Introduction

Men’s fashion thrives on classic pieces, maybe even more so than its female counterpart. In fact, the entire FashionBeans ethos is built around the idea of timeless style.

We’re all aware of the old adage, ‘fashion fades but style remains’ and this really does ring true in the world of menswear. Of course, this fickle game we all subscribe to has a habit of regurgitating items and trends – thrusting them back into the limelight. And for AW13, it’s very much been the turn of the bad ass biker jacket.

The Biker

The modern interpretation of a ‘biker’ takes its lead from the original Schott Perfecto, introduced in 1928. The asymmetric zip is the jacket’s defining feature, with zipped cuffs, epaulettes, a flap change pocket and belted front – all included on the Perfecto ? making fleeting appearances on current iterations.

This symbol of rebellion and adventure has a rich history and significant cultural importance, which is exactly what makes it such a menswear classic. It starred alongside Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953) and was heavily favoured by the Ramones, while Schott also provided the US military with their leathers for World War II.

Today, the biker jacket is less reserved for punk rock pioneers and military heroes and more an everyday, every man outerwear choice. Our trend expert, Ben Jones, has already earmarked it as a key piece for 2013/14 and today we break down how you can seamlessly incorporate a biker into your current wardrobe…

Ways To Wear: The Biker Jacket

Lookbook Inspiration

Before we start, here is some lookbook inspiration to help get the creative juices flowing:

Outfit Inspiration

Look One: Off-Duty, Winter Ready

Ready your leather for winter by investing in a piece with a Borg collar. Sidestep the punk and rock connotations of the silhouette and integrate it into a more heritage-inspired ensemble that makes good use of rugged textured elements – the statement collar being the first of them.