Hollywood's Most Iconic Leather Jackets
Marlon Brando as seen in The Wild One (1953). (Credits: ©British Customs).
Leather jackets are an essential part of any man's wardrobe. A timeless piece, regularly associated with motorcyclists, the leather jacket has been put in the spotlight by Hollywood. Here are three noteworthy examples.
Motorcyclist. What images come to mind when this word appears on newsprint or comes from the gritted teeth of a traffic cop? You might imagine “bikers”, the beer-swilling, barstool-smashing outlaws that roam empty highways. You may also envision a free-spirited individual up for whatever adventure comes their way.
This is to say that motorcycling –for many– is more than just a means of conveyance. It’s a way of life.
As we’ll explore below, it’s also a mode of dress. On the shoulders of Hollywood’s elite, some iconic motorcycling jackets have propelled themselves into timelessness.
3 iconic leather jackets
Here are three leather jackets that have appeared in legendary films and become iconic.
1. The Perfecto (Schott NYC)
People like to throw around the phrase “OG” for a lot of people and things. In the motorcycling subculture, Marlon Brando is arguably the person and the Schott Perfecto is the thing. Both actor and jacket thundered onto the screen in The Wild One (1953). Brando gave a commanding performance as the restless leader of an outlaw motorcycle gang, the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. True to its inspiration, the film’s script is loosely based on a real incident. It has since inspired everyone from artists to musicians. As for the Perfecto, the design predates the movie by about 30 years and has remained a symbol of motorsports since.
A classic with staying power. (Credits: ©Schott NYC).
2. The Highwayman (Bates)
Black leather jackets experienced a renaissance in the 1980s and ‘90s, and there's every reason to believe that The Terminator franchise significantly influenced that.
These weren’t quintessential biker films like The Wild One or Easy Rider (which we’ll talk about below), but they certainly featured some insane two-wheeled stunts and at least one memorable quote.
The Highwayman jacket was featured in Terminator (1984) while a custom version, dubbed the T2, debuted in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991). Both jackets and the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) are still inseparable thirty years later.
This jacket shares some common functional features with our first pick but with a different attitude. (Credits: ©Bates Leathers/ DR / The Prop Gallery).
3. Captain America jacket (ABC Leathers)
This is an elusive piece of outerwear because it didn’t exist until the movie Easy Rider (1969) was released. It was designed for the character Wyatt, played by Peter Fonda.
According to BAMF Style, ABC Leathers in California crafted the distinct tricolor striping as they had built their reputation on colorful leatherwork. The sleek style has stuck around and the movie that made it famous is renowned as a counterculture classic.
ABC Leathers no longer exists as they were bought and eventually became a part of Bates. However, variations of the original “Captain America” are available today. As for the jacket used in the film, the original flag patch sold for over $89,000 in 2007…
Wyatt (Peter Fonda) wearing the original Captain America jacket. (Credits: ©Columbia Pictures).
Where Utility Meets Iconic Fashion
Motorcycle leathers must share the same attention to functionality as motorcycles themselves. Leather protects the skin from abrasion, heat, and the elements. Zippers and snaps allow for speed and convenience. Wind guards, sewn behind the zippers, keep the piercing cold out. Waist belts and sleek cuts allow the rider to be unencumbered by loose clothing while behind the handlebars.
Some versions, like the “Captain America” discussed above, take this a step further with minimalistic, banded collars that allow the wearer to turn their neck more freely. Despite their specialized purpose, these jackets made the jump from utilitarian garments to stylistic statements.
Hollywood is sometimes better at promoting fashion than the fashion industry itself, and the appeal of motorsports attire is no exception. From a speed-obsessed subculture to the “big screen” and beyond, motorcycling jackets have taken on a romance and rugged aura of their own.
(Left-to-right) Lee Marvin, Robert Keith, and Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953). (Credits: ©Encyclopedia Britannica).
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