How to Wear a Bomber Jacket

Far from their military roots, bomber jackets are stretching from streetwear to the runway.

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Complex Original

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The bomber jacket—or MA-1 as it's formally named—has been a menswear staple for decades. With humble beginnings as practical piece of outerwear for servicemen flying at high altitudes, the jacket has gone from a bulky, nylon jacket, to a tailored top layer.

Streetwear connotations aside, the surplus staple has become something that works as hard as you do—speaking of which, slimmed-down versions are just as commonplace in white-collar workplaces as they are on city sidewalks. With designers like Raf Simons and Stampd tweaking the formula, it's a jacket that's available at far more than your local Army/Navy store.

But if you're debating on whether or not to add the bomber jacket to your rotation, or wondering on how you fit in (literally) with the sheer diversity of MA-1s on the market today, fear not. We're here to give you some pointers on what to expect, what silhouette should work for you, and how designers are changing the way we wear bomber jackets. This is How to Wear a Bomber Jacket.

Notes on Fit

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To Those That Came Before

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Long and Short of It

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Layer Up

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All Work, Still Play

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Flipping Fabrics

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Strapped Up

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