Bravado Living

A leather bomber jacket is a great add to a wardrobe, great for cruising and great for hanging out at the local beer garden. I would go so far as to say that any man’s wardrobe is incomplete without a great looking leather jacket. This jacket is reminiscent of the classic “bad boy” look, but has a real  touch of genuine style as well. Rag & Bone might not be the only ones bringing the bomber jacket back for this spring season, but they are the ones who are doing it with the most flair. The chest pockets alongside the great distressed leather really give this jacket an appealing vintage feel, which is almost always a plus for me.

Bomber jackets are making a comeback this spring and this jacket is really setting the bar up high. I like the fact that the light weight of the jacket makes it ideal for slightly cool days and nights, which also makes it ideal for cruising around on a bike. Jackets like these are worth owning, and if you can’t own it, worth coveting. I mean, this jacket is way nicer than anything Arthur Fonzarelli would’ve whipped out.

BUY IT NOW

Most men love to drive. They love breaking the speed limit, taking insane turns, and generally being a danger on the road. They also love to buy the gear for the cars, all the shiny chrome and little gizmos under the hood. You might as well get gloves to match. Driving gloves give a man more grip on the steering wheel, which is important during high-speed chases when one’s hands get real sweaty, and they also make him look suave and professional. Especially these fingerless driving gloves from Aspinal of London.

These puppies are hand-stitched out of the finest and softest black deerskin leather. The deerskin leather makes them incredibly soft and also gives them a great grip on the steering wheel. These are a beautiful pair of gloves and while they’d be great for my heavy lifting workouts, I wouldn’t be able to stand eventually ruining them with my sweat. I would wear them on an everyday basis just to pull off the whole “rebel without a cause” look.

BUY IT Fingerless Driving Gloves in Black Deerskin by Aspinal of London $129.50

The trick with going tieless is making it seem like you don’t need a tie, not that you forgot one. In order to pull of this look you’ll need a two button suit (or one button if you think you can pull it off). Three button suits are for middle-managment and ESPN anchors. Wear it without a tie and risk looking boxy and sloppy. Two button suits on the other hand are little more modern, hip, and playful so you can rock the suit sans tie.

Next you’ll need to accessorize. If your jacket has a pocket, put something in it. And try to stay from Cuff links because they are difficult to pull off due to their formality so unless you’re Jason Stratham, or you’ve got a bow-tie hanging loose to match I’d stick to button sleeves.

Next, and most important is a fitted shirt with a STIFF collar. There’s nothing worse than a limp collar  hiding behind your jacket lapel. Make sure your collar stays upright and the shirt stays tight around your stomach ( you don’t need to look like you have a gut when you’ve been working so hard to get rid of it, right?). For the money, Express’s 1MX shirts are remarkably good at behaving and will work in a pinch.

And remember that none of this stuff matters if you don’t get clothes that fit.

Well Done Sir

Looks like Jason has been reading The Haute Spot recently.

Suit, $1,595, and shirt, $270, by Dolce & Gabbana. Shoes, $550, by Allen-Edmonds Seven. Pocket square by Robert Talbott. Briefcase by Hermès.

-GQ