With a history filled with mens aviator jacket daring gentlemen, intrepid adventures, and the ruggedness associated with masculinity itself, the aviator jacket is claimed to have turned from being almost a fashion afterthought into a real style staple. Fashion today has absorbed and accepted aviator jackets as its own, with profuse appearances in street fashion. Bomber jackets, simply put, are a classic that fuse style, function, and tremendous historical emblems. 

Aviator jackets or flight jackets were made for military pilots in the early 1900s, largely for the World War I aviators who needed durable clothing to insulate them from harsh temperatures at dizzying heights. Early flight jackets were made of leather, usually cowhide, and lined with shearling or wool for warmth. As the bomber became a more recognizable style, embodying all functional traits, it came to be fitted, waist-length, and closed with proper heavy-duty front zips. 

This ideal fit was first tested on the A-1 model, which was used by the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1927. The design was meant to primarily deliver comfort, warmth, and durability. Due to its commercial success, the A-1 was replaced by several variations, like the A-2 and B-3, becoming synonymous with aviators and military personnel through the 1930s and 1940s. 

After World War II, the transition of the aviator jacket from military necessity to the fashion forefront was quickened by this very aura it carried of bravery, adventure, and American heroism. The fascination of the greater public began to set its eyes on this jacket, embraced by the civilians. Making memorable appearances in Hollywood productions, the aviator grew into a trendsetter, thanks to big names like Marlon Brando in The Wild One in 1953 and Tom Cruise in Top Gun in 1986, which enshrined the jacket into pop culture.

Design and Features

Leather Construction: Traditionally, the aviator jacket was always made of high-grade leather. It was thick enough to keep one warm and well protected against the seasons. Later-day alternatives would replace leather for even more sustainable, affordable, and fashionable materials that impersonate the look and feel of real leather.

Shearling or Wool-Lined: The interior of the jacket is generally lined with shearling (sheepskin) or wool for warmth and comfort. Although this lining was paramount during flights to keep pilots warm at high altitudes where temperatures could plummet, today, it is not uncommon to find faux shearling or wool in jackets for ethical and practical reasons. 

Fur Collar: Fur collaring is found in many aviator jackets and is required to be fastened closed and folded over to cover the neck and face from the cold. Pushed into the rugged, utilitarian theme of the jacket, this collar tends to be one of the most prominent and noticeable features.