1.03 Flight jackets: MA-1, MA-2 and the new "MA-1 X Alpha" #100TYBMTT

This is the next in my long-running series of posts aimed at nailing down the important pins on the map of essential Mod clothing. So throw away your River Island shirts and your sailing shoes. Here are the 100 things you'd be Mod to try.

Ah the legendary MA-1. I'm more of a fan of the MA-2 myself (with its furry collar, it just seems more stylish), but the MA-1 is probably one of the original Mod / Skinhead flight jackets. While there is very little call for them to be worn together, combined with sunglasses that look is complete; as if somehow you've just come down from your Harrier or whatever and rolled in to whatever party you're no doubt at. 

As with parkas the original reason behind adopting the jackets was probably durability combined with cheapness - military surplus in the '60s must have been fairly easy to get your hands on. But nevertheless they look sharper than the parka: the jackets still retain their air ace character and are far more fitted than larger overcoats. They don't crease visibly and are lighter. And, combined with iron-on patches, they can take different characters - I'm fairly sure the US President still wears an MA-1 / MA-2 with a US seal on the sleeve.

Anyway the inspiration for this post was Ben Sherman's new jackets just released into stores. Titled the "X - Alpha", they take on the traditional MA-1 design, but with subtle extra style hints. One for example, is black and green contrasted. I'm glad they went for traditional colours - the jackets can look a bit tacky and lose their edge in non-military colours.