It’s hard to imagine now, but the bomber jacket wasn’t actually invented to look cool.
The first versions were made for pilots in the early 20th century, who needed something warm and practical in cold, open cockpits. Short enough to move around in, with fitted cuffs and hems to keep the warmth in.
Very practical. Not particularly fashion.
And yet, more than a century later, we’re still wearing them.
So, how did the bomber become a fashion icon?
After making its way from military uniforms into everyday wardrobes, the bomber started popping up everywhere. Different decades gave it completely different personalities. From classic leather flight jackets to shiny nylon bombers, oversized streetwear versions and high-fashion interpretations.
And somehow, the basic idea never really disappeared.
That might be what we love most about a bomber jacket: you can completely change the fabric, proportions and styling and it still feels like a bomber.
Which, as you can probably imagine, gives us a lot to play with.
Then STYGR got its hands on it
We didn’t start STYGR with a master plan to become the bomber girls.
We started in 2019 with our grandmother’s sewing machine and a love for making things. Somewhere along the way, we started making bombers, and you went a little crazy for them.
So we made more.
For the next few years, STYGR became pretty much all about bomber jackets. And even though our collection has grown a lot since then, they’re still one of the things we’re most proud of making.
But a STYGR bomber was never going to be a basic black nylon jacket.
What makes a STYGR bomber a STYGR bomber?
Over the years, our bomber has developed its own little set of signatures.
The patch pockets. The extra-long, oversized sleeves that create that big puff we love. And, of course, the lilac lining. Although STYGR veterans might remember when it was still baby blue.
Then there are the fabrics.
Checks, jacquards, sequins, florals, colour, texture. For us, the fabric is where the fun starts. And because we work in small batches, some fabrics only ever become a handful of jackets.
Original or oversized?
These days, our women’s bomber jackets come in two fits.
Our Original Fit is the OG STYGR bomber, the one we’ve been making (and loving) for years. Slightly more fitted through the body, with our signature oversized puff sleeves. Available in sizes XS to XXL.
Our newer Loose Fit has all the same STYGR details, just with a more oversized and relaxed silhouette. The dropped shoulder creates that extra-loose, slouchy fit, with more volume and more room. Same bomber obsession. One size, designed to fit approximately sizes S to XXL.
But what do you actually wear with a bomber jacket?
Pretty much everything. And we think that’s one of the reasons the bomber has managed to stick around for so long.
Throw it over jeans and a T-shirt, a hoodie, a simple dress or your favourite trousers. A bomber is one of those pieces that somehow works with almost everything.
Even our boldest ones are made to be worn again and again.
More than just a jacket
The best part for us isn’t that bomber jackets happen to be fashionable again.
It’s seeing someone walk back into our Haarlem store wearing a STYGR bomber they bought years ago. Or hearing that a customer still gets stopped in the street to ask where her jacket is from.
Customers regularly come back for their second, sometimes even their third, while telling us how many compliments they still receive.
And that makes us so proud. But mostly, just really happy!
The bomber has changed quite a bit since its pilot-jacket days.
And we’re definitely not done with it yet.
SHOP BOMBER JACKETS →
