Shopping for a Members Only Jacket
Nothing screams 1980’s quite as loudly as a Members Only jacket. Introduced in the United States in 1979, the classic bomber jacket quickly grew to iconic status. In the words of the brands famous tagline, “when you put it on, something happens”. Although a couple of decades passed in which nothing did happen for Members Only, the jacket was re-released in 2004. Currently, the Member Only jacket is experiencing a retail resurrection and the styles are available for both men and women.
When shopping for a Members Only jacket, be sure to keep an eye out for the classic details that originally branded the jacket. Members Only jackets have a zip-up front with a snap button fastener at the neck, as well as elasticized waist and wrist bands and snap button shoulder straps. Under a slit pocket on the jacket’s left side breast is a small black tag with plan script reading “Members Only." The cotton/poly blend jackets come in a wide range of colors, both mute and bright, and the less common leather versions come in the deep dark colors, such as brown, dark green, and black.
If you are shopping for a new Members Only jacket, expect a slightly slimmer fit. You can find them for sale at Urban Outfitters. The classic lightweight version is available in navy, black, white, and cream for $78.00, and is machine washable. Urban Outfitters also sells the leather style, although made from faux-leather polyurethane material as opposed to genuine leather, in dark green for $148.00. Women’s versions of the jacket are available at Urban Outfitters in the classic colors, for $98.00, and neon versions, for $88.00. J.C. Penney also carries the newly released Members Only jacket for the same price as Urban Outfitters, and offers a red version in addition to navy, black, white, and cream.
Members Only Original, the official site of the re-released icon, displays additional styles and additional colors available for purchase. The original cotton jacket comes in lavender purple, a bright blue, and sea foam green. The faux-leather version comes in a creamy khaki, black, white, and indigo. In addition, two new style join the classic collection: the Presidential jacket, a navy nylon zip up with a presidential seal on the breast and a red, white and blue collar, and the Varsity jacket, a rust-colored wool snap up jacket with while sleeves and a collegiate style crest on the breast. The Presidential jacket is advertised for $98.00, and the Varsity jacket is advertised for $228.00.
If you are looking to purchase a truly original Members Only jacket, vintage jackets in all colors and sizes can be found on various online sources. Hundreds of jackets, for both men and women, can be found on eBay.com from about $10.00 to around $50.00. Rustyzipper.com also carries more than one hundred vintage Members Only styles for around $50.00.
Whether you plan to shop for the updated, slimmer new version or the classic, vintage Members Only jacket, purchasing this style icon will transport you back to the 1980’s, or at least give off that undeniably fun-loving 80’s attitude.
