Wear Example 1.
Paired with Levi’s 501XX.
I’m wearing it with a pair of Levi’s 501XX jeans. As it’s made from shearling, it has a softer, more refined look than a standard leather biker jacket.
Wear Example 1. : Paired with Levi’s 501XX.
This photograph may not immediately evoke the image of Brunello Cucinelli, yet the brand itself has always valued an understated aesthetic, gaining recognition for proposing effortlessly chic styles. What makes this combination intriguing is that while it appears Teddy Boy-inspired at first glance, it ultimately achieves a highly sophisticated, mature look.
The silhouette from behind is also beautifully shaped. While the A-2 also had a well-defined silhouette, Brunello Cucinelli’s leather items possess a distinct level of elegance in the lines of the shoulders and waist. This results in a silhouette from behind that is characteristic of Brunello Cucinelli’s high tailoring craftsmanship.
Instead of a shirt, wearing a cashmere knit as an inner layer and leaving it casually open at the front creates an impeccable look. The slightly wider leg and less tapered straight silhouette of the 501XX differs from Brunello Cucinelli’s signature tapered line, yet when paired together, they complement each other surprisingly well.
Wear Example 2.
Styling a shearing rider’s jacket
I’ve been rather partial to vintage clothing and have hardly worn anything but blue jeans for the past few years, but this year I’m making a conscious effort to wear other bottoms. Among these, there’s a silhouette that’s slimmer than standard straight jeans. I’ll pair Dior’s signature black slim-fit denim, featured in my previous article on the Dior pea coat, with Visvim’s five-pocket straight trousers.
Slim-fit black denim jeans
The biker jacket paired with slim black denim also has a rock vibe, evoking the image of Motorhead’s frontman, Lemmy Kilmister. Adding an extra-wide gun belt around the waist completes that look. While Lemmy’s biker jacket featured studs and the band’s logo painted on the back, making it technically different, the combination of a biker jacket and slim black jeans captures his essence.
Pairing it with black slim-fit jeans brings out the biker jacket’s vibe, evoking the image of European bikers. In films, it’s the sort of outfit you’d expect an ageing, hippie-turned-biker-shop-owner to wear. While Remi and the hippie-turned-biker-shop-owner image would call for straight, waist-length hair, I’m well past the age for that and it wouldn’t suit me anyway, so I just wear it as is.
Wear example 2. : Slim-fit black denim
Unlike the image paired with the Dior peacoat, it appears as standard slim-fit black denim. The black bottoms create a lower centre of gravity than blue jeans, resulting in a more streamlined styling. As is true of Brunello Cucinelli garments in general, they possess a tolerance that allows them to blend naturally even when paired with items from other brands. Perhaps “tolerance” isn’t quite the right word; “enhancing” their quality and refinement might be more accurate.
To achieve a sophisticated, grown-up look with leather items, wrapping a stole or muffler around your neck is highly effective. Simply pairing them with black denim instantly transforms the overall feel.
A stole adds character whether tucked into or worn over a biker jacket. For a rugged look, leave it out; for a more refined silhouette, wear it draped over the shoulders.
Wear Example 3.
Wear Example: Visvim 5-Pocket Straight
Having not worn them for some time, I’ll pair these Visvim five-pocket straight-leg trousers with a winter coat, which provided the impetus to combine beige-toned trousers with outerwear. For me, beige or white trousers conjure the image of Yukio Mishima. While I’m not particularly knowledgeable about Mishima himself, I recall seeing footage of him in my childhood wearing white trousers and a dark brown polo shirt.
Incidentally, in the early 2000s, when I saw Dolce & Gabbana’s spring/summer collection at Barneys, it immediately conjured that image of Mishima. The combination of tight, low-rise beige trousers and a dark brown polo shirt that hugged the body evoked the physical presence of Mishima in the late 1960s, as captured in Photograph.
- Strictly speaking, my own knowledge of Mishima Yukio’s fashion is rather lacking, so perhaps few people would form such an image. As for Mishima’s own books, I recall reading The Sound of Waves(Shiosai) in my youth, though I remember almost nothing of its content.
- Looking back, it’s a sorry state of affairs that in my memory, Dazai Osamu’s The Setting Sun(Syayou) overlaps with The Sound of Waves. I do hope to revisit them when the opportunity arises.
- My image of Mishima Yukio is, if anything, strongly shaped by his debates with the All-Japan Student Struggle Council. In my mind, I’ve arbitrarily constructed an image of him as a profoundly principled individual who believed in his ideals and possessed remarkable mental fortitude.
Whilst I myself wear white or beige trousers without conjuring any image of Yukio Mishima, the post-war Japanese figure I recall most vividly for projecting a physical presence through fashion is Mishima. The image preserved in photographs of him was precisely that of white trousers and a polo shirt. This is why, whenever I see beige or white trousers, I associate them with Mishima.
Wear Example 3. : Visvim 5-Pocket Straight
I’ve recently taken a liking to pairing white-toned bottoms with dark brown, and I wear this combination quite often. When paired with Visvim’s slim-fit straight trousers with their clean silhouette, it creates a sophisticated, grown-up look.
Unzip the front and drape the stole casually for a refined look.
Zipping up the front and letting the scarf peek out at the V-neck creates not only warmth but also a sophisticated style.
Swapping the flat cap for a knitted beanie makes the face appear smaller, allowing the clean silhouette of the biker jacket to be more clearly appreciated.
Opening the front and moving about reveals the ease of movement afforded by its comfortable fit, alongside the beauty of its silhouette that remains impeccably structured.
When the bottoms are beige, a distinct character emerges that differs from 501s or black denim.
Details.
- Mouton
- Double-cursor zip fastening with diagonal placement
- Lapel collar
- Zipped pocket at top
- Zipped pocket at bottom
- Flap ticket pocket
- Cuff fastening with zip
- Shearling lining
- Made in Italy
Combinations.
- Biker jacket: Brunello Cucinelli shearling biker jacket
- Knit (grey): Brunello Cucinelli sweatshirt-style cashmere knit
- Cashmere stole: Brunello Cucinelli
- Western shirt: Brunello Cucinelli
- Denim: Levi’s 501XX 1954 model
- Denim: Dior Slim Fit Denim
- 5-Pocket Cotton Trousers: Visvim
- Casquette: Real McCoy’s
- Knitted Hat (Grey): LEUCHTFEUE
- Watch: Rolex Day Date (1803 1969)
- Sunglasses: Tom Ford
- Belt: Hender Scheme
- Footwear Mountain Boots: Brunello Cucinelli
Conclusion.
This shearling biker jacket was purchased on recommendation at a bespoke event I attended to select winter items for my wife. As I don’t wear leather items particularly often, it’s something I likely wouldn’t have chosen had I been selecting for myself alone.
It’s often the case with clothing that items which don’t particularly catch your eye on the hanger turn out unexpectedly good when actually worn. This shearling biker jacket is precisely that pattern.
It’s a leather item with a very interesting concept, designed to be worn over creased trousers as an alternative to a blazer. Despite being leather, it features a tailored jacket-like construction. While it could be paired with trousers from other brands, as I’ve done, pairing it with trousers from Brunello Cucinelli’s own range allows one to fully appreciate the Brunello Cucinelli aesthetic.
As touched upon with the previous Dior peacoat, Brunello Cucinelli pieces possess a certain tolerance, allowing combinations with other brands or items of entirely different concepts (such as vintage or more contemporary pieces). They lend a quality and refinement to items of differing concepts. (Though this assumes basic items)
The shearling biker jacket is an absolutely superb piece, yet I’d only worn it a handful of times since purchasing it. This shoot allowed me to experiment with various combinations beyond its traditional pairing with vintage denim, revealing its versatility. It paired particularly well with bottoms offering a slimmer silhouette than vintage denim, so I intend to actively pursue this style going forward.
Clothes that, years after purchase, elevate one’s own standards of value are truly rare. Providing this kind of value is the very essence of Brunello Cucinelli.
The Order Event was also an absolutely splendid experience. We are deeply grateful to Mr Hikino, known as Mr Brunello Cucinelli, who possesses such profound knowledge of the brand, for selecting the finest items for us as a couple.
His discernment in selecting items based on observing the wearer is a skill born of his keen powers of observation and listening, coupled with a profound professional awareness that contemplates both the outer and inner aspects of the wearer. The other staff members share Mr Hikino’s high level of sensitivity and professional awareness. Consequently, both my wife and I have absolute confidence that the items purchased from Brunello Cucinelli are without fault.
I believe this sentiment is shared not only by myself but also by other customers who cherish Brunello Cucinelli.
The shearling biker jacket featured this time is a piece with a distinct character; it may not suit everyone. However, Brunello Cucinelli’s shearling range includes items inspired by flight jackets, and colours extend beyond black to include natural shades.
They also offer shearing pieces that are less distinctive than this biker jacket and easier to combine with other items, so why not try one on? Shearing is an excellent outerwear material, offering a soft texture, lightness, and warmth. Combined with Brunello Cucinelli’s inherent versatility in styling, it naturally lends quality and refinement to a wide range of looks.
Shop
My Brunello Cucinelli items are purchased at the Brunello Cucinelli Ginza store.
As I mentioned in my article on field jackets, it is a wonderful store not only for its products and stores, but also for the people involved.
For more information about the store, please refer to article on Field Jacket.