Top 5 Post-WWII Coats

The period following World War II up until the early 1960s was marked by rebuilding efforts at home, austerity, and conservative values. The fashions of the time reflected these values. Coat styles incorporated the military coats that the men brought home from the war like field jackets, pea coats, and bomber jackets. As the country recovered from the war effort and the economy stabilized, more refined styles gained prominence. Men looking for vintage coats from the post-WWII period can find a variety of styles to fit their modern lifestyles. Buying vintage allows men to assert their own style, introduce variety into their wardrobes, and possibly save on the clothing budget. A good place for shoppers to start is with the top 10 vintage coats from the post-WWII era through the early 1960s. These coats are often found at thrift shops, vintage clothing stores, and online sites like eBay.

1	Field Jacket

Soldiers wore the field jacket in the war and then wore them once they returned home as well. Manufacturers copied the look and, since cotton and denim were relatively inexpensive, produced them for a wide audience. One vintage site notes that consumers can take advantage of the rugged features of these coats which are available in camouflage, standard green, or other colors like blue and black. Some have a standard collar while others have a high collar with a zip out hood. The defining features of this coat are the plentiful pockets, epaulets, and emblems like flags.

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2	Bomber Jacket

According to a fashion designer whose own grandfather was an airman during the war, the bomber jacket is a garment representative of the post-WWII period. The designers of the television show "Mad Men" chose to showcase the bomber jacket as representative of the period, as well. Bombers are short and fitted at the waist. They zip up the front and may have an overlapping trim with buttons or snaps. They have big pockets, usually four on the front, and some have removable fur collars and epaulets. Consumers may find classic brown leather bomber jackets or those with patches and emblems.

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3

Pea Coat

During the war, infantry soldiers wore the field jacket, airmen wore the bomber jacket, and sailors wore the pea coat. Pea coats are available in corduroy and wool for the cold months and cotton for the warmer months. These coats have wide lapels and collars and are double breasted with two vertical rows of buttons. They have a lining and pockets and some have epaulets and patches. One fashion site says that military coats like the pea coat are in high demand because consumers have respect for military values and the coats feature high quality workmanship.

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4	Biker Jacket

One fashion site says that the youth culture found its calling due to the growing prosperity after the war. Young people created underground fashions and young men took to wearing leather coats. These coats were short like bomber jackets but were manufactured in black. The coats also branched out from the typical cowhide to lambskin, a softer more pliable leather. These coats became biker's jackets; the ones the rebels wore.

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5

Duster

The duster is a long coat made from leather. Some are short but not as short as the biker's jacket. These jackets are popular and consumers can find them from previous eras. Young men in the post-WWII era were influenced by musical groups that wore long leather coats. Most have buttons and a belt. Some coats have extra styling features like velvet trim, zippers, or two-toned leather.