Wild at Heart | Vintage 1980s Jeanette for St. Martin Sequin Leopard Moto Jacket

Equal parts glamour and rebellion, this extraordinary vintage Jeanette for St. Martin jacket takes the classic motorcycle silhouette and transforms it into something altogether more decadent.

The richly embroidered leopard-patterned ground is scattered with hundreds of glossy black sequins, creating a dimensional surface that catches the light with every movement. Heavy antiqued brass-tone zippers slice across the front in true moto-jacket fashion, while strong shoulders and a cropped silhouette give the piece unmistakable 1980s attitude.

At the sides, adjustable belt tabs with D-ring hardware can be tightened to cinch the waist, dramatically changing the silhouette from relaxed to sharply defined. Even the sleeves are finished with functional zipper detailing, an unexpected counterpoint to all that shimmer.

Why We Love It

It is unapologetic, glamorous, a little dangerous— There is something irresistible about a piece that refuses to choose between tough and glamorous. The proportions are borrowed from a biker jacket, but instead of leather, Jeanette for St. Martin covered the entire surface in embroidered leopard pattern and sequins.

Details

Jeanette for St. Martin
Era: Circa 1980s
Vintage size: Small
Leopard-pattern embroidered textile
Allover black sequin embellishment
Asymmetrical moto-style front zipper
Antiqued brass-tone heavy zipper hardware
Zippered front pockets
Zipper detail at sleeves
Adjustable side waist tabs with D-ring hardware
Structured shoulder pads
Black satin lining
Cropped silhouette

Measurements

Shoulders: 18 inches
Pit to pit: 20 inches
Sleeve: 23 inches
Length: 19 inches

Please compare measurements with a garment you already own for best fit.

Condition - Good

Collector’s Notes

Jeanette for St. Martin is particularly associated with the unapologetically embellished eveningwear of the 1980s, with surviving pieces ranging from densely sequined jackets and dresses to novelty and highly decorative statement garments. Current vintage listings show that the label's more unusual jackets—especially heavily embellished, novelty, and animal-print examples—are among the pieces sellers position at the upper end of the Jeanette for St. Martin market.

This jacket is a wonderful example of what made that era so visually fearless. Animal print had long carried associations with glamour and exoticism, but here it is pushed into full 1980s excess: embroidered texture, black sequins, exaggerated shoulders, and industrial moto hardware all competing for attention—and somehow working beautifully together.