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James Dean, Elvis Presley and Marlon Brando stand impartial
a scarce of the names that come to mind when thinking of the motorcycle jacket,
a staple of any wardrobe for any gentleman who likes to dress with a advantage.
Arising from a practical need and evolving into a piece of Hall of Fame
menswear, this effortlessly cool jacket has nearly 100 years of legacy to its
name.
The timeline below traces the most important moments in
motorcycle jacket history - from its humble origins to the present day, where
we also show you how to wear one in a contemporary way.
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The late 1920s
Perfecto jacket Schott
Schott Perfecto leather jacket
The motorcycle jacket is without a doubt an American
classic; the company responsible for its creation is Schott NYC, founded by
brothers Irving and Jack Schott in 1913.
But, it wasn't until 1928 that the product released the
world's first motorcycle jacket - named Perfecto - for Harley Davidson no less.
It was the first motorcycle jacket to feature functional zippers, allowing the
user to easily put it on and take it off. Its predecessors were closed with
buttons, but the addition of zippers ensured increased maneuverability.
The jacket was priced at the large sum of - a small fortune in today's money - but it
nonetheless offered effortless style, convenient portability, and security to
its wearer.
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The 50s
Perfecto Schott
The motorcycle jacket rose to fame in 1953 thanks to
Hollywood idol Marlon Brando, who sported Schott's Perfecto in the hit movie
The Wild One, where he played the role of a gang boss (which was 'add to the
rebellious connotations already present of the jacket).
Debonair, effortless and oozing arrogance, the motorcycle
jacket instantly became a symbol of cool for a whole generation of young
people.
The years 1960-1980
After the post-war period of the 1950s came the “Swinging
Sixties” - and all the fashion, style and political turmoil they brought with
it. The motorcycle jacket has become a hallmark of the young and carefree,
everyone from emerging musicians to Beatles motorcycle jackets, symbolizing
counterculture.
The Ramones
The 1970s saw rock rock become the musical genre of a
generation, with bands with greasy hair, tight clothes, and guitar playing
quickly embracing the motorcycle jacket as their go-to uniform. The Ramones
took the biker mainstream by wearing it on the cover of their Rocket to Russia,
Leave Home and Road to Ruin albums, giving the jacket extra dimension of cool.
Punk trailed rock 'n' roll in the 1980s, and the subculture
gave the bike jacket its most notorious transformation of all. With designers like
Vivienne Westwood and bands like the Sex Pistols in the lead, the motorcycle
jacket became the emblem of an anti-government and anti-establishment movement
that lasted through the 1980s. the jacket was often worn oversized and bejeweled
with metal spikes and studs.
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From the 90s to the present day
Coming out from behind the curtain of punk rock and gang
rivalries between mods and rockers, the motorcycle jacket was invigorated and
slightly softened by Hollywood in the 1990s after being seen on the backs of
popular A-Listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp.
Johnny Depp
Fast forward to the contemporary day and the motorcycle
jacket is considered an essential legitimate wardrobe for stylish men of all
ages, which means that there is now more choice than ever before when it comes
to clothing. guarantee your perfect design. Everyone from big brands like
AllSaints and Reiss to specialists like Schott and Belstaff to luxury designers
Saint Laurent and Tom Ford now produce their own takes, which means there's
something for every budget. and all tastes.
How to style a motorcycle jacket
Rivieria Cotton Sunspel T-Shirt in White
Schott Perfecto 530 Slim-Fit leather running jacket
Rivieria Cotton T-Shirt in White, at SUNSPEL>
Schott Perfecto 530 Slim Fit Café Racer Leather Jacket, £
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The beauty of the bike jacket is its flexibility. It can be
dressy or casual for any occasion, but for a classic approach, wear it with raw
selvedge denim and a plain white t-shirt, like Mr. Brando himself. Tuck the
t-shirt into the jeans and slip on a pair of black boots or moccasins for an
instant nod to its heritage of the annals.