How to Wear a Moto Jacket at Any Age

A moto jacket adds a youthful, edgy touch to whatever you pair it with. But if you can’t help thinking it will leave you looking like an aging biker, you probably don’t realize all the choices out there.

Here are 3 popular styles that make it easy to wear a moto jacket at any age and feel confident.

1. The Classic Black Moto Jacket – Is it for You?

This style of jacket instantly comes to mind when you think of a moto jacket. It’s black, leather, rock n’roll, and on the tough side.

How to wear it? Black leather can be challenging to wear after 40.  If it feels too biker gang for you, no worries. A little less hardware can make all the difference. Or, try a different color.

For example, this brown leather moto jacket is friendlier and more approachable than inky black leather.

Burgundy is also more welcoming. It’s richer than red,  not as harsh as black, and always looks sophisticated. The hardware is minimal and very subtle, making it easy to wear.

Have a look at my favorite  burgundy leather moto jacket and how I styled it.

2. Opt for a Suede Moto Jacket

If you prefer a more feminine look, a suede biker jacket is softer and more inviting, especially in a pastel color.

How to Wear it?  Pair it with gray, a popular neutral this fall, and your favorite jeans. A wine-colored bag adds it, making it less girly and more mature.

3. Try a Fabric Moto Jacket

Leather and Faux Leather are not everyone’s cup of tea. So, if you want the hip, cool look of a leather moto jacket without the rebellious vibe,  try a fabric moto jacket.  This cute black and white check one is much more conservative and will give you a “biker lite” look.

If this cloth moto jacket looks familiar, it’s because I posted about it before but styled it in a very different way.

Last time I went with a red crewneck sweater and bootcut flare blue jeans. Today I wanted to show you what it looks like with black suede skinny jeans, high boots, and a white turtleneck sweater.

This is a classic, elegant version of your typical moto jacket.  You’ve still got the style of a moto jacket with the cropped length, notched lapels, and zip cuffs,  but the fabric and print make it softer and more approachable.

It has a traditional check print in black and white, which is nice because it works with pretty much everything. And the fabric is soft, nubby, and textured, which brings warmth and friendliness to the biker vibe. Plus, here’s a bonus, you can handwash this cloth moto jacket and hang it dry, which is very handy.

I love this textured moto jacket with these skinny black jeans, or you could wear leggings. Tuck them into a pair of sleek black boots for a striking, sophisticated look.

I added my favorite red Gucci bag to this outfit to add some punch.  This chic fabric moto jacket is a great addition to your wardrobe, especially since most women already have black jeans, a white sweater, and black boots.

I always like to pop my collar a bit. It’s a small thing to do, but it makes a big difference. The turned-up collar frames your face and gives your outfit a sporty, energetic look. And don’t we want energetic, because energetic is youthful!

With a tweed biker jacket like this one (or the blue plaid jacket I wore in the fall ), I prefer bootcut flare jeans because they are dressy and figure-flattering. I like how the flare balances with the wide shoulder the jacket creates, giving me more of an hourglass figure.

It was cold the day I shot this outfit, but I removed my jacket and threw it over my shoulders to show you how a little thing like this can make you look so chic.

I’m wearing my favorite booties, the ones with the gold heel, that I wore with my purple blazer a while back. If you are going to wear flare jeans, please don’t wear flats. You will look like you stubby and like you are drowning in your flares. You need a heel to show off the shape of the jeans and make your legs go on for miles. These gold-heeled Michael Kors booties add a touch of glam!

Do you like this look? This is one of the best tweed jackets I’ve seen in a while! I’ve posted all the links above, and I’ve also linked some similar jackets below because I’m seeing this style of jacket everywhere. Black and white go with everything, and it’s the perfect jacket to take you into spring. Let me know if you get one, and please send me a photo of how you style it.

I’ve put all the shop details above, and if you do buy it, be sure to join my Private Facebook group and post a photo there. I’d love to see how you style this cool cloth moto jacket!

Meet the author

Deborah Boland

Deborah, a former Fashion & Lifestyle TV host and Image Consultant, understands the style challenges women face in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. As the founder of Fabulous After 40, she helps women tweak their chic and embrace fashion with confidence—so they always look and feel amazing.

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