"Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket"

×

Expand

From a private collection. EMP Museum.

"Punk jacket"

"Punk jacket," ca/ late 1970s- early 1980s.

The black leather jacket acquired its symbolic identity over the last half of the twentieth century. But its roots run deeper and its current meaning embodies some interesting contradictions.

The leather jacket evolved from garments developed to protect their wearers from danger or the elements. It was adopted by rugged—or ragged—individualists who rejected mainstream ideas of fashion. It has now become a crucial accessory of the fashion-conscious.

Worn to be Wild features 50 leather jackets, including early twentieth century aviation apparel; Second World War-era painted military flight jackets; punk jackets from the 1970s and 80s; jackets worn by Elvis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other film and music celebrities; and haute couture by legendary designers such as Prada, Chanel and Givenchy.