Why A Biker Jacket Will Always Be In Vogue

OCCASIONALLY there comes an item that unites the Vogue team in its ubiquity - the furry Gucci loafers that at least five staffers regularly sport, say, or the Marques'Almeida T-shirt dress that five more (plus Justin Bieber) are smitten with.

The leather biker jacket, however, smashes all of its competitors. In a straw poll of the Vogue office, 26 members of staff admitted to owning a version of the style, which first appeared in the magazine in 1979, photographed by Eric Boman. It's been a perennial on the page, as the gallery below attests. No wonder our January cover girl Gigi Hadid is in a biker this month.

Biker jackets were ubiquitous on the spring/summer 2016 catwalks, too. At Saint Laurent they were white and scuffed and worn with lace mini dresses; at Burberry they were more polished: black, cropped and with gold hardware trimmings. Coach debuted chiffon, printed and floral styles, while Vetements set the front row raving over a multicoloured motocross style worn open and with matching leather trousers. At Courreges they were cropped and in crinkly patent or punctuated with bright cut-outs of leather; meanwhile Louis Vuitton was a biker bonanza - the first look was a bubblegum pink iteration, and it was followed by spray-prainted, studded and belted versions, some sporting striped or monogrammed sleeves.

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 "Biker jackets are one of our best performing categories and comprise 25 per cent of our jacket buy every season," says Linda Ayepe, a buyer at Net-A-Porter.com. "They're a great transitional piece and are key for layering with comfy knits. Saint Laurent's classic leather biker is one of the most sought after and they remain the go-to brand for different styles - we love their fabulous fringed and striped versions currently on site." 
What's their secret? Lucy Bower, Vogue's fashion assistant, says it's simple: they add an essential urban edge to an otherwise staid outfit. "Everyone should own one," says Bower, who favours a vintage motorcycle jacket found after a morning of rummaging at Portobello Road. "This season we're calling them bikers with a twist - they're oversized, with printed or embroidered leather, or other detailing that makes them less traditional."
How to wear them now? "Don't put it with a dress - that's passé. We're wearing ours with leather trousers. Vetements' spring show was the ultimate example - this is a look you've got to commit to," says Bower. Still, if leather on leather sounds a little daunting, stick to wearing them oversized, paired with wide-legged trousers and gold hoop earrings for a look that's more Scandi than Brando.

source: http://www.vogue.co.uk