The cast of Grease While it’s hard to classify any sort of musical as “badass,” the cast members of this movie broke the mold for traditional leather jacket wearers, also opening up the fashion statement as a choice for both men and women. Released in 1978, the film centers around two classmates at Rydell High in the year 1959. Amid 110 minutes of choreographed song and dance, the plot tells a love story between Danny Zuko, played by John Travolta, and Sandy Olsson, played by Olivia Newton-John, who had a fling after meeting on vacation the summer before Sandy would unknowingly enroll at Rydell. Zuko’s rough and tough clique, the T-Birds, all sport black leather jackets throughout the entire movie, while Sandy put in her good girl place, at times ridiculed by other students. In the final scene, Sandy shows up in her own all black leather ensemble, flipping the script on Zuko and the fashion world.James Dean James Dean, best known for his lead role in the film Rebel Without A Cause in which a red leather jacket was displayed prominently as part of his ward robe, will forever have a tinge of leather associated with his lasting image. Though he died in a car crash at the young age of 24, Dean’s legacy lives on in Hollywood to this day. Believed by many reports to be bisexual, Dean helped popularize the look among those of all orientations.Michael Jackson, Thriller music video While technically MJ’s Thriller get-up extends to more or less a full-body suit, the legendary red-leather background emblazoned with a black-leather ‘V’ is one of the most unforgettable clothing items dating back to Adam & Eve’s leafy knickers. The King of Pop may not have inspired a lasting fashion trend with this one, but it certainly was the subject of Halloween costumes for years to come.