It\’s difficult to imagine, as we\’re sitting in our pressurised tin cans at 30,000 feet on our way to Benidorm, that our aviating forebears didn\’t quite have it so comfortable. The first planes were completely open to the air, and therefore the elements, but had relatively low altitudes. By World War Two they were enclosed but not pressurised, so heavy bombers, which could reach 20,000 feet, could be freezing cold – perhaps as low as minus 50 Celsius – on a mission. On the plus side, though they didn\’t have a baggage surcharge.

So that\’s where the term bomber jacket comes from. They started out literally as jackets for bomber crews, and wearing them wasn\’t a fashion statement – it was a matter of life and death.

After the war, several subcultures would adopt the bomber jacket as their own, and the garment itself would undergo some radical shifts, so that today\’s jackets are virtually indistinguishable to their ancestors. The first group to get hold of the bomber jacket was the bikers. It made perfect sense, really – they were exposed to the open air in all weathers, and with a wind chill factor thrown into the equation there was a pressing need to keep body temperature bearable. Although air forces didn\’t cease flying after the war, there was a surplus of many kinds of military garb which could be picked up relatively cheaply, and so the bomber jacket fitted the bill.

While the fleecy collar and lining was fit for purpose, it would prove a little over the top for most of the non-riding, non-flying general public, but the look was desirable, so the bomber underwent its first transformation, losing the fluff and thus resembling an everyday leather jacket.

When the skinheads got hold of the bomber, it became something else entirely. Often made of man-made fibre, it was its paramilitary appearance rather than its warmth that gave it its charm. These versions were stripped down, rarely venturing below the waist but offering a chunky manliness that was somehow accentuated by the buzzed heads. Colourwise they had to be matt green, blue or black, or perhaps a dark burgundy or brown.

The backlash against the skinhead cult, with their association for violence and racism, nevertheless did not extend as far as their jackets, and the bomber jacket, with some all-important modifications, was rehabilitated. In many ways it took its references back from its original source, and the furry collars returned, along with oversized lapels to make the wearer look like they sometimes have to cheat the wind and dodge Messerschmitts.

Such has been the evolution of the bomber jacket that it\’s actually quite difficult to define what one is. In truth, it means different things to different people, and comes with a host of negative and positive connotations. Looking through your local vintage clothing store, you might even come across a bomber jacket and not even recognise it as one. One thing is certain, though: a B17 bomber pilot would definitely plump for an original 1940s version over something built for style.

Classic clothing garments like bomber jackets always seem to be making comebacks and Pam\’s expert judgement in predicting the trends in vintage clothing have seen her skills be sought after by many publications.

Original clothing classics like bomber jackets will always be popular and Pam uses her knowledge and experience to explain why that is and why vintage clothing stores like http://www.rokit.co.uk/ always stock a range of these items.

Author Bio: Classic clothing garments like bomber jackets always seem to be making comebacks and Pam\’s expert judgement in predicting the trends in vintage clothing have seen her skills be sought after by many publications.

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