The prices below were recorded in 2010 and are given in the currency quoted by each retailer.

In soft, matte, supple light-grey leather, with a fitted shape, a large revere collar and an asymmetric zip, this one ticks every box for a classic biker jacket, yet it looks more feminine than rock. Esprit, €269.

Young Maghrebi woman in a cropped biker jacket in front of a fitting-room mirror

The biker jacket began as kit for motorcyclists. Stylish, yes, but above all functional: stiff leather, reinforced elbows and lining at the collar and chest thanks to the asymmetric fastening, all designed to protect riders if they came off. Today, bikers still have their reinforced versions; the rest of us have ours, and this season the biker jacket has taken over the shops. Leather, certainly, but also denim, faux leather, fine fabric, wool: the biker has branched out.

The biker jacket, buoyed by its success, now comes in all sorts of materials. This mini denim version proves the point, combining style with a wardrobe basic. Esprit, €79.95.

Young woman caring for the patinated leather of her second-hand biker jacket at home
Black jacket with a large shawl collar and mini asymmetric zip, worn over an ivory knit and tailored trousers
The biker jacket as a smarter jacket, to wear with tailored trousers
Mixed-heritage young woman seen from behind in a black motorcycle jacket, hair up

Still at Esprit, the black leather biker jacket has an aged look for authenticity: creased, with a large revere collar, it looks properly rock and is reasonably priced for leather at €199.95. The velvet version with a suede-like finish in anthracite is €99.95.

Thick black leather, silver hardware, a buckle at the hem and a short cut: the Lipsy biker jacket is a motorcycle jacket reworked for the city-dwelling fashion fan. €169 at 3 Suisses.

3 Suisses also has this faux-leather biker jacket with three-quarter sleeves, an officer collar and an asymmetric zip. €69.90.

Black padded biker jacket with wool panels and multiple zips, worn on a winter pavement
Padded version: faux leather, wool and multiple zips
Young Asian woman in profile in a camel suede biker jacket, close-up

Shoulder tabs, decorative zips and a press-stud fastening, all in fabric: this is the Vero Moda biker jacket at ASOS.

A short light-grey suede jacket with three-quarter sleeves and a fitted cut: the LOT78 style, €825 at Net-a-Porter.

Soft leather biker jacket with a large collar, wool sleeves and laced details, worn over a fluid dress
Soft leather, wool on the sleeves and lacing on the arms

Reworked as a smarter jacket with a rock edge, this Topshop style has a large revere collar and a mini asymmetric zip. Wear it with tailored trousers or ripped skinny jeans. For rock chicks, polished dressers and girly types alike. £55.

Short biker jacket in thick black leather with a silver buckle, seen from behind on a street at night
Thick leather, a silver buckle and a short cut: biker attitude

A padded biker jacket for cold winter days, in faux leather and wool with multiple zips. Topshop, £78.

Black wool motorcycle jacket with a double zip and silver straps, worn over a roll-neck
Wool, double zip and buckled straps: a futuristic biker

Another stylised biker jacket at Topshop. 100% wool, with a double zip and silver buckled straps, it is a little futuristic and downright fashionable. £85.

And finally, the luxury Rick Owens biker jacket. Soft, smooth leather; a large revere collar; a mix of leather and wool on the sleeves; laced details on the arms. Expect to pay €1,510 for this trendy biker jacket; ouch, that hurts. At Net-a-Porter.

A rock look without taking a week over it? One strong piece is enough: the biker jacket. Keep the rest of your wardrobe simple (a plain knit, well-cut basics, clean jeans) and let the jacket do all the work.

Young Latina woman in an all-black outfit with biker jacket and boots, full-length in the street
Young Black woman in a black biker jacket walking past a café terrace

Budget

Prices recorded in 2010: expect around €70–€120 for faux leather or a mixed-material style (denim, fabric, wool), the range most of the pieces here fall into. Then prices step up: €150–€270 for entry-level leather with a good cut, €500 and above for a designer suede, and over €1,500 for designer pieces. What really moves the price is the actual material (full-grain leather, suede, faux leather), the finish of the zips and linings, and the brand name. As for where to shop, try major high-street fashion retailers and multi-brand sites for accessible styles, and online resale for genuine leather at a lower price.