A
leather jacket is a
jacket-length
coat that is usually worn on top of other apparel or item of clothing, and made from the
tanned hide of various animals. The leather material is typically
dyed black, or various shades of brown, but a wide range of colors is possible. Leather jackets can be designed for many purposes, and specific styles have been associated with subcultures such as
greasers,
motorcyclists,
military aviators, police, and music subcultures (
punks,
goths,
metalheads,
rivetheads), who have worn the garment for protective or fashionable reasons, and occasionally to create a potentially intimidating appearance.