There are several varieties of vintage or retro jackets, right from the peplum styles of the 1940s to the hippie era where vests and fringed suede jackets reigned supreme. In the 1950s, jackets for women were usually fitted and short; men, on the other hand, wore sported motorcycle jackets that were done in glossy black leather. In the 1970s, navy pea jackets gained their lost popularity as a casual outfit, while the influence of disco saw nightwear jackets tilting toward sequins and satin.

Women’s vintage jackets dating back to the ’40s usually were fitted via the sleeves and bust, and invariably flared or marginally gathered under the waistline. This particular era pre-dated the majority of synthetic fabrics, which is why jackets were typically made from wool. The summer jackets were usually made from cotton or linen. Some jackets used fur collars – for instance, mink or fox – and it was only during this period that ladies started to wear fox collars that had the fox’s head intact. Often, men sported fitted and short jackets, a style popularized by a World War 2 general, Dwight Eisenhower. Dwight later became president of America.

In the 1950s, jackets for women were typically short and embellished. Wide lapels were trimmed with embroidery or French guimp. During this era, Coco Chanel, the famous designer, gained prominence. Her designs had tailored ladies’ suits with basic lines that had color-coordinated trim work. Generally, men’s retro jackets from the 1950s were motorcycle jackets that had short zippers at the front.

Quite a few popular vintage jackets came from the 1960s. Nehru jacket is among the more popular jacket styles for men. The jacket was often made from brocades or silks, and had a round square up collar flanked by a frontal square opening. The Nehru jacket draw heavy inspirations from Eastern Indian wear. It later became a vital part of the pop culture during the early 1960s. Vintage women’s jackets from this era came with faux fur coats. Some of the jackets also featured windowpane checks.

The distinctly popular hippie era vintage jackets were suede jackets that came with a long hanging fringe. The jacket came in different lengths, which added to its popularity since it was able to appeal to a wide range of buyers. Most of these jackets, however, stopped near the hips or waist. These jackets became popular among both male and female buyers and were usually sported with faded calico skirt jeans. A few other hippie style vintage jackets were also available such as loose shawl-like jackets made from tapestry fabrics or velvet.