The bomber jacket is just perfect for spring.

Warm enough yet not too much, and available in an endless panel of colors and embellishments.

For the title, I chose the word “bomber”jacket, because this is how most people call it in 2016.

Yet some other may call it a “varsity jacket”

Let’s have a look at their definitions.

Bomber jacket: according to Wikipédia, the bomber jacket was first designed for the United Air force pilots (indeed real “bomber” people…). It had to be solid yet light and comfortable. This nylon coat, replaced the much heavier former coats.

It has a zipper, elasticated banded hems around the wrists and waist and a rounded shape

Varsity jacket: it is worn by students to represent their school and team pride. The fabric is casual: it can be boiled wool, jersey or nylon.

The body of the jacket is in the school’s primary color and the arms are in the school’s secondary color. Some patches representing the school letters and award may be embroidered on the jacket.

Its shape is similar to the bomber jacket. Though normally less voluminous. It is usually closed with snap buttons.

Therefore, most of what we see  in the stores nowadays are neither real bomber or varsity jackets but are inspired by both.

This comeback is not a new thing: it started in 2011 when Tisci included some in his A/W collection for Givenchy.

The same year, the movie Drive, starring a hot Ryan Gosling in a shiny bomber jacket, became cult.

Bomber jackets never really left fashion ever since.

We had sweet flower printed ones, varsity jackets like ones, transparent ones, and now satin richly embroidered ones just like… in Drive but 5 years after!

They were noticed on Saint Laurent and Gucci catwalks amongst other.

Gucci

Saint Laurent homme

And you can find them absolutely everywhere.

I bought my first one in september 2015: a champagne satin Gerald Darel embroidered with pastel flowers for 5€ on a yard sale (I recommend yard sales in St Germain des prés, chic parisiennes from Rive gauche have lots of stuffs in their closets). It is probably is from the eighties and looks exactly that the ones that you could buy nowadays. Fashion’s never ending circle…

Think of second hand and vintage stores, they may have what you are looking for.

I. How to choose the bomber?

As I explained the bomber is merely a shape.

So you can choose every color, every fabric and every pattern.

The choice of the shape has more consequences.

A. Oversize bomber

This is the overcool way to wear it right now.

Rihanna likes to hide her hands in it… but if you are not Rihanna, you’ll just look stupid (even if you are  actually).

I advice you to choose a bomber that stops just below your bottom and sits low on your wrists like in the Saint Laurent show.

Stopping at the largest point of your hips is also a good option.

B. Fitted bomber

This is also cool, modern and less risky to style.

The waistline can stop at your waist to the top of your hip bones.

II. How to style the bomber? 

I like eccentric bombers because they can make any boring outfit look fashionable.

I think, that, if you choose a statement bomber, you do not need to make much more effort actually.

A. What bottom? 

The bomber has a round shape.

It always looks nice when you balance it with a tight bottom.

• Skinnies

Jeanne Damas

• Fitted pants

The comeback of the hip hugging yet not so slim jeans such as the Levis 501 is a good match for the bomber jacket.

Julia Sarr-Jamois

• Tight mini-skirts or dresses

• Pencil skirts or dresses

• Tight mini-shorts

Tokyobahnbao

• Flare pants

Flare pants are tight on the hips, so they do the balance

• Boyfriend jeans

Boyfriend jeans are actually worn very low on the hips and therefore create no volume on the hips.

I recommend to match them with a tight bomber jacket.

Otherwise, I advice to add heels (except if you are already tall and slender).

Pauline Fashionblog

• Fluid mini-skirts and dresses

Yes they create volume, but your bare legs do the contrast.

You can choose either a tight or an oversize jacket

Saint Laurent

Flounces and pleats are an option.

• Fluid midi or long skirts and dresses

As seen on the Gucci runway, this is very tricky in terms of proportions.

The safest way is to choose a very tight bomber and to close it it order to define your waist.

• Beware of A-line!

A-line skirts, culotte pants, harem pants, bubble skirts… and anything that creates a rigid volume directly on the hips.

If worn opened the bomber jacket acquires a triangle opening on the front which makes you look larger. (Proof that the outfit was guilty and not the girl, here she is with something flattering). Even if you are Blake L the match does not works.

If worn closed the bomber jacket modifies the shape of those bottoms and create unwanted pleats.

You can manage the mix if you wear a tight bomber which waist meets the waist of your A-line skirt.

B. What underneath? 

Anything which has a collar that does not create any fuss where the collar of the bomber sits.

Button-ups are usually a bad choice (same bomber jacket, good choice).

• Basic T-shirts and tops
  

When you have no idea what to wear, pic a basic and all will be fine.

Tiphaine Augusto

• Basic sweater

Same as above.

India

• Romantic top

To contrast with the bomber sporty DNA. Thanks Isabel for the style lesson.

Isabel Marant

Be creative, find some new matchs.

C. What shoes?

I think you can wear the bomber jacket with any shoes you may fancy.

Here are some options.

• Sneakers

The bomber is sporty, sneakers are sporty, this is easy, everyone is happy

Dakota Johnson

• Rock boots 

Make you look like a bad girl in a good way.

Violaine Olga Madeleine

• Sexy heels

Nicely spices the sporty DNA of the bomber.

Barbara Martelo

• Fancy heels

Same as above.

Collage vintage

III. Complementary questions

A. Do I wear it opened or closed?

As seen above, both work.

B. With a scarf? 

Well, they’ll interfer with the collar a bit, but I prefer to stay warm if needed.

I’ll pick a sixties tight scarf that reveals the collar underneath or a big scarf that hides it completely.

IV. My bomber jacket selection

2018 updates:

You have a great selection of them at Superdry, check them out here

OR: check thrift stores!

 

Ready to be the bomb in bomber jacket? 

Collage de couverture: Belle inconnue, Karla Deras