Men’s vintage gab jackets. Gab is short for Gabardine, a lightweight sheen twill material used to make casual short waisted jackets in the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. Also called Ricky jackets, sport jackets, golf jackets and bomber jackets. These vintage casual jackets are a must own coat for mid century dressers.
Gab jacket images from (mostly) Sears catalogs:
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- 1942 Poplin Army Green Jacket
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- 1943 Reversible Gab Jackets
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- 1944 gab jackets
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- 1945 Wide Collar and button Front Gab Jacket, Zip-Up Gab Jacket
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- 1945 Banded Blouse Style Jacket
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- 1946 Gab Jackets
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- 1948 twill gab jackets
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- 1948 Blouse Jackets in New Fashion Colors
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- 1948 gabardine jackets, knit collar
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- 1948 Plaid Blocked Gab Jacket
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- 1955 spring bomber jackets
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- 1955 nylon reversible jacket
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- 1955 diamond pattern reversible gab jackets
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- 1956 gabardine jackets
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- 1957 gab bomber jackets
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- 1957 boys gabardine jackets
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- 1954 gab jackets
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- 1959 gab jackets and cardigans with contrast trim
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- 1960 rayon check and blue gabardine
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- 1960 nylon and other jackets
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- 1964 cotton plaid or Dacron jackets
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- 1964 plaid lined jacket
As you can see the basic shape of a gab jacket did not change over the decades, a few details offered variety: elastic banded bottom, zipper or buttons, patch pockets or slit pockets, fold out collar or knit collar (bomber style) and reversible lining or not.
The gab jacket style never left fashion. The material changed to nylon in the 1960s which made them even lighter and more water repellent.
Where to buy gab jackets?
RVC Originals – 1940s and 1950s style sport jackets in unique prints and color combinations.
Sneaky Tiki – 1950s style Ricky jackets and Hollywood jackets (tie belted)
Ocean Front Boutique – Rockabilly style Ricky jacket with chest pockets
Miss Mollys Rockabily (UK) Textured Ricky jackets
Swankys Vintage – 1950s lined gab jackets with a classic short waist. I own one and its well made.
Collectif London – Usually has some gab /Ricky jackets in lightweight fabrics
Morellos Clothing (UK) – A few plain colored gab jackets
Men’s Vintage Repro Brands – Most vintage reproduction menswear brands carry some from of gab or ricky jacket, sports jacket, or similar. Check through this list of brands and discover some hidden gems.
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
