A leather jacket is not a year-round piece, but it is a wardrobe essential for many a TV heroine. There’s no better accessory when you have mysteries to solve, crime to fight and worlds to save—even if you live in sunny California or the blistering cold of Canada. Academics and fashion theorists say that leather gives off a “masculine” vibe and no matter how much butt these women kick, they still live under the Patriarchy, so they’ve gotta show they’re tough, right?
To celebrate some of our favorite super gals this International Women’s Day, let’s take a look back at some of their best leather jackets:
1. Sarah Manning, Orphan Black
Black is the color of choice for street-smart loner Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany), who is tasked with solving a massive clone conspiracy. Though this shorter zippy number seems to be a fan fave, my favorite is this looser, hip-length jacket, because, well, it looks like something a detective might wear.
2. Buffy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy Anne Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar} saved the world. A lot. The Southern California native probably didn’t need to wear her “quintessential fight look — leather jacket, low-cut top, push-up bra, her cross pendant,” but aren’t we glad she did? This long red trench is particularly iconic.
20th Century Fox
3. Rosa Diaz, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Detective Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) is the resident “tough guy” of her Brooklyn precinct. She doesn’t let people in easily and wears her closet full of leather like armor. This red-hooded zip-front biker jacket is my favorite because it perfectly reflects her closed-off nature.
4. Max Guevara, Dark Angel
Super soldier-chimera Max Guevara’s (Jessica Alba) wears black as she takes down the government that bred her. Naturally, Max preferred motorcycle jackets, but this one, with its somewhat asymmetrical closure, remains my favorite.
5. Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars
Teenager-turned-adult PI Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) has a lot to deal with—the murder of her best friend, rape—and an unnecessary fourth season. All sadness aside, Bell looks great in bright colors, which is why I’ve chosen this rich green jacket as my favorite
6. Clarke Griffin, The 100
Being a teenager is hard, especially if you’re Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor)—one of 100 teenagers sent back to Earth after nuclear disaster—for being considered “delinquents.” While I do love this waist length quilted piece, Clarke’s leather trench takes the cake. It’s perfectly apocalyptic.
7. Sarah Lance, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
As a former member of the league of assassins, a member of team arrow, the first vigilante, the leader of Legends, and the captain of Waverider, Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) has her hands full. I’ve chosen her iconic White Canary jacket because really, what else?
8. Wynonna Earp, Wynonna Earp
Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano) is the last in the Earp line—a family cursed with the task of killing criminals who resurrect over and over again. Sometimes she does that wearing her leather jacket over just a bralette in the middle of the Canadian winter. But, she wears it well. Her little fringed jacket even has its own Twitter account.
SyFy
Happy Women’s Day!
- Millennial Misremembers: HEY ARNOLD! - September 24, 2023
- Book Review: DARK MOON, SHALLOW SEA - September 21, 2023
- Book Review: 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED - September 21, 2023
