There are a lot of considerations to keep in mind when choosing the right motorcycle jacket.  Price should not be the first!  Safety should be paramount in your decision.  You can definitely find regular look motorcycle jackets that still have the coolness factor you are looking for but are also safe. 

A safe jacket is going to be on the thicker side of the scale.  A higher quality jacket will be made with one piece of leather for the body.  Avoid jackets that are patch work leather.  Look for a good warranty and scour the internet for reviews by searching Google for information on the brand you are looking at or the company you are thinking of buying from.

People who take the time to find a high quality safe jacket that may have cost $100 more are pretty happy if involved in an accident.  You will always hear them say it could have been much worse but their jacket kept their skin safe.  Sure bones are still going to break in some accidents but preventing as much contact between your skin and the road is the best thing you can do.