Menswear has always had a rebellious streak. Whenever tailoring gets too polite, someone turns up in a bomber jacket and creepers and reminds everyone that style can also be a provocation.
A short history of looking like trouble
- 1950s: Teddy Boys in London wore crepe-soled "brothel creepers" with their drape jackets, and Marlon Brando's black leather motorcycle jacket in The Wild One (1953) made the biker look famous.
- 1970s: punk ripped up everything, adding safety pins, studs and leather neckbands, and took the creeper back to the King's Road.
- Later decades: the military MA-1 flight jacket, originally designed for US airmen, became the jacket of skinheads, ravers, skaters and eventually fashion editors.
The modern rebel outfit
Today's version mixes those references with streetwear. A green or black bomber, slim black jeans with a chain or keychain detail, chunky creepers and a leather neckband or choker add up to a look that feels confident rather than costume-like. The key is to choose one or two strong pieces and keep the rest simple. A plain white T-shirt under the bomber stops the outfit from becoming a tribute act.
Taking risks with accessories
Accessories like chokers, rings and neck chains are where most men hesitate. The honest advice is that confidence carries them. Wear one, keep it plain leather or metal, and do not combine it with anything else that shouts.
Rebel style and Las Vegas
If there is one city built for a bit of rock and roll, it is Las Vegas, where Elvis played hundreds of shows and where the casino floor has no formal dress code. A bomber and black jeans will take you from the Strip to a poker table at most casinos without trouble. The nightclubs are stricter, though, and many refuse sportswear and some footwear. See the Vegas weekend packing list for what to bring for each stop.
