Musing on bomber jackets (long!) - YouLookFab Forum

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Musing on bomber jackets (long!)

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Today I was at Gap buying a belt and of course ended up drifting into the jackets, because my appetite for outerwear is bottomless. And there I noticed a bomber jacket with a strong furry collar. I thought I would try it on, because I liked the looks of it but more importantly I’ve been thinking about bomber jackets lately.

Specifically:
Why do the collarless ones look so “blah” on me? (Eg the light green one I already own, pics below. This try-on actually made me think it’s just too small in the arms and chest- XS rather than the S I tried in the darker jacket)
Would a big furry collar help?
Is this still athleisure or does it become military/70s?
Does athleisure have to be black? Because I can’t keep black free of cat hair.
Are bombers supposed to be cropped or oversized? Or whatever you want?
And: are bombers over? Seems like we may have reached maximum bomber saturation. But I still kinda like the maximal patterned or lace ones I see on the street.

I am pretty sure I won’t buy this collared jacket because it’s not practical for my climate (when it’s cold enough for this much jacket, I want my bum covered). But it led to some more thoughts on what I’m liking here and could seek in other items this season or next:
Shiny high-tech finish
Bright metallic accents
Dark green as a substitute for black
Faux fur

Care to muse along with me here?

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24 replies

Latest reply was from The Cat

Anonymous

I like the dark green (enabling...)! My theory with the collar is it balances out your short hair. My hair is longer and big collars on me are too much. I haven't seen a lot of bombers this year in shops, and not on the streets either...but its still way too hot for any sort of jacket here.
Despite being a pet momma, i wear a lot of black. Sheeny fabrics pick up less fur than knits. Velvet is the quicker (pet hair) picker upper, sadly. I keep lint rollers in house, car, and each of my offices!

Sisi

Veteran

It's nice that your musings about bombers made you better understand what you like! To answer your questions:

I don't think that the green collarless bomber looks blah on you. I like it on you - personal taste, of course. Furry collar on this one? No, it looks Summery to me.

I do not consider bombers athleisure, I see them as "sporty luxe".

A bomber is cropped. If it is not cropped, it is not a bomber.

Are bombers over? I don't know. I know that I like them a lot and I think you look fab in them.

I have a couple, they are not very usable in my climate exactly for the reasons that you mention! But I love them so much.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Suntiger, I hear ya, lint rollers are key. But some fabrics are just impossible. Black leggings or Ponte/knits just ain’t gonna happen. Today I wore a navy oxford cloth shirt and was picking lint and fluff off it alllllll day. Shiny is much easier.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have to disagree with Sisi -- it doesn't have to be a cropped length to be a bomber. There have been some longer/oversized bomber jackets out in the last few years. I have one from Zara that's hip length but very definitely a bomber. Zara made one last year that was exaggerated in length -- like mid-thigh on me -- but still very much bomber styling.

I know they're not trending the way they were a couple of years ago, but I still like them. I have four, and I plan to continue wearing them, but they're all statement patterns that I love.

I really like both of those jackets on you, but they seem suited to totally different weather/season. The fuzzy collared one looks cozy and wintry, and the lighter green looks better for warmer weather. I think both look great on you! The lighter one has more of a sporty vibe, which I really like.

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jussie

Veteran

I like the green bombers on you. I’m not sure if they’re over or not.... but I will keep wearing mine, at least for the next 12 months probably.
I have a cropped pink one: love
Very long black one: like
Mid-hip olive green: over it, because olive green isn’t a happy colour for me.
I don’t think of them as athleisure... more a retro streetwear kinda thing, because they weren’t really worn actually during the excercise... lol.

LaPed

Veteran

I agree with Janet -- both jackets are great on you! I really like the light green one. It has that vintage-sporty thing going on. It's in varsity jacket territory, rather than B15 territory.

The dark green one is a beautiful colour and has sort of a sporty-lux thing going on. I don't see it as explicitly military in style -- the sheen, the bright gold hardware -- but it does sort of nod in that direction.

As long as you're in a climate where cropped jackets are practical, I can see both of these making sense at different times of year.

Vildy

Veteran

I am always craving the Steve McQueen Harrington jacket but it doesn't work well with my figure. Have considered picking up something at a thrift and splitting the bottom side hems as in the example pic, at least indicating my waist at the sides.

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Anonymous

I love a good bomber jacket, and have quite a few of them. I consider them true classics, rather than a trendy piece. And as Janet said, oversize and longer has been trending within this look, but I say pick the fit that makes you feel best and go with it! I LOVE the first one with the big collar on you - so cute and chic. The lightweight one is great too - in that casual baseball jacket way. I usually wear a scarf with mine , unless I'm wearing it in inside all day, and then it's all about the earrings

Bijou

Veteran

Bombers look great on you, especially the one with the large collar. I think bombers are like moto jackets, a classic that becomes trendy from time to time but never drops off the radar completely. If you enjoy wearing them, I say enjoy. At the beginning of the year I bought a tweed bomber that I love wearing.

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JAileen

Veteran

I feel the same way as you about outerwear! I really like the collared one on you. I looked it up, and the furry lining sounds deliciously cozy. I can’t get any more coats - my husband has started to notice and make comments about my number of coats and jackets.

Christina F.

Veteran

You look great in these! I am still seeing bombers on the streets of NYC, so I think you're good with the currency issue. Angie would probably say they're a modern classic at this point. That's the impression I have of them, anyway.

Joy

Veteran

I like dark green as a substitute for black. You can wear it pretty much as a neutral. I am a big fan of bombers and definitely do not think of them as athleisure. Maybe a bit more sporty than other jackets like your light green one. I think of letter jackets.
I will keep wearing them whether they are in style or not. Cropped ones are a way of dressing down the dressiness of a frock, but I also like the look of the longer ones. As Janet said the longer, oversized ones have been popular the last couple of years.
A couple of my bombers are in finds. I also have a couple of lace ones that get worn a lot.

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rachylou

Veteran

I think that’s an interesting comment, about short hair and the collarless bomber. I also think it looks fine until you compare... the drama of a collar has a lot of impact in comparison.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

I think they both look really nice on you.
You might have to wear the minty one with other lights/pastels for it to look in place.
I have a dog and gave up on black unless it’s silky material. I wear grey/marled now for leggings/knits which I think is still good for athleisure and just as versatile.
As far as shape, perhaps the collar gives more definition-it looks wide at top and tapering to the middle. Bombers usually don’t have waist definition and you might have a body type that looks better with some waist definition.

kkards

Veteran

so....here's where I have landed (after 2 mistakes) re bomber jackets....stick with the lightweight meant for indoor ones. if its cold enough for a "real jacket" I really want something that covers my bum. of course YMMV

binkle

Veteran

It's the magic of "face-framing" - a dramatic higher collar, and here you've also got the contrasting texture of the faux fur. See QEI and the Flemish.

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jussie

Veteran

Actually you know what? I almost think I’d call that first green jacket an aviator jacket rather than a bomber.....

Katerina

Veteran

I really like the dark green jacket on you. Understand the lenght issue. I think your observation is good - dark green shiny colour, metallic details, fur collar- all look great on you.
As for the lenght of a bomber - I have a bomber-ish military green almost maxi dress. I don’t know if it is right to call it a bomber, but it has all the bomber elements on the upper part and the sleeves. I wear it sometimes as a dress and sometimes as a duster.

Actually, agree with Jussie, the one you have been trying is more an aviator jacket....

Sal

Veteran

I like them both on you for different reasons. On me I would prefer the collarless one as I have a short neck.

I have one - a black floral. I added it this year and wore it regularly for a month and have stopped wearing it....I expect to wear it over spring and summer in the evening. I think they are still trendy here but I don't really know.

I think athleisure can be any colour - and I do like the dark green a lot.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Agree bombers are what Angie calls a modern classic (I hope she agrees!). I do like the darker green on you in these pictures, it may just be a better color for you, it may be the lighting or the background change, hard to tell! I also agree that if it is cold enough for furry collars, I want a longer jacket!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Ladies, you have great bomber collections! Pink, patterned, long like a dress— I want them all.
Like JAileen, my hubs thinks my jacket collection is reached by absurd proportions.
Binkle, your face framing images are hilarious- maybe I should start wearing my dog’s old veterinary “ruff.”

karen13

Veteran

I love that dark green one on you - rich and luxe. I prefer the more saturated color to the paler green. I haven't found a bomber that I find flattering on me. The short hair comment is interesting.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Binkle, I think you are dead right about face framing. Thought of it today when my son wore his white hooded sweatshirt and black puffer. He didn't have the hood over his head, but it was pulled up out of the jacket, and some of the sweatshirt was visible all around. He looks nice in both pieces individually, but together was amazingly much better. Thanks for mentioning it.

The Cat

Veteran

You absolutely don't look blah in the lighter great one. However, you are one of the lucky persons who are ALSO able to look great wearing a furry collar.

I don't consider bomber jackets as athleisure. They are classic, chic and elegant casual. And, styled with i.e. a straight knee-length or midi skirt, they can be worn with success even in conservative settings.

Bomber jackets can be cropped, oversized or just regular.

They have been around for decades, and while they (like many other classics) are more popular some years than other years, I guess they will never be "over."