Blog

Fully Lined Field Jacket

At first glance this looked to me like the Outback Bush Jacket, but of course the chest pockets are not angled and the closure uses buttons. The catalogue copy confirms that some details were borrowed from the Italian Field Jacket that inspired the Bush Jacket.

This Fully Lined Field Jacket was only offered in Holiday 1986, and then completely redesigned in Holiday 1987.

From the Holiday 1986 catalogue: “Field jackets came in with khaki, to do much the same job: provide a lighter, less conspicuous, more functional alternative to impractical ceremonial uniforms for use in the theater of action. That sort of logic is dear to our hearts, so we examined various military models in developing our own field jacket. From the U.S. Army M-65 version we appropriated half-bellows breast pockets, a drawstring waist, a removable ripstop-nylon liner (for cold-weather wear), and a double front closing–zipper and snaps. Uncle Sam, alas, has lapsed into polyester, which we’ve replaced with 100% cotton twill. A rather more dashing Italian jacket inspired the adjustable cuffs, rakish fit, and combination snap-bellows and pouch pockets for hands and paraphernalia. A truly international field jacket, bred from the best of three formidable republics.”

Khaki 1986 Version from eBay October 2020

Olive Drab 1986 version from eBay October 2020

The 1987 version:

Photos courtesy Gary Pinkerton

About The Author

Robyn Adams
Robyn's fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying the clothing and giving her the catalogs. She loved the clothes and as an artist she was drawn to the illustrations. She went on to study illustration at art college in BR's hometown of San Francisco and worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA as a graphic designer and illustrator with Secret Fan Base . She's been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.

2 Comments

  • Brian Grant on June 21, 2023

    I bought one of these in 1986 and I still have it! The collar is a little frayed and much of the stitching from the inner linning has come loose, but I still wear it. It has only gotton softer and more comfortable in the last 30+ years – the mark of a truly great garment. Really miss classic Banana Republic.

  • Christopher H. on October 9, 2024

    I bought this jacket off Poshmark in 2021. I have been searching forever to try and find exactly which year and edition of their filed jacket I had. I have worn it almost nonstop since buying it.

    In the last year, I have had the collar repaired with corduroy and have done some home stitching for some worn areas and waxed it. I, unfortunately, lost the throat latch while camping last year, but I love the jacket.

    Thank you for this archive!

Leave a Reply