The biker jacket has been ‘owned’ by virtually every subculture that has ever existed, which is tantamount to its great design. It’s hard not to look good in a leather biker – it’s flattering, cropped cut screams masculinity and effortless cool.
The greaser culture of the 1950s and 1960s was arguably when the biker jacket earned notoriety, largely thanks to Marlon Brando and his Schott Perfecto that he wore in The Wild One (1953). That jacket would actually find itself banned from many sales outlets in the UK and the USA due to its rebellious connotations.
Naturally, it then became the blueprint for the punk movement, where it was invariably individualised with badges and patches. For Saint Laurent’s AW14 collection, Hedi Slimane took a trip down punk lane, showing biker jackets replete with studs, contrast lapels and animal print chest panels that were accompanied by stove-pipe jeans or leather pants.
In London, Adrien Sauvage’s leather biker jackets came in textured black or beige, with the collection even including a sleeveless version, while Ada + Nik pushed boundaries in true punk fashion with a leather biker jacket containing a hidden pocket for e-cigarettes.
But perhaps our favourite looks were found in Belstaff’s SS15 collection, shown at Milan Fashion Week earlier this year. Of course, we’ve come to expect exquisite motorcycle jackets from this most quintessential of British brands, but this time round they infused the leather with badges and studs in a nod to youth punk culture:
Further Lookbook Inspiration
