The Eternal Biker Jacket Lives On

There are such a great variety of styles and designs that when it comes to leather biker jackets almost anything goes. This could be one of the reasons why the biker jacket is a timeless fashion classic that will not fade.

We can broadly categorise the fashion leather biker jacket , that is to say the biker style jacket worn as an item of clothing rather than protection) into traditional, classic and designer themes.

The traditional biker jacket has an off centre zip creating the choice of two styles, triangular lapels when unzip or part zipped, or conversely a smooth finished front when sipped to the neck - cleverly combing two styles in one almost. Now the collar on the traditional biker jacket can be either short stub (Nehru) or fold down collar, the cuffs typically have rear placed zips, the cut narrows at the waist for an accentuated look and there at least 2 zip pockets at the waist or more if added to chest and, or sleeves. The biker jacket seen worn by many of the riders of a classic Harley Davidson motor bike have a spray of studs as well as leather tassels or plain pull straps on the zips.

Whereas the classic style is characterised by a short stub collar, also known as a Nehru collar or more classically mandarin collar, smooth contoured lines to hug the body and typically finish just past at the top of the hips, i.e. at the belly button or just past it.

A lot of the great designer style leather jackets have a biker theme or influence. The biker look has a coveted chic cool glamour that transcends gender, age and sexuality. Icons such a James Dean, Marlon Brando, Tom Cruise, Freddie Mercury, Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator.

Undoubtedly the classic biker jacket colour is black and cut is fitted. Actual motor bike jackets are made from cow hide leather as this much denser and thicker than nappa leather which is derived from sheep / lambs. Motor biker riders need the extra toughness of cow hide to protect their skin in the unfortunate event of cascading down a road in the event of a motor accident. High designer end jackets are crafted in supple nappa which does not need to be broken-in in the same way stiff hide does.