Vogue’s guide to the best bomber jackets to add to your wardrobe

Throughout history, various fashion items have stood the test of time. Such timeless favourites include light-wash jeans, the white oxford button-up shirt, the little black dress and white tank top. Introducing another sartorial classic: the bomber jacket.

Often distinguished by its puff sleeves, cropped body and ribbed cuffs, the bomber jacket has been around since the 1920’s. Initially termed an aviator flight jacket, its origins can be traced back to the first World War when they were manufactured to keep fighter pilots warm. The earliest known rendition was produced by the United States Army’s Aviation Clothing Board, which designed the first heavy-duty jacket used during air combat. Featuring a distinctive high wrap-around collar, zipped front and fur lining, this design set the blueprint for modern day renditions.

As the bomber jacket trickled down to mainstream fashion, various design pioneers of their time took their own approach to the historied piece. Perhaps the most popular bomber jacket in fashion to date remains Raf Simons’s camouflage bomber jacket from fall/winter 2001—titled “Riot Riot Riot”—now listed on resell platforms at prices upwards of $50,000. Issey Miyake’s Parachute jacket and Helmut Lang’s bondage bomber are other pieces that remain a fashion archivist’s grail.

In recent years, we have witnessed an assortment of bomber jackets hit the runway as well. Demna Gvasalia’s Balenciaga opted for a more dramatic silhouette, with a distinctive crop on the body and immensely boxy shoulders. Prada’s fall/winter 2021 collection saw bomber jackets that featured a noticeable magnification in proportions, with its slouchy and mega-oversized silhouette available in various rich colours, in both calf leather and the house’s signature nylon. Loewe fall/winter 2022 spliced its version of it with its winter puffer counterpart, producing a trend favourite. Other brands such as Sacai, Louis Vuitton and Ellie Saab all showcased variations of the traditional design as well, albeit reimagined in their various house codes.

On the streets, the fashionable youth and prevalent influencers have found a myraid of ways to incorporate the jacket into their everyday style. With affordable alternatives widely available at vintage shops and second-hand markets, it seems every demographic within fashion can enjoy this timeless wonder.

Below, Vogue Singapore highlights the best pieces available online that you can incorporate into your wardrobe today.