I'm not really that fond of leather jackets. Or to be exact, I do like leather jackets and there are some really good looking ones on the market but usually I find it hard to pull them off so that they would look good on me. However I have two "vintage" leather jackets on my closet that I really like. Both I have thrifted several years ago and both I use basically one or two times per year.
On Saturday I wanted to wear something casual but still something quite sharp and something that would be appropriate for sunny fall weekend. So I took my A-1 type of brown vintage leather jacket and gave it the first wear of the season.
Autumnal set-up but still no socks needed. And seems to be last days of white sneakers.
Well-fitted and sharp leather jacket can be a functional piece when going for a dressed-up casual ensemble.
Vintage A-1 leather jacket with denim slacks
Original A-1 leather jackets were introduced in 1926 as US Air Corps summer flying jacket. They were standardised for that use on November 1927. Original jackets were made from Cape Sheep Leather and featured cotton lining, button fastening, wool knitted cuffs, waistband and collar as well as flapped pockets placed low on the front. So as you can see from the pics my jacket is not really original A-1 leather jacket as it features zip fastening and slanted pockets. But it is not hard to guess where the inspiration for that jacket comes from.
Many times this kind of a leather jacket would be natural to pair with totally casual combinations. However I personally think that if you have a jacket that fits you well, is clean and undamaged, it can easily be used with some semi-formal or dressed-up pieces as well. I ended up pairing it this time with an off-white merino wool roll neck, dark blue denim slacks and white superga sneakers. Some might call this kind of style as Italian casual.
And even though Saturday was the first time I wore this jacket for a long time, it is unlikely to be the last time this season.
The white merino wool roll neck sweater gives appropriate contrast to brown leather and to that wool knitted collar.
Shades of blue and brown together. The same shade of light brown is repeated on the leather handles of the bag and then shades of blue on the bag and on trousers balance each other.
Wearing:
A-1 leather jacket: Vintage Rollneck sweater: Sand Trousers: Finealta
Sneakers: Superga Tote bag: Mismo
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