German military army surplus jacket craze of the late 80's

donegal_road · 12-03-2012 05:00PM #1

does anyone remember the ex army jackets that every second teen wore circa 1985 - 1990? Most of them had the German flag on the sleeve. I always wondered why were they German army surplus jackets, and how they became so popular.

On the same subject of fashion trends of the 80's, Im sure everyone remembers the large black and white cheque patterned Palestinian scarves that were hugely popular at the same time.. always wondered why.

McTigs · 12-03-2012 05:02PM

late eighties? i was wearing one up to last year. I'd still be wearing it now but i can't find it.

o1s1n · 12-03-2012 05:03PM

Kids were wearing those German army jackets right through the 90s. I had a great one myself with a snug inner lining which could be taken out if it got too warm.

I miss it actually

phasers · 12-03-2012 05:05PM

I love my army jacket, it's genuine army surplus and its so warm! I wasn't around in the 80's but it was a huge 90s trend.

SEPT 23 1989 · 12-03-2012 05:06PM

Great heat in those jackets

Nodin · 12-03-2012 05:06PM

donegal_road wrote: »

does anyone remember the ex army jackets that every second teen wore circa 1985 - 1990? Most of them had the German flag on the sleeve. I always wondered why were they German army surplus jackets, and how they became so popular.

On the same subject of fashion trends of the 80's, Im sure everyone remembers the large black and white cheque patterned Palestinian scarves that were hugely popular at the same time.. always wondered why.

The m-65 pattern thingies. No idea why they were mostly German, as I think its an American design.

phasers · 12-03-2012 05:08PM

Are the scarves you're talking about keffiyehs? The hipster scarf of choice in 2008?

o1s1n · 12-03-2012 05:09PM

Nodin wrote: »

The m-65 pattern thingies. No idea why they were mostly German, as I think its an American design.

I think you're thinking about something else? This is the type of one myself and my mates had, with German flags on the shoulders.

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/clothing/german-mil-clothing/genuine-german-cold-weather-226744.html

Gurgle · 12-03-2012 05:10PM

Still have it, still wear it

Korvanica · 12-03-2012 05:12PM

I still have mine and still wear it...

They're brilliant...

GavRedKing · 12-03-2012 05:12PM

Used to wear one for fishing and hunting trips with the Father in my early teens.

sbsquarepants · 12-03-2012 05:13PM

o1s1n wrote: »

Kids were wearing those German army jackets right through the 90s. I had a great one myself with a snug inner lining which could be taken out if it got too warm.

I miss it actually

Had the very same myself, kept me warm on many a colds night knacker drinking/schoolgirl romancing. Good times my friend!!

Lapin · 12-03-2012 05:13PM

Parkas

Temptamperu · 12-03-2012 05:13PM

I had a black one, The badassery of me walking around was amazing.

Dyr · 12-03-2012 05:14PM

I get the impression that some hipster clothing companies are selling coats based on it now, probbaly for silly money

Had one meself when i was younger..until that cosy lining actually saved me from being slashed right down the back by a stanley blade :eek:

These bad boys are where german military jackets are really at:

http://www.noble-house.eu/catalog/index.php/cPath/21

Nodin · 12-03-2012 05:15PM

o1s1n wrote: »

I think you're thinking about something else? This is the type of one myself and my mates had, with German flags on the shoulders.

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/clothing/german-mil-clothing/genuine-german-cold-weather-226744.html

I am......

christ I'm old

Paparazzo · 12-03-2012 05:19PM

£16 in army bargains. Great jackets for the money.

RichieC · 12-03-2012 05:22PM

I preferred my Nazi blazer.

Son Of A Vidic · 12-03-2012 05:25PM

Yes OP I remember them well, since I was once a goose stepping member of the PLO.

stmol32 · 12-03-2012 05:30PM

McTigs wrote: »

I'd still be wearing it now but i can't find it.

The camouflage on those coats must be excellent.

Tonyandthewhale · 12-03-2012 05:31PM

I had one, not in the 80's though. Bought it around 2006 or so, 8e for one of the lighter ones, can't argue with change back from a tenner for a reasonable quality coat. I still have it today actually, wear it when I'm working on the bikes or in the garden or whatever as it's quite hard-wearing and you don't have to worry about keeping it spic and span.

who the fug · 12-03-2012 05:33PM

Naw more a Donkey jacket and beanie hat type person

donvito99 · 12-03-2012 05:34PM

I was under the impression that people who wore these coats were neo-Nazis or something....thanks for raising this OP, I've some apologising to do...

pawrick · 12-03-2012 05:42PM

one of my brothers still has his from the 80's - think he uses it when fishing. Always wanted one when I was growing up but they weren't popular anymore by the time I was a teen.

monkeypants · 12-03-2012 05:54PM

I had a Belgian army one back in the early 80s. Had an American M65 with lining in 1993/94. Also an excellent coat.

donegal_road · 12-03-2012 07:41PM

o1s1n wrote: »

I think you're thinking about something else? This is the type of one myself and my mates had, with German flags on the shoulders.

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/clothing/german-mil-clothing/genuine-german-cold-weather-226744.html

not exactly this type, the colour was more olive green and not as long as the one in this photo. Some of them had small round holes that had been stitched over. They also had removable lining. I like the look of this though, I might order one now

the scarves I mentioned are keffiyehs, I wasn't sure what they were called, cheers. I always wondered where the jackets were being shipped from..

EGAR · 12-03-2012 07:48PM

I lived in the States in the early 90's and saw them there too

.

Ellis Dee · 12-03-2012 07:49PM

donegal_road wrote: »

does anyone remember the ex army jackets that every second teen wore circa 1985 - 1990? Most of them had the German flag on the sleeve. I always wondered why were they German army surplus jackets, and how they became so popular.

They were Bundeswehr surplus all right. I remember trying one on in a store in Portlaoise and finding that there were several sheets of paper in the inside pocket. I read the papers and they were a decision of a court martial confining a named private to barracks for several weeks for some or other breach of discipline. I suppose they became popular because they were warm, good quality and sold very cheaply.

:)

Mickey H · 12-03-2012 07:54PM

Had one of these on me yesterday. Bought it over 10 years ago. Still like new.

mikemac1 · 12-03-2012 07:55PM

Still have it

No better jacket if you're going down to the lake for fishing

af_thefragile · 12-03-2012 07:58PM

I went to play paint ball a couple of months ago and they gave us those jackets to put on with the German flag on the shoulder.

German military army surplus jacket craze of the late 80's

Comments