Leather elbow patches on tweed jackets - like a university professor. As far as I understand, the patches are to prevent wear on the elbows of the jacket. That is, if the wearer leans on a desk or counter all day. In reality, it's probably just fashion.

yudpray, The coat that you are thinking of is called a sportcoat because it was originally used in England for outdoor sports, mostly hunting. Sometimes these coats have leather patches at the shoulder to protect them against the wood of the gun-stock. Ofent they are reinforced with leather patches at the elbows to protect them against the brush, trees, etc. After WWI these coats became popular in America, mainly at universities and secondary schools, most likely because Americans associated them with the upper class and a superior British education. The patches have no real function today but style....unless of course you wear this coat when hunting. What's is the function of the leather elbow patch on the kind of coat commonly worn by 80's actors? I often saw it in 70s or 80s movies. It's like the coat that Robert De Niro wore in Goodfellas.

Correction: What's the function of some kind of leather coated on the elbow of a coat commonly worn by 80's actors? I saw it many times in 70' or 80' movies. It's like the coat that Robert De Niro wore in Goodfelas. I hope you understand what I mean. thanks for answering and correcting my grammar.