I can remember getting my first leather jacket so clearly, even though it was a long time ago. It was a huge moment for me — one that quietly set me on a lifelong love affair with leather clothing.
I was nearly sixteen, so the year was 1982, and I was living in London. I’d been going out with my then-boyfriend for almost a year. He was about three years older than me and very much in his bad boy phase — something I found impossibly exciting at the time.
He introduced me to all sorts of grown-up mischief: drinking cider until I felt sick, the rebellious thrill of smoking, and discovering intimacy that went far beyond innocent kissing. His image was sealed by two things — his motorbike and the black leather jacket he wore everywhere. Naturally, I wanted one too.
Camden Market
That Sunday, like so many others, we headed to Camden Market. Even now, Camden still feels familiar, but back then it was different — less crowded, more music stalls, fewer food smells competing for attention.
My sixteenth birthday was just around the corner, and I already knew what I wanted him to buy me. Among the many clothing stalls were several selling leather, and one in particular specialised in coats and biker jackets. Some were brand new, others second-hand, and I immediately gravitated towards the older ones.
The worn leather, the creases, the slight dullness — they looked lived in. They had stories. And selfishly, they made me look like I’d been wearing leather for years already.
I tried on several jackets. Each one felt different: the weight, the cut, the smell. Some were heavy and thick, designed purely for warmth and protection. Others were light and flimsy, more fashion than function. And then there were the ones that moved with me — not too heavy, not restrictive, just right. I didn’t know it then, but I was already learning about different types of leather.
What surprised me most was how I felt the moment I pulled one on.
Confident. Powerful. Sexy. Cool.
All at once.
The Perfect Black Leather Biker Jacket
Then I found the one.
The perfect black leather biker jacket — for me.
It fitted beautifully, even fully zipped, which mattered because even back then I had a generous chest. It had a bold silver zip running from collar to waist, silver stud buttons on the collar, pockets, and sleeves, and a wide black leather belt with a heavy silver buckle.
I felt incredible in it. Honestly, like the sexiest woman alive.
That jacket changed the way I saw myself.
All these Years later, I still gravitate towards classic black leather biker jackets with silver hardware — the kind that feel structured, powerful, and timeless.
A Jacket for Life
My boyfriend didn’t really have a choice — he could see I was completely in love. He probably thought that love was directed at him, when in truth I’d fallen head-over-heels for my first leather jacket.
He was thanked very enthusiastically that night.
That jacket stayed with me for years and became a permanent part of my wardrobe — and my identity. Even now, a leather biker jacket is the first thing I reach for when I’m putting an outfit together.
Some things never leave you.
This was the beginning. The confidence that came later deserved its own story…
→ link to Coming Out in My Leathers
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