How to wear the bomber jacket in 2022

Whether deconstructed, cropped or embellished, the bomber jacket is undoubtedly one of Fall/Winter’s most significant comebacks from the early aughts. Case in point: Gen-Z influencers, such as popular fashion icons Hailey Bieber and Filipino-American Tiktok sensation Bella Poarch, have embraced it as their wardrobe staple.

In 2001, Raf Simons became the first fashion designer to successfully bridge the gap between luxury clothing and streetwear when he created the iconic camouflage bomber jacket for his “Riot Riot Riot!” collection.

Other designers who have adopted the jacket include Rick Owens, who renders it best through his brand’s techno-goth aesthetic; Helmut Lang, who showed a bondage-inspired iteration in 2004; and Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia, who made waves with an oversized version for Vetements’ Fall/ Winter 2016 collection.

This season, major luxury fashion houses are reimagining the jacket with inventive styling. At Prada, oversized bomber jackets are embellished with floral patterned paillettes and paired in the most feminine way possible – with sheer lace skirts. This juxtaposition of unlikely combinations continues at Dior, where designs inspired by those worn by Formula One drivers are styled alongside a ladylike ensemble of a sheer lace blouse and modest midi-length, high-waisted skirt.

The key takeaway? To inject an unexpected spin, whether by pairing a puffy leather bomber jacket with tailored trousers (as seen at Loewe), or with flamboyant colours and prints – the idea is to dress it up, rather than wear it in a casual fashion.