Safari jackets: Classic or long-term trend?

[HHD]

I've noticed that those military-style safari jackets are arriving on the rails as part of the summer 2009 collections. I'm not sure how many years this has been, but every year their appearance is greeted by style columnists saying that as a trend, the look doesn't have long to run.

Last summer, it seemed that every man in Paris was wearing one.

Of course, they hadn't been away before that. Outdoorsy types wore them. Montedoro has made a safari-military style jacket with four flap pockets in more or less the same style for fifty years. But I can certainly remember a time when wearing a safari jacket would have marked you out as a Roger Moore impersonator, a mercenary or an associate of Eugène Terre'blanche. But now they're everywhere. And I like them (plenty of pockets to stuff things in).

Have they passed from a being a trend to classic status... are they going to be part of a man's classic wardrobe for years or decades to come?

NB I know the classic safari jacket is beige, belted and probably with epaulettes. I'm broadening the category a lot to include pretty much anything with four front pockets. They're all labelled Saharienne over here anyway, whether they're sand, grey, navy or (as in the case of a version Etro is selling) fuschia.

 

[nordicstyle]

You mean something like this?

I never thought of that jacket having anything to do with safari though, and I will probably wear it also this spring/fall, regardless of whatever fashion trend is--or is not--currently active.

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by HHD

I've noticed that those military-style safari jackets are arriving on the rails as part of the summer 2009 collections. I'm not sure how many years this has been, but every year their appearance is greeted by style columnists saying that as a trend, the look doesn't have long to run. Last summer, it seemed that every man in Paris was wearing one. Of course, they hadn't been away before that. Outdoorsy types wore them. Montedoro has made a safari-military style jacket with four flap pockets in more or less the same style for fifty years. But I can certainly remember a time when wearing a safari jacket would have marked you out as a Roger Moore impersonator, a mercenary or an associate of Eugène Terre'blanche. But now they're everywhere. And I like them (plenty of pockets to stuff things in). Have they passed from a being a trend to classic status... are they going to be part of a man's classic wardrobe for years or decades to come? NB I know the classic safari jacket is beige, belted and probably with epaulettes. I'm broadening the category a lot to include pretty much anything with four front pockets. They're all labelled Saharienne over here anyway, whether they're sand, grey, navy or (as in the case of a version Etro is selling) fuschia.
This happened long ago - I am guessing before you were born, even. All you are seeing now is the regular, temporary, revival of some extra attention to the style as a fashion item. That comes and goes. Based on experience, I am a fan of the Filson model for day after day travel wear. Winston Tailors makes a beautiful bespoke version in various wools as a casual travel jacket (Winston won't make it in cotton, saying it is a waste of money since you should buy that RTW). I would also suggest that the cotton version does look a bit dress-up for normal life use, even now. I wish Winston Tailors had photos on their blog, as it is a great jacket, with a model prominently displayed in the shop.

 

[PhiloVance]

I picked up a tan safari jacket at least 5 years ago from Holland&Holland when they closed the NYC store, so I'm definitely ahead of the trend, if there is one. It looked just like the one Recondo wore on GI Joe, so I had to have it. I wear it out in the fall/spring during my nocturnal ramblings in the jungle known as Manhattan.

 

[GBR]

Originally Posted by nordicstyle

You mean something like this?

I never thought of that jacket having anything to do with safari though, and I will probably wear it also this spring/fall, regardless of whatever fashion trend is--or is not--currently active.

I would not have described that as asafari jacket - just a useful early winter garment to look after.

 

[GBR]

Originally Posted by HHD

I've noticed that those military-style safari jackets are arriving on the rails as part of the summer 2009 collections. I'm not sure how many years this has been, but every year their appearance is greeted by style columnists saying that as a trend, the look doesn't have long to run.

Last summer, it seemed that every man in Paris was wearing one.

Of course, they hadn't been away before that. Outdoorsy types wore them. Montedoro has made a safari-military style jacket with four flap pockets in more or less the same style for fifty years. But I can certainly remember a time when wearing a safari jacket would have marked you out as a Roger Moore impersonator, a mercenary or an associate of Eugène Terre'blanche. But now they're everywhere. And I like them (plenty of pockets to stuff things in).

Have they passed from a being a trend to classic status... are they going to be part of a man's classic wardrobe for years or decades to come?

NB I know the classic safari jacket is beige, belted and probably with epaulettes. I'm broadening the category a lot to include pretty much anything with four front pockets. They're all labelled Saharienne over here anyway, whether they're sand, grey, navy or (as in the case of a version Etro is selling) fuschia.


Passing fashion, no more.

 

[shoreman1782]

That a+f jacket is more of an M65 interpretation.

Safari jackets have popped up in designer collections in that past few years--Dior Homme and Rag+Bone come to mind. But as the OP stated of course they still sell them at more staid clothiers.

This still from Annie Hall popped up on archivalclothing.blogspot.com recently. Tony Roberts looked good, IMO!

 

[HHD]

Nice pic. Tony looked good, but Diane looked great! These safari / military jackets are popular in Italy too. Mafoofan posted a really good photo of a Marinelli version on his blog: http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...arinella20.jpg

 

[robin]

 

[TRINI]

Originally Posted by PhiloVance

It looked just like the one Recondo wore on GI Joe, so I had to have it.

 

[Parker]

Is there a "proper" mode to a Safari jacket? I've seen them in shirt form with four or more buttons, sport jacket form with regular notch lapels and also in jacket form with Nehru-style stand up collar.

I was thinking of making a sports jacket version with regular lapels, the patch bellows pockets. Maybe gussets on the back shoulders. No belt or epaulets.

 

[Manton]

Somebody needs to post Pith Helmet Guy.

 

[Jmca1]

Never thought I would see a Recondo reference on here. I love this site.

 

[JLibourel]

Originally Posted by Manton

Somebody needs to post Pith Helmet Guy.

Yeah, Pith Helmet Guy kind of exemplifies the perils of wearing a safari jacket anywhere but on safari. Even if you have been on safari and the jacket is a legitmate souvenir, wearing it elsewhere is much more apt to make you look like Pith Helmet Guy than Stewart Granger!

The gun writer Jack Lott had hunted Africa a number of times and had done counter-terror work for the Rhodesian government against the insurgents. He is best remembered for having devised the .458 Lott cartridge. He liked to affect safari garb in the city. Despite having been legitimized by his adventures in Africa, his safari clothes made him look even more weird than and not as good looking as Pith Helmet Guy. But, then, Jack Lott was nothing if not weird.

While I was a Petersen Publishing, Jack Lott did a book on "Big Bore Rifles" for us. Some fellows at King's Gun Works were looking at a photo of him in the book wearing his safari jacket and toting a double rifle and commented that they must have been taken out in the African bush. "African bush, hell," I replied, "I took those photos of him myself up at the Petersen Ranch" [near Lake Elizabeth, California].

 

[Will]

All tricked out with belt and epaulettes can be a bit much but here's another vote for four pocket shirt jackets for weekend wear in spring and fall.