Women’s Bomber Jacket: Which Trousers to Wear With It
The morning is crisp, the sun comes out at midday, and after an hour your jumper is already too warm. That is exactly what the cropped jacket is made for: it ends at the hip, can be worn open and takes nothing away from your outfit. Plenty of women still hesitate, because they are not sure which trousers work underneath. Here you will find which trouser shape suits a cropped jacket, how a bomber jacket should fit and when you really need one.
What defines a bomber jacket
A bomber jacket is a short jacket that ends at hip height. The elastic ribbing at the hem and the cuffs is typical — it gathers the fabric upwards and gives the jacket its slightly bloused shape.
That is also where the name comes from: blouson is French and related to the word for blouse.
In the picture above you can see exactly that: a short jacket in red with white contrast stripes on the sleeves and shoulders, elastic ribbing at the bottom and a pair of wide black trousers. What is in stock right now is in the jackets.
Cropped on top, high at the waist — the rule for your trousers
The short jacket sets the proportions, not the other way round. Because it ends at the hip, the rise of your trousers decides the whole effect.
In practice that means: the waistband should sit high so that jacket and trousers meet. If the trousers sit low, a gap opens up in between and the silhouette is split into two halves of equal length.
Which trouser shape works with what
Almost every pair of trousers works with a short jacket, as long as the waistband is right. There are differences all the same.
- Wide-leg trousers. The strongest contrast and the combination in the picture above. The compact line on top balances out the volume below, as long as the drape stays long and calm.
- Pleated trousers. The pleats bring a vertical line with them and lengthen the look. A good choice when everything else should stay calm.
- Straight jeans. The most straightforward solution, because they widen neither at the top nor at the bottom and leave the stage to the jacket. A high waistband is half the battle here too.
- Slim trousers. The classic with a short jacket, because they do not overload its shape. Here too: a high waistband.
What is in stock right now is in the trousers and in the fabric trousers. How a wide-cut pair of trousers should fit is covered in detail in the article on the cut and fit of wide trousers.
With pleats it is worth taking a second look at the drape: the calmer the pleats hang, the more the trousers lengthen. How to combine them is in the article on pleated trousers.
Red, camel and what goes with them
Red is the tone that carries the outfit. Everything else can stay calm then: white, cream, black, sand. In the picture above, red stands against a white top and black trousers — nothing more is needed.
Camel is the easy-going counterpart. The warm sand tone goes with white, cream, black, denim blue and every shade of brown, and it looks calmer than red straight away.
If you are unsure: camel can be combined more often, red does more for a plain basic outfit. The newest shades are in the new arrivals.
What goes underneath and which shoes
Because the jacket is short and looks good open, your top is more visible than under a coat. On mild days a plain top is enough, as in both pictures. When it gets cooler, a long-sleeve top goes underneath and closes the gap to your trousers.
With shoes it is simple: the shorter the jacket, the more they count. White trainers for everyday, loafers for a calmer look, ankle boots for cooler days. With wide trousers a flat shoe sits best.
Matching pieces are in the tops and in the long-sleeve tops.
How a bomber jacket should fit
The shoulder seam ends on your shoulder bone, not beyond it. As a guide: a good centimetre further out is already noticeable. The sleeves end at your wrist.
The best test takes three seconds: close the jacket and lift both arms. If the hem rides up over your hip and stays there, the jacket is too tight. If it stays where it was, it fits.
With oversized cuts like the ones in the pictures this shifts on purpose — there the shoulder is allowed to sit lower. What that means for choosing your size is in the article on oversize.
From when you wear it
An unlined short jacket is something for the transitional season. As a rule of thumb: worn open from around 15 degrees Celsius, closed with a long-sleeve top underneath down to about 10 degrees. It is not made for frost.
These figures are a guide, not a fixed limit. Wind makes the same temperature feel noticeably cooler, direct sun the other way round warmer, and a jumper underneath shifts the range down by several degrees.
How fabrics behave as the seasons change is in the fabric glossary. More women’s tops for layering are in the shop.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bomber jacket for women?
A short jacket that ends at hip height and has elastic ribbing at the hem and the cuffs. The ribbing gathers the fabric slightly, which is where the bloused shape and the name blouson come from. Most bomber jackets have a zip and look sporty and casual.
Which trousers go with a bomber jacket?
Almost any pair, as long as the waistband sits high. Wide-leg trousers give the strongest contrast, straight jeans are the most straightforward choice, slim trousers are the classic. What matters is not the width, but that jacket and waistband meet and no gap opens up in between.
How should a bomber jacket fit?
The shoulder seam ends on the shoulder bone, the sleeves at the wrist, the hem on the hip. To check, close the jacket and lift both arms: if the hem rides up over your hip, it is too tight. With oversized cuts the shoulder is meant to sit lower.
From how many degrees do you wear a bomber jacket?
An unlined short jacket is made for spring and autumn. Worn open it feels right from around 15 degrees Celsius, closed and with a long-sleeve top underneath down to about 10 degrees. Wind, sun and what you wear underneath shift that by several degrees, there is no fixed limit.
Which sizes is a bomber jacket intended for?
That is stated in the size details of every item. If a style is labelled One Size, it is intended for sizes 34 to 42. With wide-cut jackets it is your shoulder width rather than your dress size that decides anyway.
Which fabric is suitable and how do you wash it?
Light woven fabrics made of polyester or polyamide are the most common, because they keep the wind out and hardly crease. They go into the machine on a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30 degrees, without fabric softener and without a tumble dryer. The ribbing does not like heat or a strong spin: pull it back into shape after washing and let it dry flat. What always counts is the care label in the item.