Paris is one of the best cities in Europe to buy a leather jacket, but the choice is wide and the price range is confusing. This guide covers what you need to know before you go: the different kinds of shops, French sizing, tax refunds, and whether you can walk out with a jacket the same day.
Four kinds of places to buy a leather jacket in Paris
Department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, both in the 9th arrondissement, carry several brands under one roof. Convenient if you want to compare labels quickly, though staff are rarely leather specialists and prices include a retail margin.
Fashion chains have stores across the Marais, Saint-Germain and the Grands Boulevards. Most jackets here sit between 400 and 900 €, usually in lamb or sheep leather. Easy to try on, limited advice on the leather itself.
Heritage leather houses are long-established French brands with their own stores. Strong identity, often motorcycle-inspired cuts, prices from around 600 € upwards.
Direct-from-workshop showrooms sell their own production without a retail network. Fewer models on display, but you get to handle the leather, talk to the person who makes the jacket, and pay less for a comparable product. Most work by appointment.
French sizes for men's jackets
French jacket sizing uses even numbers, which confuses most visitors. Rough equivalents:
| France | UK / US | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 34 | 44 |
| 46 | 36 | 46 |
| 48 | 38 | 48 |
| 50 | 40 | 50 |
| 52 | 42 | 52 |
| 54 | 44 | 54 |
These are indications only. Leather jackets are cut close to the body, and two centimetres across the shoulders change the way a jacket sits. Always check the measurements given for each size rather than relying on the label, and try the jacket on with the kind of layer you plan to wear underneath.
Can you walk out with a jacket the same day?
It depends on the shop. Department stores and fashion chains hold stock, so yes, subject to your size being available. Workshops that make to order usually need four to six weeks, which means shipping the jacket to you after your trip. Some places offer both: a small ready-to-wear range you can take away, and a made-to-order service.
If you want to leave with the jacket, say so when you book or when you walk in, and ask what is available in your size before making the trip across town.
Tax refund for visitors from outside the EU
If you live outside the European Union, you can claim back part of the VAT on purchases made during your stay, above a minimum spend per shop on the same day. The shop issues a tax-free form, which you validate at the airport before leaving the EU, with the goods and your passport. Refund rates vary by operator, and not every shop takes part in the scheme, so ask before you buy. Current thresholds and procedures are published by the French customs administration.
When to come
France has two official sale periods, in January and in late June, each lasting four weeks. Outside those, discounts on leather are uncommon.
Autumn is the busiest season for leather, with the widest choice in store. If you want time and attention rather than a crowd, avoid Saturday afternoons and the weeks before Christmas.
Where to find leather shops in Paris
The 9th arrondissement combines department stores on Boulevard Haussmann with the covered passages just north of the Grands Boulevards. Passage Verdeau and Passage Jouffroy, both built in the 1840s, are worth walking through in their own right.
The Marais, in the 3rd and 4th, has the highest concentration of fashion stores and is open on Sundays, unlike much of the city.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in the 6th, leans towards established and luxury labels.
Our showroom
Atelier Bertrand is a leather jacket workshop founded in 2015, with a showroom at 31 passage Verdeau, in the 9th arrondissement. We sell directly, with no retail network in between.
Ready-to-wear jackets are 990 €, in full-grain lamb nappa from the French tannery Bodin Joyeux, in sizes 44 to 54, available to take away the same day. Made-to-order jackets are 1,470 €, produced in our Paris workshop in four to six weeks, with more than 120 colours and sizes up to 62. Visits are by appointment, and we speak English. Book a visit or see the jackets in stock.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy a leather jacket in Paris?
Department stores in the 9th arrondissement, fashion chains in the Marais and Saint-Germain, heritage leather brands, and direct-from-workshop showrooms. Each offers a different balance of choice, advice and price.
Are leather jackets cheaper in Paris?
Not automatically. What Paris offers is access to French tanneries and workshops, and the option of buying directly from a maker, which removes the retail margin.
What is my size in French jacket sizing?
Add 10 to your UK or US jacket size: a 40 is a French 50. Check the measurements for each size rather than relying on the label alone.
Can I get a VAT refund on a leather jacket in France?
If you live outside the EU and meet the minimum spend, yes. The shop issues a tax-free form that you validate at the airport before leaving the EU. Ask the shop beforehand, as participation is not universal.
Do Paris shops open on Sunday?
Many stores in the Marais open on Sundays. Elsewhere, Sunday opening is limited, and smaller workshops are generally closed. Check before you plan your day.
How long does a made-to-order leather jacket take?
Usually four to six weeks, so it will be shipped to you after your trip. If you want to leave with the jacket, look for a shop holding ready-to-wear stock.