Top Gun Jacket: Maverick’s G1 Flight Jacket Explained

The Top Gun jacket is one of the most copied pieces of screen style ever made. When people search for it, they usually mean the brown leather flight jacket with a fur collar that Tom Cruise wears as Maverick in the 1986 film. This guide explains what that jacket is, where it comes from, how the look has changed in the sequel and how to wear the Top Gun jacket today.

What Is the Top Gun Jacket?

The jacket in question is a G1 flight jacket, the fur collared jacket used by United States Navy aviators and also by Marine Corps and Coast Guard flight crews. It is usually made from chocolate brown goatskin with a warm mouton collar, a zip front and a short, practical body. You can read the basics in this overview of the G1 military flight jacket.

The Navy Roots of the G1

The design grew out of a Navy specification written in 1940 for cold weather flying. Over the following decades the jacket was revised many times, with changes to the lining, the collar and the cut. One of the most useful changes was a shorter body, which stopped the jacket from bunching up when the wearer sat in a cockpit. After the war, pilots often added patches to record aircraft flown, cruises and other milestones, and that patched look is a big part of the Top Gun style.

What Maverick Wears in the Films

In Top Gun from 1986, Maverick wears a G1 style leather flight jacket with a fur collar and patches, and the film’s success led many clothing shops to sell similar jackets. In the 2022 sequel, costume guides report that he switches to a different flight jacket in many scenes, a lighter weight style made from flame resistant fabric. That is why most people who ask for the Top Gun jacket still mean the brown leather fur collar jacket from the first film.

Key Details of the Look

• Brown leather body. A deep chocolate brown with a smooth finish is the classic choice.
• Fur collar. The big collar keeps wind off your neck and gives the jacket its outline.
• Short, practical cut. The body ends near the waist, so it works with trousers or jeans.
• Patches. Chest and sleeve patches add the military touch, though many people prefer a plain jacket.

Our Top Gun Style Jacket

If you want the look, our Tom Cruise Top Gun Pete Maverick bomber fur leather jacket follows the same idea: a brown leather bomber with a big fur collar. It is a look alike design, and you can see it next to similar pieces in our celebrity inspired shearling jackets guide and the full celebrities jacket collection.

How to Wear the Top Gun Jacket Today

The easiest outfit is also the best one: a plain white or grey tee, dark jeans and boots. For colder days, add a thin knit under the jacket, but keep it slim so the shoulders still sit well. Chinos work if you want to dress it up a little, and a plain black tee gives a modern, sharper look. Skip heavy logos, because the jacket already has plenty of character.

Fit and Sizing

A flight jacket should sit at the waist or just below it, with sleeves that end at the wrist and enough room in the chest for a thin knit. If you plan to layer more, go up a size rather than letting the jacket pull across the back. Our shearling jacket size guide explains how to measure yourself.

Caring for a Leather and Fur Jacket

Keep it away from heat and direct sun, brush the collar gently and hang the jacket on a wide hanger. If it gets wet, blot it and let it dry slowly at room temperature. Our guide on how to care for a shearling jacket has the full steps.

Common Questions

Is the Top Gun jacket leather or shearling?

The original style is a leather jacket with a fur collar, not a full shearling jacket. Shearling jackets have wool lining the whole body. You can compare them in our guide to shearling vs sheepskin vs lambskin.

Is your Top Gun style jacket official merchandise?

No. It is a look alike design inspired by the film, and it is not made or endorsed by the film or the people named.

Can I wear it in winter?

Yes, with a layer underneath. For very cold weather, a full shearling jacket such as our shearling jackets for men will be warmer.

Our products are inspired by classic screen style and are not official merchandise. They are not connected with the film, its makers or the people named.