Quick answer: Check the care tag first (tags with washing symbols are usually post-1971), then the buttons, pocket flaps and stitching. Blanket linings and corduroy collars are common on 70s–90s workwear jackets; heavy fading and chain-stitched hems point to older pieces.
Start with the tag
Care tags became common in the early 1970s. Country of origin and fiber content help narrow the decade.
Buttons and pockets
Pleated fronts and a single chest pocket recall early trucker styles, like our distressed type 1 trucker jacket; two flap pockets became standard later.
Linings and collars
Striped blanket linings and corduroy collars were workwear favorites — see our 70s blanket-lined denim jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is fading a sign of age?
Even, honest fading usually comes from years of wear; factory 'stonewash' looks more uniform.
Do vintage jackets run small?
Usually — compare measurements with a jacket you own.
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