Spoiler: Bomber Jackets Are Back in a Big Way—5 Outfits Defining the 2023 Trend

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After their several-year hiatus from the big old trend cycle, I'm here to declare that bomber jackets are officially back on the menu for spring/summer 2022. You might be thinking, "But they never went anywhere," and you'd be right! Bomber jackets have stuck around as a spring and fall outerwear staple, but I'd say they haven't been a trend piece since 2016 circa the King Kylie era. That is, until now.

Thanks to countless cool designers—including Prada, Versace, Stella McCartney, and more—the jacket style has resurfaced as a wardrobe must-have for spring, and with the help of brands such as Mango, COS, and H&M, it's accessible to everyone. Celebs such as Rihanna and Hailey Bieber are already backing the silhouette, so consider this your official green light to give it another go.

On the runway:

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(Image credit: Stella McCartney; Off-White; Prada; Ports 1961)

The jacket silhouette has made a triumphant return to the spotlight, most notably on the recent runways, where designers like Prada and Stella McCartney are getting us reacquainted. Colors, prints, and shapes run the gamut, from basic to bold, so continue on to see five key ways the fashion crowd is styling their bomber jackets this spring.

And now, how to wear it:

1. BOMBER JACKET + CARGO PANTS

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(Image credit: @handinfire)

Leave it to fashion's inner circle to make two traditionally "dad" pieces, a bomber jacket and cargo pants, look unreasonably cool. 

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(Image credit: @hannamw)

Take a cue from this combination and upsize both the top and bottom for one cool, relaxed ensemble.

Shop the combination:

2. CROPPED BOMBER JACKET + COLORFUL BOTTOMS

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(Image credit: @fannyekstrand)

Cropped bomber jackets are one particular style I'm jotting down, and so far, the way to wear them is with a colorful skirt à la Prada's spring runway.

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(Image credit: @nnennaechem)

You could also opt for a bright pair of pants, ideally high waisted to meet the jacket's hem.

Shop the combination:

3. OVERSIZE BOMBER JACKET + MINISKIRT

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

The fashion set is also wearing bomber jackets with another 2022 staple: miniskirts. The mix of the jacket's sporty feel and the Y2K skirt vibe makes for a really fresh styling choice.

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(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

All the combo needs is a white tee and classic shoulder bag—it basically styles itself.

Shop the combination:

4. LEATHER BOMBER JACKET + BASEBALL HAT

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

Leather bomber jackets are a micro-trend that's been leading the charge, and I'd argue that topping them off with a baseball hat is *the* way to style the retro-sporty aesthetic this spring.

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(Image credit: @chanelmckinsie)

It's only natural that an item as sporty in nature as a bomber jacket would pair well with another athletic staple.

Shop the combination:

5. BOMBER JACKET + TROUSERS + RETRO SNEAKERS

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(Image credit: @sofiamcoelho)

If you're looking for a classic and easy way to style a bomber jacket, this is it. Across the board, fashion people are wearing theirs with some form of relaxed trousers and retro sneakers.

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(Image credit: @filis_pina)

Its relaxed, cool vibe makes this a pairing worth repeating.

Shop the combination:

Up next, Our Definitive List of Every Wardrobe Basic Your Closet Needs in 2022

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Senior Editor

Anna is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of the Who What Wear team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a number Who What Wear cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.