Pin patches and safety pins all over the jacket, then add a ripped tee, plaid pants or ripped jeans, combat boots and spiked hair.
Worth buying: a pack of punk patches.
3. 80s Rock Star
Big hair, leather and attitude. The 80s hair-metal look is loud and fun.
How to do it: Leather jacket over a band tee or no shirt, tight black jeans, a bandana, lots of bracelets and teased hair sprayed huge. Aviators help.
Worth buying: a big-hair rock wig.
4. Biker
Leather jacket, boots and a bandana. A biker is easy, tough and comfortable.
How to do it: Leather jacket, black tee, jeans, heavy boots, fingerless gloves, a bandana on the head and dark sunglasses. A wallet chain is a nice touch.
Worth buying: fingerless leather gloves.
5. Fighter Pilot
A brown leather bomber jacket is the start of a classic fighter pilot. It’s one of the best-looking costumes for guys.
How to do it: Brown leather bomber jacket, a green or khaki flight suit or khaki pants, aviator sunglasses, a white scarf and name patches.
Worth buying: classic aviator sunglasses.
6. Cyborg
The movie robot in a black leather jacket is iconic. Half your face is human, half is machine.
How to do it: Black leather jacket, black tee, black pants, boots and dark sunglasses. Use silver and red makeup to paint metal plating and a glowing red eye on one side of your face.
Worth buying: silver metallic face paint.
7. Rock Star
Any rock-and-roll era works: leather jacket, tight jeans and a guitar.
How to do it: Leather jacket over a tank top or band tee, skinny jeans, boots, a lot of eyeliner and messy hair. Carry a guitar or a microphone.
Worth buying: an inflatable guitar.
8. Modern Vampire
Skip the cape. A vampire in a leather jacket is the sleek, modern take.
How to do it: Black leather jacket, black clothes, pale foundation, dark eyes, red-tinted lips and fangs. Slick your hair back. Sunglasses indoors.
Worth buying: custom-fit vampire fangs.
9. 1950s Girl Gang
The girls’ version of the greaser look is one of the best group costumes there is.
How to do it: Leather or satin jacket, a fitted black top, cuffed jeans or capri pants, a high ponytail with a neck scarf, cat-eye eyeliner and red lipstick.
Worth buying: a 50s neck scarf.
Leather Jacket Costume Tips
Faux leather works just as well. Thrift stores are full of them, and you can add pins and patches to one without guilt.
Black for punks, greasers and vampires. Brown for pilots and bikers.
Pin, don’t sew. Safety pins and clip-on studs come off cleanly if it’s your everyday jacket.
Need more ideas? Browse the full costume encyclopedia from A to Z, or see our 10 last-minute costumes you can make tonight.
Leather Jacket Costume FAQ
What costume can I make with a black leather jacket?
A greaser, punk, 80s rock star, biker, cyborg, rock star or modern vampire.
What costume works with a brown leather jacket?
A fighter pilot or a biker.
What’s the easiest leather jacket costume?
A 1950s greaser. White tee, cuffed jeans and slicked-back hair.
What group costume works with leather jackets?
A 1950s gang, a punk band or a biker crew.
Free: The Last-Minute Costume Cheat Sheet
Ten costumes you can make tonight, mostly from your own closet. One page, printable, plus a short email before each costume season. No spam.
