Claire's Picks

← Coats and Jackets Worth the Investment

Bomber Jackets Worth Getting Dressed For

0 items

The bomber jacket has spent decades being dismissed as too casual, too masculine, too much of a gap year throwback. We disagree entirely. When the cut is right and the fabric has some weight to it, a bomber jacket is one of the most versatile layering pieces a wardrobe can hold. It works over a slip dress. It works with tailored trousers. It finishes a jeans and a good top combination in a way that a blazer sometimes cannot. What we have been looking for specifically are bombers that feel considered rather than thrown together. Silky finishes in rich colours. Varsity styles that lean more grown up than sportswear. Padded versions that give you warmth without looking like you grabbed whatever was closest to the door. The proportions matter enormously here. Too boxy and it overwhelms. Too cropped and it loses its ease. The ones in this edit sit exactly where they should. A good bomber jacket makes you look like you had an idea when you got dressed. That is a simple thing to want and surprisingly hard to find. These are the ones that deliver it.

Claire's Top Picks

Bomber Jackets That Pull a Look Together MILANOO_UK Retro Zip-up Bomber Jacket For A Street Look Jump to section ↓

£42.84 MILANOO_UK

Navy Bomber Jackets That Earn Their Keep NEW ERA CAP New Era Navy Bomber Jacket adult unisex Jump to section ↓

£70.00 NEW ERA CAP

Nylon Bomber Jackets Worth Hanging On To VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Terrex Hike Bomber Down Jacket - Grey - Grey Jump to section ↓

£44.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

Oversized Bomber Jackets Worth the Outlay LA REDOUTE UK Short Oversized Bomber Jacket in Leopard Print Jacquard Jump to section ↓

£54.99 LA REDOUTE UK

Padded Bomber Jackets You'll Wear to Death JUICY COUTURE UK DUCK GREEN TWILL BOMBER JACKET - L Green Jump to section ↓

£120.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

Pink Bomber Jackets Worth Wrapping Up In MONSOON Hatley Bursted Hearts Sequin Bomber Jacket Pink Jump to section ↓

£37.20 MONSOON

Bomber Jackets That Pull a Look Together

There is a particular kind of jacket that does more work than it gets credit for, and the bomber is it. Throw one over a slip dress and the whole outfit sharpens immediately. Wear it with straight leg jeans and a plain tee and suddenly you look like you planned it. That is the bomber's specific talent: it adds structure without effort and edge without trying too hard. We have been very deliberate about which ones make it into this edit. Fabric matters. Fit matters. The silhouette needs to be cropped enough to work with high waisted pieces but not so short it looks costume. We love a classic satin finish, a good quality nylon, a ribbed collar that sits properly rather than gaping. Colour plays a role too. Black and olive are reliable, but some of the most interesting options here are in shades people overlook until they try them on. A bomber jacket is not a compromise between warmth and style. The best ones deliver both completely. These are the ones that justify that argument entirely.

MILANOO_UK Retro Zip-up Bomber Jacket For A Street Look £42.84 MILANOO_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Everest Bomber Jacket Yellow Sulpher Yellow - Size: £119.99 SUPERDRY_UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Infinity Leather Classic Ma- Leather Bomber Jacket-Newcastle In Tan £129.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Everest Hooded Bomber Jacket Green Cedar Green - Size: £124.99 SUPERDRY_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Sports Puffer Bomber Jacket Beige Pelican Beige - Size: £47.49 SUPERDRY_UK

MASDINGS Knitted Bomber Jacket £126.00 MASDINGS

INSTOCK UK Classic Bomber Jacket - Stylish Zip Design - Perfect for All-Outfits - Red One Size Fits £21.94 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Joanna Long Sleeve Buttons Bomber Jacket - SM Camel £24.85 INSTOCK UK

STUARTS LONDON Fila Vintage Lakeland Stripe Bomber Jacket £32.00 STUARTS LONDON

EGO (UK) Collar Padded Bomber Jacket In Chocolate Brown, Women's Size £17.00 EGO (UK)

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Taupe Ruched Sleeve Cropped Bomber Jacket £31.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Boucle Zip Up Bomber Jacket £14.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Navy Bomber Jackets That Earn Their Keep

Navy does something no other colour does for a bomber jacket. It reads as smart without trying, casual without being sloppy, and it works across more outfits than most people give it credit for. Throw one over a floral dress and it grounds the whole look. Wear it with tailored trousers and it loosens things up without undoing them. The bomber silhouette has been around long enough that we only bother with the ones that actually justify their place in your wardrobe rather than just filling it. What we have looked for here is quality where it counts. The weight of the fabric. The ribbed cuffs that keep their shape. The zip that sits flat and does not pucker. Details that sound minor until you own a jacket that gets them wrong and suddenly they are all you can think about. These are not trend pieces dressed up as classics. They are the navy bombers we would genuinely recommend to a friend standing in a changing room asking whether it is worth it. In almost every case here, our answer is yes.

NEW ERA CAP New Era Navy Bomber Jacket adult unisex £70.00 NEW ERA CAP

STUART TREVOR UK MA- Light Weight Patched Bomber Jacket in Navy £198.00 STUART TREVOR UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Coats Jackets Athalstone Zip Up Padded Bomber Jacket in True Navy £24.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

STUART TREVOR UK MA- Light Weight Collared Bomber Jacket in Navy £128.00 STUART TREVOR UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Navy Zip Through Faux Suede Bomber Jacket £25.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Navy Suede Bomber Jacket £35.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Mens Slim Fit Storm Fleece Hybrid Bomber Jacket, Navy Blue, Size: £69.99 SUPERDRY_UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Varsity Bomber Jacket - Navy - Navy £69.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

INSTOCK UK Recycled Bomber Jacket: Unisex - French Navy £65.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK MA- Light Weight Collared Bomber Jacket in Navy - L No Logo £128.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK MA- Light Weight Collared Bomber Jacket in Navy - S With Logo £128.00 INSTOCK UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Everest Hooded Bomber Jacket Navy Nordic Chrome Navy - Size: £124.99 SUPERDRY_UK

Nylon Bomber Jackets Worth Hanging On To

The nylon bomber sits in an interesting place in a wardrobe. It is too casual for some occasions and yet it consistently outperforms smarter options when it comes to actual usage. We reach for ours constantly. Over a slip dress on a cool evening, thrown on top of a hoodie when autumn turns serious, zipped up over workwear when the commute is brutal and you need something that does not look like you are on your way to a hiking trail. The appeal is in the lightness of it. Nylon packs down, repels light rain, and has a certain sheen that lifts an outfit rather than dulling it down. Not all bombers earn a permanent place though. The ones we have picked here have the cut right, fitted enough through the shoulders without constricting, and the proportions work across different heights and builds. We have looked at classic silhouettes and some slightly oversized options because both have genuine merit depending on how you want to wear them. A good nylon bomber is not a trend piece. It is a jacket you will still be wearing in five years.

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Terrex Hike Bomber Down Jacket - Grey - Grey £44.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Stone Cropped Nylon Bomber Jacket £24.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Oversize Nylon oversized bomber jacket in black nylon £93.75 THE_DOUBLE_F

SNEAKIN UK Jacket Selected Slhstratford Quilted Bomber £43.30 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Infinity Leather Puffer Quilted Bomber Leather Jacket - Hamar In Orange £139.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

STUARTS LONDON Ma Strum NT Bomber Jacket £66.00 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Schott NYC CWU Bomber Jacket - Navy £70.00 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Infinity Leather Puffer Quilted Bomber Leather Jacket - Hamar In Black £139.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

STUARTS LONDON Schott NYC Bomber Jacket £96.95 STUARTS LONDON

Oversized Bomber Jackets Worth the Outlay

The oversized bomber has earned its place as one of the hardest working pieces in a wardrobe, and we say that having been genuinely converted rather than just following the trend. It bridges the gap between a casual jacket and something with real presence. Thrown over a slip dress it looks intentional. Over wide leg trousers it looks considered. Over virtually anything it does something interesting to the proportion of the outfit beneath it. What we have curated here are the ones worth spending real money on. The bombers with the right weight to them, the ones that hold their shape rather than collapsing sadly at the shoulders. Fabric matters enormously in this silhouette. A good satin finish reads luxurious. A heavy nylon reads purposeful. A quality suede effect reads expensive even when it isn't. We have been particularly ruthless about the oversized part. Some jackets claim the label and deliver barely anything. The ones here actually give you the drop shoulder, the generous body, the silhouette that makes the whole thing work. Buy the right bomber once and it will outlast everything else in your wardrobe.

LA REDOUTE UK Short Oversized Bomber Jacket in Leopard Print Jacquard £54.99 LA REDOUTE UK

MILANOO_UK Vintage Faux Leather Bomber Jacket For Women - Retro Zip Up Oversized Harrington Moto Coat - Spring Casual Outerwear £32.71 MILANOO_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cherry Red Faux Leather Oversized Bomber Jacket £35.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Olive Oversized Cocoon Sleeve Bomber Jacket £28.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Croc Suede Bomber Jacket £22.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LOUCHE Woody Borg Oversized Bomber Jacket £85.00 LOUCHE

STUARTS LONDON Fred Perry Made in Japan Bomber Jacket - Black £165.00 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Wax London Fjallen Bomber Jacket Teddy - Black £210.00 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Infinity Leather Oversized Leather Ma- Bomber Jacket - Warrington In Black £119.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Beige Utility Style Draw Cord Bomber Jacket £14.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Padded Bomber Jackets You'll Wear to Death

The bomber jacket was always cool. The padded version took that coolness and made it actually useful for real weather in a real British winter. That combination is rarer than it sounds. Most jackets compromise somewhere: either they look great and leave you freezing, or they keep you warm in something that feels like outerwear borrowed from a camping trip. A padded bomber does neither. It sits at the hip, it layers over everything from a midi dress to wide leg trousers, and the puffer quilting reads as intentional rather than purely practical. We have been genuinely obsessed with finding the ones that get the proportions right, because proportion is everything here. Too much volume and you lose the silhouette. Too little padding and you lose the point. The ones we have picked are the jackets you reach for constantly from October through to March without ever feeling like you settled. Cropped fits, relaxed fits, neutral shades that go with everything and a few bolder colours for when you want the jacket to do the talking. These are the ones worth owning properly.

JUICY COUTURE UK DUCK GREEN TWILL BOMBER JACKET - L Green £120.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK DUCK GREEN TWILL BOMBER JACKET - XX Green £120.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Everest Bomber Hybrid Jacket White Off White - Size: £99.99 SUPERDRY_UK

LA REDOUTE UK Idak Padded Bomber Jacket £99.00 LA REDOUTE UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Everest Hooded Bomber Jacket Red Varsity Red - Size: £124.99 SUPERDRY_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Slim Fit Embroidered Logo Sports Puffer Bomber Jacket, Beige, Size: £47.49 SUPERDRY_UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Down jacket Superdry Bomber en laine Varsity Monogram £83.58 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Pink Bomber Jackets Worth Wrapping Up In

The bomber jacket is one of those shapes that looks effortless on almost everyone, and pink is exactly the colour it should come in more often. There is something about a pink bomber that manages to feel both casual and considered at the same time. It softens the utilitarian structure of the silhouette without making it precious. That is a genuinely difficult balance to get right. We love a pink bomber for the way it works across so many situations. Thrown over a slip dress it becomes an evening layer. Worn with straight leg jeans and clean trainers it is the whole outfit. It bridges that annoying gap between a jacket being too light and a coat being too heavy, which is basically half the year in Britain. The shades matter enormously. A dusty rose reads differently from a candy pink or a deep fuchsia. Each creates a completely different mood. We have been selecting the ones with good weight, proper ribbing, and colour that actually holds rather than looking washed out in daylight. These are the pink bombers we would genuinely buy ourselves.

MONSOON Hatley Bursted Hearts Sequin Bomber Jacket Pink £37.20 MONSOON