[Lili]

Dear Andy and Forum,

I found this beautiful women jacket in a thriftstore, definitely a late 80s early 90s style, double breasted, black with branded golden brass buttons, 100% wool. Its sewn tags are definitely vintage and state "Made in USA of imported fabric". The price tag is paper sewn on the left sleeve and looks like typed on a typewriter - $285. However, its hanging tag mentions the A.R. website and the extra buttons are in a modern plastic baggie. I am so confused! Can someone help me understand more about its provenance and age?
Much appreciated!!

 

[EclecticSr.]

Your screenshots just won't open, even if downloaded.

 

[Lili]

Your screenshots just won't open, even if downloaded.

I am very sorry... they do open on my phone even... perhaps if you tried accessing this thread via the Chrome browser?

 

[EclecticSr.]

Finally opened. I'm no expert on women's clothing but it is a handsome jacket regardless of vintage.
Would help to know , does it fit you, do you really like it, what are they asking for it?
Seems of good quality.

If that were a man's jacket it would certainly look dated, on a women I think less so.
I would however swap out those buttons for say something in enamel, dark MOP, or horn.

I'm sure those more familiar with the brand will chime in. I know of them, seemed popular at one time,
just haven't followed their line.

At any rate good luck.

 

[SG_67]

It certainly has that mid to late 80’s women’s workwear, Donna Karan look.

It may be vintage and the tag added on later.

 

[Lili]

Finally opened. I'm no expert on women's clothing but it is a handsome jacket regardless of vintage.
Would help to know , does it fit you, do you really like it, what are they asking for it?
Seems of good quality.

If that were a man's jacket it would certainly look dated, on a women I think less so.
I would however swap out those buttons for say something in enamel, dark MOP, or horn.

I'm sure those more familiar with the brand will chime in. I know of them, seemed popular at one time,
just haven't followed their line.

At any rate good luck.

Thank you for your kind reply! Yes, it is very nicely made and I only paid $20 for it!! I wanted to give it to one of my girl friends as the retro style is really in, '80s and '90s included. But I also wanted to tell her something about it beyond the obvious... I like this type of detail, as well, and in this case I am very puzzled.

 

[Lili]

It certainly has that mid to late 80's women's workwear, Donna Karan look.

It may be vintage and the tag added on later.

Thank you! Are you suggesting that A.R. added a newer tag onto one of their vintage items? Is that a common practice? Curiouser and curiouser 😃😃

 

[SG_67]

Thank you! Are you suggesting that A.R. added a newer tag onto one of their vintage items? Is that a common practice? Curiouser and curiouser 😃😃

You're thrifting it? Either the thrift shop or the person who was donating it.

It could also have been purchased by someone on eBay, and then donated. Who knows.

twenty dollars is pretty good. I wouldn't worry about the vintage.

 

[Barrister & Solicitor]

The jacket may be more recent than you think, as evidenced by the presence of a website address on the paper tag. Since the sewn on tags and paper tags have the same logo, I would venture that the style is a "reproduction" of something from the 80s or so. The text on the paper tag also hints to that possibility.

 

[EclecticSr.]

Thank you for your kind reply! Yes, it is very nicely made and I only paid $20 for it!! I wanted to give it to one of my girl friends as the retro style is really in, '80s and '90s included. But I also wanted to tell her something about it beyond the obvious... I like this type of detail, as well, and in this case I am very puzzled.

A quick google search led me to their website, did a search of women's clothing and while the search popped up with some categories such as coats and jackets, pant suits etc. but when you click on any of them it comes comes up page not found.
Found the exact blazer on poshmark, listed as vintage but used. You scored a pretty good price for new.
My guess late 80s-early 90s.