At least I’ll try to make the case for it.
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Business Casual?
Lambskin Aviator Flight Jacket – c/o Cockpit USA | Grey & Green Rep Tie – J.Crew | Chambray Shirt – Timberland | Expedition Scout Chrono Watch – c/o Timex | White Slim Fit Jeans – Gap | Grey Suede Double Monk Strap Shoes – Just A Men Shoe
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My obsession with flight jackets started as a fourteen year old in North Philly. It was an era when the nylon flight jacket was the gold standard in outerwear. Luckily enough for me, I was working under-the-table at a local clothing store that carried them — so a weeks worth of work became a reversible, navy blue & grey flight jacket. Looking it at my present an ongoing obsession with leather jackets, I stumbled upon this grey leather gem on a recent visit to the Cockpit USA showroom and couldn’t stop trying it on.
You may or may not know that Cockpit USA has made outerwear for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and NASA — they also make civilian wear. You can read more about their brand story here. To give you an idea of my relationship with the brands & it’s products, this is the fourth jacket of theirs that in my collection — which means that I’ll be passing the down to my son-to-be (Baby Peele June 16′). I’m a true fan of what they do and vehemently endorse their heritage of American craftmanship.
Now, let’s get into why this jacket is the dark horse in the outerwear game this spring.
Grey leather is rarely seen in menswear and typically when it’s implemented, the color way is completely flat and dark — verging on charcoal. What you’ll see here is that the color is lighter with variations in its patina. The detailing gives the jacket a worn in vibe without looking too vintage. This softer color warrants light pairings like white denim jeans, but, if you’re an indigo dark rinse or black jean wearer the light contrast of the jacket is fresh and easy to pull together.
Why It Works In A Business Casual Setting
It’s all in the fit! A traditional MA-1 style jacket (which this jacket is based off) isn’t as tailored as this one. The torso and sleeves are cut for a modern fit, which allows you to think of the jacket as your blazer 2.0. Wear it with a tie & jeans as a business casual or a date night look.
Also, the two way zipper allows you to change the silhouette of the jacket depending on whether you keep the full zipped from both ends.
Sweat Equity
Lambskin Aviator Flight Jacket – c/o Cockpit USA | Blue Jogger Sweatpants – Uniqlo | White Henley – H&M | All White Jordan 1’s Mid – Nike | Blue Lens Aviator Sunglasses – James Dean Eyewear
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The flight jacket & the varsity almost have the same exact cut and fit, making it a very familiar style pieces for most guys to understand. Pairing it with a jogger sweatpant and sneakers tugs on the athletic nature of the jacket without being a far fetched idea.
Should You Wear A Luxe Jacket So Sporty?
The answer is always yes. Versatility is key to any piece that you buy and with a grey lambskin jacket, you’ll have to see it as a neutral item — so wear it with everything. But, the real question is why it works with a look like this one?
Starting from the inside out, the lining is a breathable mesh with a camo pattern. Guys are typically dressed sporty/casual when running errands, so wearing a light and airy jacket is crucial — no sweat is the best way to go.
The Color Variation
The mixture of light and dark grey play a bit of an optical illusion. When paired with blues, the darker portions of the jacket give off a blue tone. When pair with black, the whole look purely grey.
Small Details
With a collar, cuffs and partial waist band all made from a stretch woven cotton, the expected rigidity of a leather jacket is softened and inherently sporty.
The Material
Lambskin leather is supple and molds to the body. It moves with you and doesn’t hang shapeless.
This is not a sponsored post, however; the leather Aviator Flight jacket with gifted from Cockpit USA
