Back in the ‘80’s, fashion was big, loud, and colorful – and leather jackets were no exception. Originally created for World War II servicemen, leather jackets had a macho birthright. But when the ‘80’s came around, the blacks and browns of the military were replaced with bright, dyed leather designs, featuring 8-balls, Union Jacks, and color-blocked styles.
Michael Jackson gave rise to the popularity of the bright leather jacket trend with his red leather, zipped motorcycle jacket in the “Beat It” video. Jackson gave street credibility to the bold and ostentatious colors, and everybody wanted one. The music world continued to stoke the popularity of the jackets when rap artists Salt-n-Pepa wore them over skimpy spandex body suits, along with chunky gold chains around their necks. The colors and styles were borrowed from traditional Afrocentric designs, and the over-the-top looks fit in perfectly with the ‘80’s ideal of consumption.