Cashmere Bomber Jacket: Cashmere vs Shearling vs Suede Bombers for Men

A cashmere bomber jacket is the classic flight-jacket shape, with a zip front and rib knit cuffs and hem, cut in cashmere instead of nylon and leather. The newest at Coveti is the Brunello Cucinelli pure cashmere beaver bomber with a detachable shearling collar, part of the Brunello Cucinelli menswear collection and our edit of designer jackets for men.

What makes a cashmere bomber jacket?

The bomber shape is simple: a short body that ends at the waist, a zip front, a rib knit hem and cuffs that hold the jacket close, and a soft collar. What changes from one bomber to the next is the cloth. In cashmere there are two quite different routes.

• Woven cashmere cloth. The cashmere is woven into a dense fabric and the jacket is cut and sewn like outerwear, with a lining and structure. Beaver cloth is a version of this where the surface fibres are brushed into a soft, close nap. The new Brunello Cucinelli piece is this type.
• Knitted cashmere. The bomber is knitted, like a heavy cardigan with a zip. It is softer and lighter in feel, closer to knitwear than to a coat. The Johnstons of Elgin Keppie bombers on Coveti sit in our knitwear range for this reason.

Both are covered alongside leather, wool and satin styles in our guide to the best bomber jackets for men. The full list of the house’s latest pieces is in our Brunello Cucinelli new arrivals guide.

The lead piece: Brunello Cucinelli cashmere beaver bomber jacket

The Cashmere beaver bomber jacket in Medium Grey is cut from 100% cashmere beaver cloth with Thermore padding. The house describes the fibres on the outside as very fine and purposefully brushed for a soft, enveloping finish, with an inner membrane in the fabric. Nappa leather inserts give contrast to the brushed surface, and the shearling collar insert is detachable, with a neck strap.

The construction details are worth knowing:

• A two-way zip closure, so the jacket can open from the hem when seated.
• Two hand pockets, one welt and one patch with flap and button.
• Rib knit cuffs and bottom band.
• A full lining with two interior pockets with button closure and a pen holder.
• A regular silhouette, which leaves room for a knit underneath.

The detachable collar is the clever part. With the shearling in, the bomber reads as winter outerwear. With it out, the grey cashmere and nappa trim look sharper, closer to a smart casual jacket for the city.

Cashmere vs shearling vs suede bombers: which should you choose?

The same shape behaves very differently in each material.

Cashmere. The softest hand and the most refined look. It sits well over tailoring and a fine knit, and it suits men who want a bomber that can go to a smart dinner. Brushed cashmere needs care with rough bag straps and velcro, which can pull the nap.

Shearling. The Shearling bomber jacket in Brown uses suede shearling: fleece on the inside, a light, velvety suede face on the outside. The house adds cashmere knit inserts on the sleeves and back, Thermore padding, a rib knit insert at the collar, zipped hand pockets and a cupro lining. Shearling is the more rugged, more casual choice. For the full category, read our men’s shearling jackets guide.

Suede and nubuck. Lighter than shearling, with a soft matte face. Suede is the brushed inner side of the hide, and nubuck is the outer grain side, sanded to a fine velvet. Coveti carries the house’s Nubuck shirt-style bomber jacket in Rust Brown, a bomber with a shirt-like cut, and the Suede biker jacket in Light Brown for a different leather silhouette.

The fact matrix: Brunello Cucinelli outerwear compared

Every cell comes from the house’s own product information on Coveti. Where a detail is not in that data, the cell says so. The house publishes no warmth rating for any of these pieces.

The wider outerwear context: safari jacket and nappa overcoat

A bomber covers most days, but the new drop also brings two pieces that answer different needs.

The Shearling safari jacket in Beige has a vintage, outdoor attitude. A special waxed finish makes the leather more compact and fluid and gives the colour a slightly irregular, worn effect. It closes with a zip and snaps, the collar can be worn raised, and it has a zipped upper pocket, flapped patch pockets and adjustable button cuffs. It is longer and more utilitarian than a bomber.

The Nappa leather overcoat with padding in Brown falls straight to the knee with clean lines, a lapel collar, upper front pockets, flapped patch hand pockets and buttons at the cuffs. It is the dressier answer, the piece to wear over a suit. Beside it, the Wool and cashmere coat in Grey is a padded cavalry coat with a shearling collar. Our men’s overcoats guide explains lengths and cuts in more depth.

Cashmere bombers from other houses

• Knitted cashmere. The Johnstons of Elgin Keppie Dark Navy Cashmere Bomber Jacket and the Keppie Grey Cashmere Bomber Jacket are knitwear bombers, light enough to wear indoors and under a coat.
• Shearling trim on a down bomber. The Moncler Alpental Shearling-Trimmed Canvas Down Bomber Jacket in Camel Beige combines a canvas shell with a shearling trim.
• Technical bomber. The Mackage Dixon-X 2-In-1 Nordic Tech Down Bomber in Black-Silver is the sporty alternative for men who want the bomber shape in a technical down jacket.

How to wear a cashmere bomber jacket

• Over fine knitwear. The new Cashmere and silk sweater in Navy Blue is a slightly fitted crew neck with a chest pocket. Navy under grey cashmere is a quiet, polished pairing.
• With white trousers. A grey bomber over white denim with suede boots. Our white jeans for men guide builds the look.
• With pattern underneath. A Nordic jacquard cardigan under a plain bomber gives colour at the neck and hem. See our fair isle cardigan guide.
• With tailoring. Over a shirt and wool trousers, a cashmere bomber stands in for a blazer on a smart casual day.
• Keep the length right. The hem should sit at the waist, just covering the belt. Too long and it reads as a short coat; too short and it rides up when you sit.

How to size a Brunello Cucinelli bomber on Coveti

Brunello Cucinelli sizes vary by category. The cashmere bomber and the wool and cashmere coat are shown by UK and US chest size, which equals the Italian size minus 10, so an Italian 50 is a 40 chest and an Italian 52 is a 42 chest. Leather and shearling outerwear, including the shearling bomber, safari jacket and nappa overcoat, is shown in letter sizes from XXS to 5XL. The house publishes no statement on how its outerwear runs, so check our Brunello Cucinelli men’s size guide and compare with a jacket you already own, allowing room for a knit underneath.

Wearing it around the world

United Kingdom. In British winters, the shearling bomber and safari jacket suit country weekends, and the cashmere bomber suits dry days in town over a roll neck.

United States. In New York, Boston and Chicago, the shearling bomber and safari jacket suit the city through winter. In California and the South, the cashmere bomber without its shearling collar makes sense for cool evenings.

Europe. For alpine weekends, the shearling bomber with knit inserts pairs with mountain boots. In Milan, Paris and Vienna, the cashmere bomber over tailoring fits the city.

The Gulf (GCC). The cooler months suit a cashmere bomber for evenings outdoors and for travel to colder cities, and the detachable collar lets you lighten the look as the night changes.

Coveti ships worldwide by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority, with most regions sent Delivered Duty Unpaid. Every piece is 100% authentic, and our returns policy sets out how exchanges work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cashmere bomber jacket?

A cashmere bomber jacket is a waist-length zip jacket with rib knit cuffs and hem, made in cashmere. It comes in two forms: woven cashmere cloth cut as outerwear, such as the Brunello Cucinelli beaver bomber, and knitted cashmere, which feels closer to a heavy cardigan.

What is cashmere beaver cloth?

Beaver cloth is a dense woven fabric whose surface fibres are brushed into a soft, close nap. Brunello Cucinelli makes its new bomber from pure cashmere beaver cloth, brushed on the outside for a soft finish.

Is a shearling bomber better than a cashmere bomber?

Neither is better; they suit different days. Shearling is more rugged and casual, with fleece inside and a suede face. Cashmere is softer and more refined, and it sits more easily over tailoring and fine knitwear.

Can you wear a cashmere bomber jacket with a suit?

It works best with separates rather than a full suit. Wear it over a shirt and wool trousers, and it works just as well over a fine knit with flannels. For a suit, a knee-length overcoat such as a nappa leather overcoat is the better choice.

How should a bomber jacket fit?

The hem should sit at the waist, just covering the belt, with the rib cuffs at the wrist bone. Leave enough room through the chest for a knit underneath without pulling at the zip.

How do Brunello Cucinelli men’s jackets size on Coveti?

The cashmere bomber is shown by UK and US chest size, which equals the Italian size minus 10. Leather and shearling outerwear is shown in letter sizes from XXS to 5XL.