Jacket Weather

Despite the unusually warm weather over the last few days, the air is beginning to take on a definite nip. And with that comes the ability to wear my absolutely, most favorite type of clothing: jackets. I love jackets! All jackets…any jackets….it doesn’t matter. They are all more than welcome to come make a home in my closet!

I love coats as well, but to me, there is a very big difference between coats and jackets. Jackets are usually shorter, lighter weight, and come in a variety of shapes and colors. This trend is not only visible in today’s fashion world, but it was also true of fashion from the past two hundred years. For example, the Spencer jacket was a common piece of clothing for women during the Regency era. Different than a pelisse, the Spencer was a short jacket with long sleeves and a fancy collar. Like this example:

As fashions adapted over the next few decades, so did the jacket’s shape and length. This 1860’s jacket, often referred to as a mantle, looks both warm and becoming.

Fast forward to the 1880’s and even though the name hasn’t changed, the shape of this mantle has narrowed quite a bit!

I absolutely adore the perfectly tailored style of the 1890’s and early 1900’s. With never a hair or thread out of place, this young lady is the epitome of high fashion….with a stunning jacket to match!

Both fabric, shape, style, and color of this 1920’s jacket are stunning! However, knowing me, I would want to wear it everyday….although I am sure such a fancy jacket would look a bit out of place at the grocery store.

Fashion took another turn towards restraint and rationing during the early 1940’s as this jacket and skirt combo shows. But just because the fabric is rationed, that doesn’t mean the style has to be…I mean what a stunning belt!