Clothing may not be able to talk but there are many items that definitely possess a certain persona. Tweed blazers for example are always going to have the air of country gent about them while baggy t-shirts shall always belong to the angst ridden teen so eager to fight the world by wearing clothes that are two sizes too large.
The clothes we wear on our back are the first indication to others about who we are, what we may do both professionally and personally, as well as signifying what it is we stand for in our political and social leanings. They may not talk in the purest sense of the word but they undoubtedly communicate to the world at large who it is we are.
Possibly the most iconic item of clothing which has a voice all its own is the black leather jacket. A coat that resonates with the outsider, the rebel, the devil-may-care attitude of the punk, the lead singer, the motorcycle gang.
The leather jacket has been portrayed as the rebels jacket since the 1950’s when it appeared on the back of Marlon Brando in the Wild One and since then it has gained a reputation as the coolest jacket worn by the coolest people; think of characters such Rusty James (played by the eternally cool Matt Dillon) in Rumblefish, all that testosterone, sweat and swagger, or bands such as The Ramones or the Sex Pistol with their anger laden lyrics about regaling against the political and social systems of the day.
Fast forward to the modern day and the leather jacket has lost little of its sex appeal. Bands such as the Kings of Leon, The Strokes and The Killers have all strutted across stages the world over in leather jackets, ensuring the limelight is well and truly on this epitome of clothing cool.
All of us like to think we have a bit of the rebel inside us and the black leather jacket gives you the opportunity to feel slightly cooler than we would in say a suit or sweater. We suddenly feel more adventurous in the way we go about our day, there is a daring edge to our step, a more vivid portrayal of our personas. Don a cardigan and you look like you’re off to the library, throw on a leather jacket and you look as though you’re off to burn it down.
However, you don’t have to walk around with a rolled-up cigarette between your chiseled cheekbones and a look of devious intent sparkling in the corner of your eye to wear a leather jacket. Of course, these things help in retaining the rebellious nature it is so often associated with but there are many ways in which to wear this jacket. Here’s a few examples of what to wear with your jacket this season.
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Rock It Out
Nothing quite says cool as much as the colour black and nothing is quite as cool as an all black outfit topped off with a leather jacket. You may not be able to sing like a rock star but a pair of Converse All-Star Hi-Tops, skinny jeans and a black t-shirt all add up to make this the quintessential modern rock-star attire. Oh, and don’t forget the sunglasses for the day after the night before.
East Is East
Ah the East London hipster and their ilk love a leather jacket. Chances are they will be wearing it with a buttoned-up print shirt (no tie of course), a fresh pair of Air Force 1’s and a tapered pair of Japanese selvedge jeans. Add a backpack to carry your Mac Book and this look is set.
Biker
Raw denim, beaten up jacket, t-shirt you bought from a Pistols gig back in the day and a pair of boots that will still be going strong once you’re long dead are the essentials for the biker outfit – you may even wear a denim jacket underneath to ward off the breeze as you power on down the motorway atop your Harley. Ok, so you may not be Easy Rider but we can all dream can’t we?
The Leather Jacket Variety
The leather jacket is a timeless piece, and as explained within this article, can be implemented into a variety of styles. Being a timeless essential, it also means there’s good variety on the market. When purchasing, invest wisely and pay for quality. Pay attention to detailing, good leather and good craftsmanship, as this timeless essential is going to last you years if you purchase right. PVC just doesn’t make the grade.
Conclusion
While it’s us men who do the walking, it is our clothes that do the talking. Never is this so evident than with the black leather jacket, a jacket so cool it has spent the best part of a century stealing the show both on stages and film sets in front of a global audience.
It is a item of clothing to be revered, to held in high esteem and like all good rebels, treated with an air of caution. If you are going to wear a leather jacket, give it the respect it deserves – leave the cardigans and chinos at home and get those scruffy jeans and boots out. If people don’t like it, who cares.
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