Spot the Original

Jan 29, 2008 @ 1:08pm

Members Only Jackets.jpgIf you live in New York, you might have already passed the Henri Bendel windows announcing their exclusive relaunch of Members Only.

Yes, we really do mean the brand whose swooshy, zippered jackets monopolized outerwear in the 80's and now reside in fraternity house costume closets.

Apparently, they're making a high fashion comeback, starting at Bendel's but soon to be available at boutiques like Fred Segal and Scoop across the country.

Or, if more convenient, at your local Forever 21.

It usually takes the chain at least a month to hang designer rip-offs from their racks, but their imitation Members Only jacket was available at least a week before the real ones hit shelves.

Or maybe we should say twenty-five years after?

Take a shot - which above is the original?

Comments

posted by elle

Jan 29, 2008 1:39PM

the right.
the breast pocket gives it away.

posted by Lindsaysue12

Jan 29, 2008 1:39PM

I haven't a clue which is which (not sure if I want to...lol) but we sell something similar at Banana Republic right now.

posted by maddikins509

Jan 29, 2008 1:46PM

the one on the right. I am severely disappointed. Hipsters are taking over.

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posted by guest

Jan 29, 2008 1:47PM

The jacket on the right! And haven't these already come back in and out again? Like three or four years ago?

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posted by guest

Jan 29, 2008 2:36PM

didn't they re-issue the original members only jackets a few years ago and sell them in department stores. i swear i saw them in bloomingdales about 4 years ago. can you revive a label/jacket twice in such a short period of time?

posted by mpw

Jan 29, 2008 2:50PM

Definitely the one on the right. My grandfather has that exact same one. It somehow looks cooler with a cigar and fedora than skinny jeans. Aren't the new ones selling in the neighborhood of 900 bucks? That's ridiculous!

posted by lea

Jan 29, 2008 3:45PM

I'm diggin the style on the left but...my grandpa and pops both own the one on the right. Which leads me to guess the one on the right is the OG? I kid you not, when I was younger I use to wonder what "club/cult/organization" the fellas belong to. lol.

posted by elle

Jan 29, 2008 4:08PM

guest @ 1:47 - yea, they totally did. i was @ the end of my 'omg mtv!' phase in middle school

posted by superflippy

Jan 29, 2008 4:17PM

I'm torn. The one on the right looks better-made, but the cut of the one on the left looks more current. Is the one on the right a man's jacket and the one on the left a woman's? That might explain the discrepancy.

posted by lentil

Jan 29, 2008 6:04PM

Yes, the right. I bought a punched-hole leather version in black a few years ago (@ some online shop... I can't remember) for the husband. It was well recieved, but I haven't seen it on him in a long long time.

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posted by guest

Jan 29, 2008 7:07PM

I read this blog from London where I work at a fashion magazine, and I found this post really funny. Members Only jackets are considered really cool here, and all the vintag-y shops in East London sell them in loads of different colours.

I actually saw Tom Hanks wearing a tan leather one in Charlie Wilson's War and me and my boyfriend (also a fashion devotee) leapt up and turned to each other to say 'Did you SEE that jacket?!' We in London adore them!

posted by hannah

Jan 29, 2008 7:22PM

I actually like the F21 one more, with the exposed zippers. The other one looks very... common.

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posted by guest

Jan 30, 2008 1:21AM

I worked at a vintage store about three years ago in downtown nyc and we sold them in many colors for well under $100, so the new pricetag that comes with these makes me absolutely outraged.

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posted by guest

Jan 30, 2008 11:42AM

the one on the right looks way cooler, if you combine it with the rigth things.. the one on the left is what all of the yo yo proletariats wore here a few years ago (i still have mine with a fury hoody haha)

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posted by guest

Jan 31, 2008 3:15AM

the right. the one on the left is to fitted like a bomber, which is not right. I had one of these in 2001 that I wore with skinny jeans....I thought they were past already? i guess this is the next level. Yet another indie thing becoming mainstream and chichi.

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posted by guest

Jan 31, 2008 2:00PM

Didn't these already make a comeback like 2-3 yrs ago. Because when I was in NY (Brooklyn -- Downtown BK actually) I got one in some store and it was like $30! I since gave it to my friend and now her son, whose 8 yrs old thinks its the "coolest" and he wants one! So young! ::laughing::

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posted by guest

Jan 31, 2008 2:01PM

wow. they're coming back for what...the 4th time!?

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