Dear Belle,

Thank you for the post last week on casual clothes for work.  Could you suggest a leather or faux-leather jacket that isn’t cropped?  I’d like to spend less than $175, but everything I’ve found in that price range is way too short.  

Abbi

In that price point, you’re looking at faux-leather or vegan-leather as some retailers like to call it.  Like with any synthetic material, there are good quality pieces and substandard pieces.  So when shopping for leather-like materials, pay attention to thickness and feel.  You want a material that is soft and pliable, not hard and plastic-y to the touch.  You also want a material that isn’t too thin, it should have some weight to it.

While I can’t tell you whether these jackets pass the feel test, they do look like good options.  So give them a try, and see if they live up to expectations.

Blank Denim Vegan Leather and Ponte Jacket ($92) // Forever 21 Street Chic Moto Jacket ($25) // BB Dakota Johs Leather Jacket ($118)

Leather Accents.  To get a leather look without being awash in faux leather, I like jackets with leather accents of leather sleeves.  This jacket from Blank denim has a cool slouchy look with a shawl collar.  I also like this Mango jacket with leather appliqués, and this chocolate-brown Carmen Marc Valvo blazer with leather sleeves.  Plus-size? DKNY makes a shawl collar blazer with faux-leather sleeves.

Burgundy Leather.  The great thing about colored leather is that no one expects it to be of sublime quality.  It’s a trend piece, a fashion item, it’s supposed to look good.  This Forever21 jacket is definitely worth a look at less than the cost of a Happy Hour bar tab.  This INC stand collar jacket with quilted details is a nice-looking piece.  I also found this Blank denim option with zipper details.  And plus-size ladies should check out this Modcloth See You Maroon jacket.

Not feeling burgundy?  I also found this quilted white jacket from Zara or this Sam Edelman navy jacket with a studded collar.

Brown Leather Jackets are my personal favorite.  I prefer the autumnal colors to the harshness of black.  This New York & Co. jacket with a slight peplum is kind of interesting.  And this collarless Charter Club jacket in a medium tan is a versatile piece at a good price.

You can also found leather or faux-leather jackets on Bluefly for a good price.  They stock a number of great leather jackets in the mid-300s price point.  I’m especially fond of this shawl collar Elie Tahari jacket.