My vintage Brooks Bros. leather jacket

[AlanC]

For whatever reason I was strangely drawn to this Brooks vintage leather coat on ebay:

As you can see, it's labeled 'University Shop' and it's also made in England. Anyone have any date possibilities for it? It was listed as 1960s, which seems probable.

 

[BigSleep]

Cool man. I like the texture of the leather. Enjoy it.

 

[Feraud]

There is nothing strange about about the attraction. It is a nice looking jacket.
Do you know how old it is? Looks like a 70's model due to the zippers on the breast pockets..

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Circa 1976. Seems to be Fonzie-inspired.

.

 

[AlanC]

Probably the best way to date it is to narrow it down with the 'University Shop' labeling, which Brooks only used for a certain period of time. I'm not sure of the exact dates, though.

It's pretty different from a Fonzie coat, actually:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It's pretty different from a Fonzie coat, actually.

You're half right and I'm half wrong.


The photo you posted above is of the very early Fonzie. Soon after Happy Days began, the show dropped Fonzie's black jacket because of complaints that it looked too "hoodum". Instead, Henry Winkler was compelled to wear a 'kinder, gentler' and more '70s-looking brown leather jacket that somewhat resembles yours, minus some zippers and ribbing. Oh, and Fonzie's greased-up hair also became blow-dried.

.

 

[AlanC]

Well, very early the Fonz didn't wear leather at all:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

 

[MudInYerEye]

Your jacket is from the 70's but has nothing to do with the Fonz. The mid 70's produced an influx of mass-produced leather jackets which copied the late 60's/early 70's rocker/hippie/hipster patterns of small but pricey custom leather shops, the most famous of which being East West Musical Instruments, Oshwahkon, and Gandalf. Your jacket is one of these copies.

 

[nulty]

the fonz

the early fonz was too bad for middle america..I remember the cognitive breakdown i had tying to reconcile that "dry look" to the 1950's.....but haaaay, what can you do?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Yeah, the Happy Days guys got bushier and bushier as the show ran on.

.

 

[AlanC]

Your jacket is from the 70's but has nothing to do with the Fonz. The mid 70's produced an influx of mass-produced leather jackets which copied the late 60's/early 70's rocker/hippie/hipster patterns of small but pricey custom leather shops, the most famous of which being East West Musical Instruments, Oshwahkon, and Gandalf. Your jacket is one of these copies.

Interesting. Also interesting that Brooks Bros. would offer it. The current line of Brooks leather jackets retail at ~$500, so one would expect a similar price point back then before Brooks had hit its quality issues of recent years (although those seem to be improving). Still, University Shop was marketed more to a younger clientele.

Whatever the conclusion, a vintage English made coat from Brooks is probably worth the $26 I paid for it.