The history of world leaders and leather jackets.
For nearly a hundred years, world leaders have sported leather with a style of their own.
Leather enhances political personas all across the ideological spectrum, for good reason. The material's premium nature and high versatility has been used by many to convey distinct attitudes ― whether they're flexing a sleek fit to pull a power move or sporting a casual suit alternative to achieve a relatable "man of the people" look. Catch a few notable moments of leather in leadership, captured all around the world.
GEORGE W. BUSH
The official Air Force bomber jacket has been a staple piece for plenty of Presidents, but number 43 George W. Bush was noticeably into the leather look. Casual enough to make a world leader look approachable, the military aesthetic still gives a presentation of command.
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VLADMIR PUTIN
Russian President Vladimir Putin has developed a reputation for public displays of the male aura: from shirtless horseback riding escapades to intense trips to the shooting range. A hardcore leather jacket is more than fitting for his look ― especially for one particular 2010 event, where the political figure hung out with a known Russian motorcycle gang, the Night Wolves.
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JACOB ZUMA
South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma is known for sporting insanely bright leather pieces and even releasing a collection of his own neon leather jackets, which didn't make a big impact at the time but for sure marked his aesthetic as a whole.
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KIM JONG-UN
Who knew Kim is lowkey stylish? Kim Jong-un must hide some secrets within his luxurious leather coats — after all, leather is a language spoken all over the world.
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BARACK OBAMA
Barack Obama has a surprisingly chill vibe with a very "unpresidential" persona he sported outside of the Oval Office. His post-office style is genuinely top-notch, with him sporting sleek leather jackets such as the one he wore at the 2019 NBA Finals. He loves it so much he owns the exact same one in brown, which he debuted shortly after leaving the Oval Office back in 2017.
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