Belstaff is a fascinating company. Born in 1924 in industrial Staffordshire, it has proper credentials for making waterproofs for those who liked to push themselves – the early motorcyclists and aviators – with what was at the time considered pioneering technology, developed to withstand extreme conditions. Over the years, Belstaff dressed the military, mountain climbers and generations of bikers, as that breed progressed from the gentlemen who took up the sport in the early days to the rockers of the 1950s and 1960s. Not to mention a host of famous motorcycle enthusiasts too, like the King of Cool – Steve McQueen, T E Lawrence (of Arabia) and Che Guevara, all bikers who wore Belstaff (witness Che’s famous travelogue, The Motorcycle Diaries).
It is against this backdrop that we should place the brand’s Panther jacket. Originally produced in the 1950s as a two-piece motorcycle suit, it was made of vulcanised rubber with electronically welded seams, which made it both incredibly hardwearing and waterproof, the perfect outfit for combatting the changeable British weather.
Today, Belstaff still makes the Panther, however it has undergone quite a transformation. In leather, hand-waxed in Italy, the 2017 Panther feels extremely luxurious, while still possessing some of the grit that defined its ancestor's aesthetic. Modelled here by musician Christian Lambelin, it's also clearly got that casual rock 'n' roll swagger that seems to be a by-product of any leather jacket.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The modern-day version of the Panther actually owes much to Belstaff's famous wax-cotton Trialmaster and the other classic four-pocket jackets that the brand made for motorcycling officers of various police forces and the British military (by contrast, the original rubber Panther had three pockets). Nevertheless, many of the essential features of the new jacket do indeed derive from the 1950s Panther: the chinstrap, slanted chest pocket (itself borrowed from Belstaff's early Air Ministry flying coats) and belted waist. But let's face it, the fact that it comes in black or cognac leather means that it is now a lot more chic and comfortable than it would have once been. And the classic styling also means that today's version works effortlessly with any number of different outfit combinations.
Photography: Bryan Adams; styling: Jo Levin; photo assistant: Haydn Vooght; digital tech: Rhys Thorpe; hair: Tyler Johnston at One Represents using TYLER by Tyler Johnston; fashion assistant: Julia Lurie; model: Christian Lambelin at Select Model Management. Panther jacket, £1,250; belstaff.co.uk
-
August 30 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump's role reversal and King George III
-
5 bullseye cartoons about the reasons for mass shootingsCartoons Artists take on gun worship, a price paid, and more
-
Lisa Cook and Trump's battle for control the US FedTalking Point The president's attempts to fire one of the Federal Reserve's seven governor is represents 'a stunning escalation' of his attacks on the US central bank
-
Why more men are wearing jewelleryIn Depth Pop culture is boosting interest in earrings and necklaces, alongside classic tie pins and lapel pins
-
Ballet flats: the new men's fashion must-have?Talking point 'Sleek, barely there footwear' is blurring traditional gender divisions
-
Last minute Christmas gifts for menswear loversIn Depth The best holiday season presents for the gentleman in your life
-
Fashion designer Kim Jones: Transforming DiorIn Depth English fashion designer Jones has applied his Midas touch to Dior menswear
-
The history of an icon: The Gant shirtIn Depth Built from one Ukrainian immigrant’s American dream, these shirtmakers soon became pioneers in fit, form, function and print
-
Best foot forward: men’s winter footwear round-upSpeed Read For guaranteed style in the colder months and beyond, choose one, or perhaps two, pairs of these elegant, practical shoes
-
Top form: Polo Ralph LaurenSpeed Read The American fashion designer's most famous garment conveys an air of casual sophistication that stands the test of time
-
Peacocks of Jermyn Street: Turnbull & AsserSpeed Read As tailors to royalty, artists and spies alike, shirts from this British institution make for elegant workwear and stylish weekends
