College Fashion Trend: Military Jackets
Here in Tucson, it’s been a tranquil 75 degrees the past few days; however, fall is still manifesting itself with changing leaves and Halloween decorations going up around town. For some of you, it may already feel like winter!
If you want to keep warm and look stylish this season, one of the most essential pieces for fall 2009 is definitely the military jacket. It’s a huge trend on college campuses across the country – I’m sure you’ve probably seen it at your school already!
Want to get in on this trend? When hunting for a military jacket, there are many options to consider. Follow the following list of questions and you will have a better idea of what to look for! And read on for tips on how to wear a military jacket, as well as cute and affordable options you’ll want to score for your closet!
Before You Shop, Ask Yourself…
How long or short do I want my jacket to be? This will depend on your personal aesthetic, as well as your body type.
Do I want a neutral jacket or a pop of color? Brightly colored statement jackets can be a great way to rev up your wardrobe, but a neutral would probably be more practical for everyday wear.
Should I consider cropped or pea-coat versions? Which is more my style?
How heavy do I need my jacket to be (in accordance with the weather)?
Do I like the vintage versions, or is a contemporary translation more my style?
Introductory Examples:
Now that you know what you’re looking for, here are a few higher-end military jackets that I loved. These aren’t exactly budget-friendly, but they’re a good way to get your inspiration going. Keep reading to see some more affordable options you can buy online.
My Favorite Online Picks:
Here are some fabulous military jackets that are available to purchase online right now. Most are fairly budget-friendly for those of us who are trying to save money!
Product information (Clockwise from upper left): Forever 21, Newport News, Chickdowntown, Forever 21, Boutique-To-You, DKNY (through Piperlime)
How to Wear a Military Jacket:
At CF, one of our favorite bloggers is Betty from Le Blog de Betty. She rocks the military jacket trend flawlessly and serves as a great example of how to wear it. Like her style? Then be sure to check out her blogand/or the CF article on her style.
Here are a few photos of Betty rocking the military jacket trend!
To get your inspiration going, here are a couple of sample outfits I created to show you how to wear a military jacket. The first look is girly and romantic, while the second is a little more edgy.
Option 1: Military Meets Romance
Product Information: Jacket- Forever 21, Jeans- Tilly’s, Riding Boots- Avon, Top- Miss Selfridge, Perfume- Romance by Ralph Lauren
Option 2: Edgy and Patriotic
Product Information: Jacket- Chickdowntown, T-shirt- Moxsie.com, Skirt- TopShop, Flats- Chloe, Bag- Shirise
Your Thoughts?
What do you think about the military jacket trend? Do you own one? If so…tell us how you wear it! If not…would you consider buying one?
Posted on on October 7, 2009 / Filed Under: Trends / Tags: Fall 2009, Jackets, military jacket, Outerwear, Trends
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Lalalina
Military jackets are not really my thing, men in uniform, however, are a different story lol:) I really like the outfits you put together. Even though I do not personally like this trend, I can appreciate how you put it together for those who might like it/want to try it! I really want the black bag that Betty is rocking in the pic with the red jacket…any idea where that is from or what brand it is?
Chelsey
i do love structured jackets, but I can’t get into the military jackets. A lot of them look like band jackets, and I was in the marching band in high school lol. Never again will I don a band uniform or look-a-like.
Bizzy
I love the military jacket trend! I can’t wait to get one!
One thing though… I adore this site like crazy, but a couple things irk me. Every single time I find a nice piece when you put outfit options together, it becomes SO difficult to find. I really like the Miss Selfridge top in Option #1, but I can’t even find it on the site since it links to the main page, and not the actual item. Do you think you can link the actual item, and also make sure the item is in stock? I find it useless to be linked to an item I can’t even buy. Also I don’t mind overseas sites, but it’s not very budget-conscious for us American college girls to buy from there, with the exchange rate and ludicrous shipping. They don’t even have college overseas, they have university! XD I know you must get many, many visitors from all over but it’s not fair to be shown something so beautiful and similarly impossible to get. Thanks, Zephyr! :D
Isabelle
I’m so excited about this post because I found an awesome jacket this past weekend for $3.50 at a thrift shop and I was dying to wear it so I’m mixing some of your ideas with some of mine to make the perfect Friday outfit :)
Lalalina
Hey I scoured Betty’s blog to try and find that picture or another one of that bag, is it possible that you could let me know where you found the picture on her site? Thanks bunches
laura
Is the picture at top a pic of the RMCP? lol
Kristina - University of Arizona
Lalalina: Her bag is from Urban Outfitters =) and I’m a frequent browser of her page that’s how I found the picture. I think that picture might have been from her July archives…unfortunately, her blog is kind of hard to do exact searches. She is also on lookbook.nu. If you type in “Betty” in the search box you can find a lot of pictures from her blog, including military looks.
Kristina - University of Arizona
Also, I just now realized that I did not link the earrings in the first outfit. They are from Anthropologie! Sorry everyone!
Lalalina
Thanks Kristina!
Fen
Loving the mounties!
I didn’t even realize that my double-breasted pea-coat was considered a “military jacket”! I wear it with everything, and generally find myself wearing it for the duration of the winter up here in Canada. I really like the idea of a bright coloured jacket too. There was a girl in one of my classes last year who had an emerald green pet-coat and I couldn’t take my eyes off of it!
Linda
Great article, but, I would have to say I agree with Bizzy about not being able to find things.
Like in this article …we’re linked to main site, and the name of the article isn’t even listed..so it makes it pretty hard/impossible to find it…I know it might be time consuming to link us directly to each piece…but can we at least get the name? :)
Kristina - University of Arizona
Fen: I would definitely say there are jackets that are strictly pea coats and strictly military coats; however, I have seen some that are a hybrid of the two. For example, the purple coat from Newport News above. The distinction might be more subjective, but I personally like the idea of a hybrid!
Kristina - University of Arizona
Bizzy and Linda: I will definitely keep your suggestions in mind and be more specific about the example pieces! Sorry about the confusion!
Fen
Just realized that I made the worst typo to date on my comment – to clarify, the girl’s coat that I admired was a pea-coat, not a pet-coat! Lol!! I agree with you Kristina, its all in the little details that make things military-inspired or not (like the double breasted buttons, little links at the cuffs, the collar line, etc…). I like the hybrid of the two as well.
SupaWaifu
I have a sailor-esque blazer from Ann Taylor and a great Military jacket from Hot topic. I got both these before the military trend really hit and I’m glad I did! I personally love all the buttoned details. Some jackets do get a little marching-band but done well this is a great trend
Mahlee Joy
I got a dark blue military-styled cord jacket at T.J. Maxx’s for $20. It’s not too thick, but perfect for early fall. Love it, what a steal. Also, I work at retail store that sells Ralph Lauren, and go with Always Yours from the Romance Collection. Above and beyond the best he has to offer: smells like real flowers.
If you want the best, most affordable boots to go with, try Dots (like). Suede flat boots there are $19, and the style would go really well with something military.
This chick Kristina is right. You need a military jacket, SO adorably flattering!
Kim - Cal State
Ooh I’m loving the outfits you made Kristina, I could definitely see myself wearing both. I can’t wait for it to get cold enough to actually wear heavy jackets!
Tara from My Little Fashion Finds
I like this trend. I think military jackets are cute. I’m actually working on writing an article about them myself. My favorite jacket in this post is the black one from Forever 21. So awesome!
Rachel
i just got this super cute jacket from macys thats military style and now that this post is up, im so excited to wear it!
heres the jacket : http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=379371&CategoryID=24773
would that be considered a military style pea coat?
Paula
I just can’t get into this trend. Nice outfit ideas though!
erika
uhh the first picture is the RCMP, not the military…
Jess
I love this trend. I am actually going to a thrift store tomorrow, and I am hoping to find a cute military jacket.
I love the outfits too. I love love the edgy outfit.
Luinae
I didn’t want a military jacket until I saw the first photo- then I went digging through my closet to find the soft fabric navy blue double breasted coat I LOVE. Thanks for some good style ideas!
xtinagirl
I love the military jackets! I found one at H&M that I’m waiting to buy! I think it’s great how you posted variations of how you can wear it :) Awesome inspiration!
-xtina
Ashley
LOVE IT!
Suzi
Love how you used the Mounties photo at the beginning of this article. Nice playful touch!
This particular look is something I’ve loved before it was even a trend, even though I’ve found it difficult to work into my style. I find the effect can be too high maintenance or theatrical, even though my own style can get experimental.
One thing I want to experiment with is pairing a military-type jacket with stuff that’s more boho-ish to get constrasts of structured/free-form, along with the contrasting statements each look embodies :)
Arianna
The one I have my eye on right now is actually boyfriend-cut with pockets, so it has sort of that masculine edge and is more casual and less theatrical than some of the double breasted ones.
Thash
LOVE your site, and I love military jackets, but I’m in Malaysia where the weather is so terribly humid at times (tropical climate)..so this would be a hard trend for me to pull off, especially in college.. still I totally adore the style. Option 1 is GORGEOUS.
I gotta say though this trend can be attributed to Michael Jackson, he rocked some awesome military jackets! Beyonce and Rihanna seemed to have followed suit to I notice.
crystal
Super cute outfits! Well done.
I really like Free People’s military jacket. Also, Victoria’s Secret has a super cute one that they call a ‘band jacket’.
Leira
I love the picture that started this article. Nice touch.
I really like this trend, and am on the lookout for a nice warm military coat. However, I didn’t really like either of the outfits you posted. *shrug* Personal preference, I guess. Still, great article.
andrea
i love this trend, every time i see it i think of my marketing trip to new york when i went to stylesight and their men’s editor, michael, asked if there was anyone in band, i said yes, and then he said “you are going to hate this trend”. he figured that band people would hate it because we have to wear those jackets, so there is no way that we would want to wear them voluntarily. he is totally wrong because i love it.
Mockoff
I love the military jacket, especially with tights and tall boots. I firmly believe that everyone should invest in either a leather, studded or military jacket this fall. Perhaps a studded leather military jacket is in order?
Shockingly, in your group of just jackets I like the Newport News one best. It’s perfect for those hesitant to get fully into the military theme because it’s not too overt.
Nice article!
Dana
omggaaddd i want 2 get one <333
Mani
I am SO loving the military jacket! I just can’t seem to find a good one anywhere, though. And I also love both those outfits – the second one is very bold and I would totally (try to) rock it! I love how military jackets come across as very bold, brass, powerful, and surprisingly sexy. It screams to the world “I’m in command.” Definitely hot.
Fun & Fact
Good stuff here. Will definately be useful for me so I will have to sign up and see what I can get to help me. Thank for this.
jacquie franco
where did you get the jackets in th sample outfits. the orange one is really cute! and how much were they? also what do you think about military style vests?
Maxine
The red one stands out to me. I dislike the ugly green military jacket that is in trend right now.