For decades, the moto jacket has a bad boy kind of reputation, rightfully so. According to a brief history on the garment,
“The Leather Motorcycle Jacket reached iconic status when Marlon Brando wore one in his portrayal of Johnny Strabler’s character in the 1953 movie “The Wild One”, based on a short story by Frank Rooney’s entitled “The Cyclist’s Raid”.
Two years later, “Rebel Without a Cause” staring James Dean, was released. The film and Dean’s subsequent death in an auto accident, sealed the connection, in the public mind, between speed, danger, rebellion, and the black leather motorcycle jacket.
The movie’s success ushered in an era where the motorcycle and the leather jacket began to be identified with the rebellious youth, especially in America.
In the 1950s and ’60s black leather jackets became the uniform of the wild ones — rebels who defy the rules and conventions of society.”
That said, I decided to show that the moto jacket can be worn dressed down, for the girl with the edgy vibe who seeks to break all the rules, or the girl next door looking to add some spice to her threads.
Dressed Down
I love pairing a moto jacket with a pair of distressed or destroyed denim jeans. In this look, I paired each look with a pair of Timbaland boots or J’s for an edgy flair. However, each look can be worn with loafers or even ballerina flats if you still want to have some balance to your look.
Dressed Up
This look is for the girl who enjoys a more polished and classy look to her appearance. Midi-length skirts and dresses or even a pretty ballerina skirt can be a super-chic combo. Adding the moto jacket to a softer garment gives it a tough girl look that’s still edgy, yet soft and feminine.
Here are a few moto jackets I’m digging:
So tell me: what’s your style? How would you wear the moto jacket?
