Spoiler: Bomber Jackets Are Back in a Big Way—5 Outfits Defining the 2023 Trend
After their several-year hiatus from the big old trend cycle, I'm here to declare that bomber jackets are officially back on the menu for spring/summer 2022. You might be thinking, "But they never went anywhere," and you'd be right! Bomber jackets have stuck around as a spring and fall outerwear staple, but I'd say they haven't been a trend piece since 2016 circa the King Kylie era. That is, until now.
Thanks to countless cool designers—including Prada, Versace, Stella McCartney, and more—the jacket style has resurfaced as a wardrobe must-have for spring, and with the help of brands such as Mango, COS, and H&M, it's accessible to everyone. Celebs such as Rihanna and Hailey Bieber are already backing the silhouette, so consider this your official green light to give it another go.
On the runway:
The jacket silhouette has made a triumphant return to the spotlight, most notably on the recent runways, where designers like Prada and Stella McCartney are getting us reacquainted. Colors, prints, and shapes run the gamut, from basic to bold, so continue on to see five key ways the fashion crowd is styling their bomber jackets this spring.
And now, how to wear it:
1. BOMBER JACKET + CARGO PANTS
Leave it to fashion's inner circle to make two traditionally "dad" pieces, a bomber jacket and cargo pants, look unreasonably cool.
Take a cue from this combination and upsize both the top and bottom for one cool, relaxed ensemble.
Shop the combination:
2. CROPPED BOMBER JACKET + COLORFUL BOTTOMS
Cropped bomber jackets are one particular style I'm jotting down, and so far, the way to wear them is with a colorful skirt à la Prada's spring runway.
You could also opt for a bright pair of pants, ideally high waisted to meet the jacket's hem.
Shop the combination:
3. OVERSIZE BOMBER JACKET + MINISKIRT
The fashion set is also wearing bomber jackets with another 2022 staple: miniskirts. The mix of the jacket's sporty feel and the Y2K skirt vibe makes for a really fresh styling choice.
All the combo needs is a white tee and classic shoulder bag—it basically styles itself.
Shop the combination:
4. LEATHER BOMBER JACKET + BASEBALL HAT
Leather bomber jackets are a micro-trend that's been leading the charge, and I'd argue that topping them off with a baseball hat is *the* way to style the retro-sporty aesthetic this spring.
It's only natural that an item as sporty in nature as a bomber jacket would pair well with another athletic staple.
Shop the combination:
5. BOMBER JACKET + TROUSERS + RETRO SNEAKERS
If you're looking for a classic and easy way to style a bomber jacket, this is it. Across the board, fashion people are wearing theirs with some form of relaxed trousers and retro sneakers.
Its relaxed, cool vibe makes this a pairing worth repeating.
Shop the combination:
Up next, Our Definitive List of Every Wardrobe Basic Your Closet Needs in 2022
Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.
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