A Good Summer Casual Jacket

[Seb Lucas]

Sorry guys, while many of you are getting into heavy leathers, it's summer over here and getting hot.

I'm not a fan of safari/bush jackets, nor do I like the oft mentioned Barracuda.

Is there another good retro polycotton (I like this more than cotton) jacket (it may not be classic, but is 1960's or 1970's) that I might find more appealing? I'm thinking of an unlined jacket that is hard wearing and good for hot conditions. As a guide, something more like the unlined Dickies Eisenhower jacket is my thing.

Any ideas, anyone? Maybe I should just get a Dickies...

Cheers

 

[eClairvaux]

Don't know if this fits your bill, but I like it a lot as a summer jacket:
http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/Apparel/Jackets/OSNS-Jacket

 

[Edward]

That rather puts me in mind of a Luftwaffe Kanal jacke.

 

[Jonnyboy]

I bought an M-421 reproduction jacket from What Price Glory in the summer (for $45) and I've worn it constantly since. It's lightweight, but well made. It may be a bit too 'safari' for what you have in mind though. Here's mine:

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Edward]

While to the best of my knowledge the Indy jacket was actually based, originally, on an A2 design less the knits in order to give it more of a civilian feel, the M-421 really is the closest I've ever seen to a fabric version thereof. I quite fancy one of those myself.

 

[Jonnyboy]

Edward, they're not bad jackets at all, and I love the 40s look of it. I agree, it is pretty much a cloth Indy-style jacket. I know the Buzz version is more like original wartime jackets, but for the money, the WPG is great. I changed the zip slider for a repro Talon which I bought on ebay for about £6, which improves the look a bit.

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Edward]

Yeah, it's the old story..... the Buzz is probably twice as accurate, at ten times the price. Money no object, I'm sure the Buzz is lovely, but I can't see me springing for it with these available, especially as I'd be wearing it in a purely civilian context, not for re-enactment.

 

[Fletch]

Here are repro M-421Bs (plus the windflap) for $119.95.

Willis & Geiger did a '421A (no windflap) years ago that's exceedingly well made and used their famous Bush brand poplin. These occasionally show up on eBay.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Thanks guys,

That's a cool looking jacket. Will investigate. I wonder if I could dye it grey?