Welcome to Vintage to Vogue, which sees the Vogue team take on a different trend or occasion each month and show you how to shop it second-hand.
Ask any seasoned vintage shopper, and chances are they will have a comprehensive second-hand wish list on the go at any given moment. Some pieces will address a seasonal need – a winter boot or summer dress – while other, more specialist items will sit there for many months, years even, in the hope they will one day materialise in an obscure charity shop or vintage market. It’s these needles in the haystack that are always the most satisfying to source.
For the last 12 months, the motocross jacket has been my own second-hand holy grail. Ever since I saw the style spike – first in vintage form on Camille Charriere’s Instagram feed, and then in KNWLS’s autumn/winter 2022 collection – I knew it would be one of the (very few) concessions I would make to the Noughties trend this year. And clearly, I’m not alone. Just last week Depop reported that internet searches for motocross jackets have increased by 40 per cent and motorcycle jackets by 89 per cent. Meanwhile A-listers including Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, along with countless influencers, have been worshipping at the altar of this same throwback jacket style, wearing oversized styles and cropped, colour pop versions.
The sporty stripe motocross jacket seems to be the style of choice for the fashion crowd, and there are plenty of options out there that tick that box. But I knew I wanted a more pared-back version – preferably in black leather and unadorned. A few weeks ago I finally stumbled across the perfect style in Cow Vintage in Covent Garden: an actual motorbike jacket that was tucked away in the men’s department. It was just the right amount of oversized, and cropped enough to sit nicely with mid-rise jeans. The heavy-duty fabric, meanwhile, made it clear that it would last for many years to come. And best of all? It came in at less than £100.
My main takeaway from my search? This is a jacket trend that lends itself perfectly to buying second-hand. All our favourite resale sites – from Vestiaire Collective and Lampoo to Hardly Ever Worn It and Etsy – are brimming with tempting iterations, all at reasonable prices. So if you are thinking of investing in a motocross jacket this season, consider purchasing a pre-loved piece before defaulting to buying new.
Finding the perfect vintage style requires some research, however we’ve done the hard work for you and sourced 14 motocross jackets that will instantly elevate your 2023 wardrobe. Scroll down to see and shop our wishlist.
