Description

The years immediately following WW2 saw the rise of the classic leather motorcycle jacket and its transformation from merely a functional piece of riding gear into an iconic symbol of rebellion and counterculture. As the years went on, motorbike jackets continued to evolve and take on new styles and designs, but classic features like the cross zip, the studded shoulder epaulettes and lapels, the functional waist belt and the eclectic pocket setup remain popular even today.

Aero’s vintage 1950s-style motorcycle jacket design is inspired by the iconic style originally made famous by Marlon Brando in 1953’s The Wild One. This heavy horsehide jacket includes all of the classic features mentioned above: two deep zip-closing handwarmer pockets with heavy linings, a deep breast pocket with zip, a small stud-down ticket pocket, plus studded epaulettes and swing gussets in the back for extra movement. The sleeves have adjustable zip cuffs and the jacket is fastened by a cross zip. You can adjust the waist using the attached belt.

For many riders, the aesthetic appeal and the sense of history and nostalgia that these jackets provide outweigh the more advanced safety features of modern motorcycle gear. Wearing a genuine leather motorcycle jacket from Aero is like taking a step back in time to an era when motorbikes and leather jackets were synonymous with rebellion, freedom and adventure. There’s a certain romance to that idea for bikers and non-bikers alike, and it’s a magic that modern jackets simply can’t replicate.

KNOW YOUR MOTORCYCLE JACKET HISTORY! After the Second World War had ended, US soldiers brought their love for motorcycles—and for the rugged leather jackets they had worn during the war—back home with them. The jackets quickly became a staple of biker culture and a symbol of rebellion and nonconformity. In the 1950s, Hollywood further popularised the leather motorcycle jacket, with actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean wearing them onscreen in movies like The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause. In the mid-1980s, we at Aero were commissioned to re-create the jacket worn by the Marlon Brando waxwork at London’s Madame Tussauds. We were soon inundated with orders from customers who wanted their own genuine leather motorcycle jackets so that they could replicate Brando’s famous look. Thus was born the first of many vintage motorcycle jacket recrations from Aero Leather Clothing.

Sizing

This classic 1950s-style motorcycle jacket offers a relaxed fit around the shoulders and chest, and a strong taper to the waist.

We generally recommend selecting your usual size for the intended fit (normally the closest to your relaxed chest measurement). If you want a more modern fitted look, please contact our production team as we will likely need to make adjustments to the style’s strong taper. We advise against simply ordering a smaller size as this may not give the intended look.

For further general sizing information, please see our sizing FAQ section. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for there, please get in touch.

Don’t worry; all sizing information displayed here is only a guide. Every order placed is checked over by a member of our production team, who will confirm your size selection against your measurements and recommend any changes that need to be made. If you have any specific queries, you can note these in the special instructions box on the ‘measurements’ page when you order your genuine leather motorcycle jacket.