A men’s leather jacket persistently ignores the change of seasons, times and generations, confidently looking to the future. From year to year it is the choice of sex symbols, rockers, designers and young people. This is an item that unites pilots, punks, bikers, Elvis Presley and Gianni Versace. One of the few elements of a man’s wardrobe with both a reputation for being a rebel and a timeless classic. And this is your secret weapon in the autumn-winter season 2018-2019.
A leather jacket is a long-term and win-win investment
A leather jacket has so many advantages that it is simply impossible not to love it. Hundreds of Hollywood stars, musicians on the world stage and founders of the fashion industry could not resist this passion. What can we say about ordinary city residents? A leather jacket is practical and durable. It’s waterproof, windproof and always fashionable for weather protection. The more you wear it, the more ideally it adapts to your figure, inevitably turning into your favorite thing.
Modern styles of men’s leather jackets
The most popular men’s leather jacket models today come to us from the past. All of them are clothes with a rich history in the form of artful modern transformations.
Aviator or Pilot Jacket
Some consider it the progenitor of leather jackets. The pilot jacket was created during the birth of aviation during the First World War. Airplanes did not yet have protective cabins. In such harsh conditions in the sky, pilots needed an ultra warm and windproof uniform. The first pilot’s flight jackets were made of thick brown leather and were insulated with a turn-down collar and a sheepskin lining. The modern “aviator” is the same insulated men’s leather jacket, which has retained the main features of its predecessor. But more elegant and appropriate in most cases.
Bomber Jacket
Loose fit model with central zip and knitted cuffs. As with the aviator jacket, the appearance of men’s bomber jackets is closely related to flight uniforms. Its original purpose was for bomber pilots of World War II, who required lightweight, streamlined clothing that would not make it difficult to control the aircraft.
Today, the bomber jacket is one of the most versatile and much loved by designers models of men’s jackets, which is preferred by the good majority: from Steve McQueen to Wolverine on the screen, from rockers to passionate pursuers of fashion trends in everyday life.
Biker jacket or biker jacket
Leather jacket with a diagonal zipper, mostly black. In the West, it is still called Perfecto – in honor of the favorite type of cigar of New Yorker Irving Schott, the founder of one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in the USA. It was he who, in 1928, came up with the first motorcycle jacket with a zipper instead of buttons, which we now call a biker jacket or biker jacket.
The biker model of a men’s jacket entered the mainstream in the 50s thanks to Marlon Brando and his starring role in the film “Savage”, and later – members of the punk rock band Ramones, who made biker jackets an integral attribute of their concert image in the 70s.
Until now, the biker jacket has not gotten rid of the image of a brutal Harley Davidson rider, a daring hooligan and a tireless metal head. But designers are steadily bringing it back to the masses, either in more modern or vintage looks, or often in a classic form. Today it goes with most everyday clothes, and some people dare to wear a biker jacket even over a tuxedo.
Racing or motorcycle jacket
The racing jacket is a form-fitting, straight-fit design. Characteristic elements include a stand-up collar with a button or buckle closure and one or more slit pockets with a zipper. Sometimes – quilted details on the shoulders and sleeves. The appearance of the motorcycle jacket is associated with the Cafe Racer motorcycle movement, which was born in London in the 60s. These were short racing sessions on bikes among visitors to local cafes and pubs. The name of the café racer was given not only to the racing participants, but also to the special design of high-speed motorcycles, and then to a leather jacket, which is still in demand today.
Military style jacket or M-65
Another men’s model with a military background and more than 50 years of history. Originally a field jacket for American soldiers who fought in Vietnam. Then it was army clothing made of cotton and poplin with an elongated silhouette, patch pockets and a central zipper, a hidden placket with buttons.
Modern interpretations of M-65 can be found in the collections of leading manufacturers of sports and leather outerwear. On screen, Shvonder sported a military-style leather jacket in “Heart of a Dog.” And in the last decade, similar models appeared on Brad Pitt in the role of Benjamin Button, in “Inglourious Basterds”, “The Dark Knight” and many other sensational film hits.
Which leather jacket to choose
Most of the leather jackets you can find in stores today are time-modified and designer versions of the models described above. You definitely can’t go wrong with your choice if you buy a men’s jacket in one of the styles mentioned.
