The early 2000s brought us Supernatural, a dark fantasy drama about two brothers who follow in their father's footsteps as hunters - not hunters of animals, but hunters of monsters and demons. After losing their mother to a supernatural force, two brothers were raised by their father as soldiers who track mysterious and demonic creatures. The show followed Dean and Sam Winchester, played by Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, as they fought evil supernatural beings of many kinds, including monsters, demons, and gods that roamed the earth.

The show ran for 15 years, first airing on September 13, 2005, and closing out on November 19, 2020. It brought with it thrilling yet terrifying journeys as the brothers battled for their lives and the lives of others. It kept us on the edge of our seats as they fought with supernatural forces. And it gave us one thing that those of us at Independence Brothers love - an iconic leather jacket look.

Dean Winchester’s leather jacket not only was a crucial part of his look, but it was also more than just a costume. A lot goes into costume design for characters the same way thought goes into what we wear in our everyday lives. Based on their lives and personalities, characters throughout shows have a certain look. Dean’s leather jacket, however, was more than just his look - it held meaning on the show. The jacket belonged to Dean’s father, John Winchester, before it belonged to Dean. While we don’t know how old the leather jacket is, we know it is something that has been passed down and is noted as Dean’s favorite leather jacket. The longevity of a leather jacket and the ability to pass it down to family members or other loved ones is a favorite aspect of leather jackets for those of us here at Independence Brothers.

The jacket is part of Dean from the very beginning. In the show, Dean picks up the leather jacket in the pilot episode off of a pile of clothes his father left behind. The jacket has more history than that though - in season 4, we see a flashback of Dean wearing that leather jacket in high school. His leather jacket is as important to him as his amulet.

The show ran for 15 seasons but sadly, the jacket did not. The jacket makes it to season 6, when forces outside of the show ripped it away from us. As costumes were en route to L.A. from Vancouver, many items were stolen. A promo shoot for season 6 was happening in L.A. Dean’s leather jacket was stolen along with some other costume items along the way. A second leather jacket was made for Dean for season 7 but according to Ackles, although this jacket was specially designed for him, the producers ended up hating the color and production was told to get rid of it. Even though the jacket wasn’t present for the entirety of the show, it left its mark on leather jacket enthusiasts everywhere.

Dean’s leather jacket is a loose fit jacket made of thick leather material. It has open pockets, buttons, and a stand up collar. The jacket appears to be a Wilsons Leather/M.Julian.

Dean was often seen wearing a t-shirt with a casual button-down shirt over it and unbuttoned. His leather jacket over both shirts completed the look. You can follow this look easily. This kind of a look works in casual settings and if the button down is a bit more dressed up, it can be worn in other settings as well.

There are other options for your leather jacket when it comes to styling and wear. Dean’s jacket was worn and weathered as a monster fighter, but your jacket will likely be newer, lending it to being worn for fancier occasions. Whether you are fans of the show, fans of Jensen Ackles, or just fans of the jacket, there are many ways you can style it and occasions you can wear it if you decide that this is the jacket for you:

1. Casual tee- The casual tee look is a classic look for leather jackets, especially with ones that have a loose fit the way the Dean Winchester jacket does. You can wear the leather jacket with jeans and any T-shirt or even a v-neck shirt. You now have the perfect casual fall look. You can complete your look with boots or sneakers, depending on where you are going. The casual tee look works for everyday social activities. During the fall season, this leather jacket is perfect for those in-between temperatures. As it gets colder, you can wear a hoodie underneath your jacket for the same casual feel but a heavier layer to keep you warm.
2. Classy sweater - If the weather drops a bit more and the dress code is a step above a T-shirt, wearing a nice sweater underneath your leather jacket keeps you warmer and dresses up your look. You can have a collared shirt and a tie under your sweater, or it can be a sweater that you wear solo underneath your jacket. For pants, you can wear dark jeans or slacks underneath to complete your outfit. For shoes, you can wear nice boots or dress up sneakers to fully complete the look. This classy, clean look is perfect for going to work or even the holidays that you spend with any loved ones or celebratory gatherings.
3. Dress it up with a button down - If you have somewhere special that you are going for the evening, you can still wear your leather jacket and dress it up. Simply wear a button-down shirt and a tie underneath your leather jacket. If you want to kick it up a notch, you can wear a vest as well. To complete the look, you can wear pants that are either slacks or dress pants. For shoes, dress shoes are perfect. If it gets chilly, don’t forget a nice scarf to keep you warm as you leave the house. This dress up option is perfect for an event that might have a more formal dress code, such as an after-work networking or social event.

Leather jackets are a versatile piece of outerwear. Wearing them does not mean you have to automatically look like a biker - or a monster fighter. They go with many occasions, as long as what you are wearing underneath matches the event’s dress code. The beauty with a jacket similar to Dean’s is that the thicket leather will do an excellent job at protecting you from chillier temperatures and wind. Don’t be afraid to try your leather jacket with other looks as well - the options are endless!

Getting a custom leather jacket is one of our favorite options here at Independence Brothers. It allows you to have a hand at every facet of your jacket, creating and wearing something that is unique to you. There are many reasons why you might choose to go custom.

Two common reasons shoppers get a custom leather jacket is for sizing and for creative purposes. Many people do not fit into standard ready to wear sizes. You want to have a leather jacket that is comfortable and fits you like a second skin. If standard sizing does not work for you, getting a custom jacket allows you to send in your measurements and ensure that the jacket is your true size.

The other reason shoppers go custom is for creative purposes. If the ready to wear jackets don’t speak to you, creating your own leather jacket gives you the ability to create a piece that fits your style and personality. You can choose details, colors, or other aspects that no one else has but you love.

In this case, going custom may not have been your first thought. But it can help you get the Dean Winchester jacket. How so?

While we know what Dean’s leather jacket likely was in regards to designer and other details, it is still an outdated jacket that was used on a TV show. The jacket debuted over 15 years ago. A jacket like this can be difficult to find. While many leather jacket styles are timeless, some are discontinued. If getting a jacket as close to the show’s jacket is important to you, you may want to consider going custom. Going custom allows you to outline to a jacket company exactly what you are looking for with photos of Ackles on the show. You can show the details, look, and design you want. In this way, you can customize your jacket.

There are a variety of leather jacket companies out there that do custom jackets, including Independence Brothers. Custom jackets are our specialty, and we get them to you for an affordable price. Many people think custom items come with heavy price tags, but we work to make sure to give you high quality full grain custom leather jackets at an affordable price point.

Supernatural was a show that took its fans on the journey of a lifetime for 15 years. While it is always sad when a beloved show is no longer on our screens, fans can still look to recreate the iconic Dean Winchester leather jacket look.

Taking something from a beloved show and being able to bring that look into our lives with a leather jacket purchase is just another reason why we love fashion in the form of leather jackets. We hope we were able to help fans of the show, fans of the actor, or fans of the look itself. We hope that this article was helpful in your journey of owning or styling the jacket. If you have any questions about going custom or other leather jacket needs, those of us at Independence Brothers are always ready and eager to answer any questions, start you on your journey, or help in any way we can.

In the end, owning a leather jacket can translate to not only fashion, but a piece or your personality and your history. You can even eventually pass it down to your loved ones, the same way Dean’s favorite jacket came from his father. Happy shopping!

Tell us, readers - are there any other iconic leather jacket looks from shows, events, or movies that you loved? Are there any other leather jacket looks you are curious to know more about? Comment below and let us know. We can recreate more looks together!