It is undeniable that a leather jacket gives off a certain attitude; cool, rebellious and edgy, leather has helped to create iconic looks since its conception. From heroes to villains, the right leather jacket can speak louder than words, instantly telling us a character means business.
Whether in cinema, television or adorning some of the greatest musicians around, here are some of the most iconic leather looks of our time.
Sandy’s Final Look, Grease, 1978
Sandy’s leather jacket at the end of Grease is the perfect example of leather reflecting a certain personality type and rebellious attitude. In the final scene of the movie we see Sandy shedding the skin of “plain Sandra Dee” to reveal a cooler, hipper and edgier version of herself. Although Danny and the T-Birds were notorious for their leather throughout the film, it is Sandy’s end look that remains the most iconic due to her shock transformation – her strutting entrance and famous “tell me about it stud” line pack the same punch today as they did back in the 80s. In this scene Sandy opts for a traditional black leather jacket, with a cropped style and eye catching red lining to give the jacket a seductive edge.
Tyler Durden’s Red Leather Jacket, Fight Club, 1999
A stand out piece of clothing in the movie Fight Club has to be this retro red leather jacket, worn by Brad Pitt portraying the enigmatic Tyler Durden. This leather jacket captures the edgy feel of the film, and the character of Durden in particular, perfectly. Blood red in colour and with oversized, peaked lapels, the jacket simply screams ‘the 90s’ and commanded attention throughout the movie. In equal measures stylish and playful yet with a dark, rebellious edge, Durden’s jacket is a statement piece that can only be pulled off by the boldest of characters.
Wolverine’s Brown Leather Bomber, X-Men Origins, 2009
From the comic books to the big screen, there is no doubt Wolverine is an iconic character in popular culture. Of all his looks, one of the most memorable has to be the brown bomber jacket he wore in the X-Men Origins movie. The rugged, primal feel of the Wolverine character is reflected through his choice of civilian clothing as well as his unkempt appearance and famous mutton chops – this leather bomber jacket is brown and well worn, featuring lighter brown ‘tiger stripes’ that add to the animalistic feel of the character and look.
Cher, If I Could Turn Back Time music video, 1989
Of all of her looks, Cher’s leather jacket and fishnet stocking combo for her 1989 “If I Could Turn Back Time” music video was perhaps the most controversial. Originally banned on MTV, and afterwards only being shown following the 9pm watershed, the look in this video was raunchy, edgy and undeniably memorable. The legendary singer and all round pop culture icon opted for a rebellious black biker style leather jacket, with zip detailing and a leather belt to the front. If the intention was to command attention, this was certainly achieved. Even decades later the jacket continues to make an impression – it was signed and sold in auction in 2012 for a whopping $22,500!
The Terminator’s Black Leather Jacket, 1985
Taken straight off the back of a biker at the beginning of the movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s black leather jacket in The Terminator films is synonymous with his effortlessly cool attitude. As the indestructible cyborg in the hit sci-fi franchise, Arnie wore his classic zip up leather jacket with black sunglasses for an extra touch of bad-ass appeal. As far as iconic movies and lead roles go, the Terminator has to be one of the greatest of all time, with the famous tagline “I’ll be back” still instantly recognisable around the world today.
The Bride’s Yellow Jacket, Kill Bill Volume 2, 2004
In terms of movie posters and instantly recognisable looks, Uma Thurman’s bright yellow Kill Bill tracksuit made a huge impression straight off the bat. A nod to martial arts legend Bruce Lee, the look was skin tight, bold and bright – not for the faint hearted! In the second volume of the franchise, which focuses on ‘The Bride’ and her quest for revenge against her former lover Bill, Thurman’s character built on her look with a tight fitting biker style jacket. The motocycle jacket was worn zipped all the way up for a streamlined effect and featured athletic detailing – we’ve never seen yellow look more threatening!
Maverick’s Military Leather Jacket, Top Gun, 1986
Military style jackets and shearling details have seen a huge rise in fashion over recent years, and there is no military jacket more iconic than the one worn by Tom Cruise as fighter pilot Maverick in Top Gun. A truly memorable look from 80s fashion that still makes a huge impression today, Cruise’s aviator style jacket was given a military edge with a number of badges and patches. Featuring a brown, vintage leather design and a shearling collar, this jacket perfectly encapsulated the reckless attitude of Maverick, helping both him and the movie to become the cultural icons they are today.
Indiana Jones, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, 1981
Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones in Raiders Of The Lost Ark helps to prove that a leather jacket can look as good years down the line and it does brand new. Indy’s brown, retro leather bomber jacket from the movie is known worldwide – featuring a worn, aged leather design, the jacket helps to give the Indiana Jones character much of his iconic rough and ready appeal. The jacket may not, however, have been the most practical for the climate in which the movie was filmed, with Harrison Ford stating “Whoever decided that Indiana Jones should wear a felt hat and a leather jacket in the jungles should have been shot.” Whilst Ford himself may not have been too happy about it, the ‘Raiders’ leather jacket has certainly gone down in movie history as one of the most memorable of all time.
Michael Jackson, Thriller music video, 1982
Last, but by no means least, a special mention has to be made of the famous Michael Jackson Thriller jacket. Worn during the 1983 music video, this bright red jacket became an instant icon of the 80s, retaining its world famous reputation today. Designed by Deborah Nadoolman Landis – who also designed the Raiders Of The Lost Ark costume – the jacket is bright red in colour, featuring black stripe and zipper detail, along with statement winged shoulders and an ‘M’ logo. Decades later, the jacket remains one of the – if not the – most memorable MJ looks. Recently sold at auction for a staggering $1.8 million, the famous jacket was described by the buyer as “the greatest piece of rock and roll memorabilia in history”.