Before we delve into the many, varied and wonderful fringe jackets on the market right now, it’s important we pay our dues to the history of the surprisingly functional style.
The design was the result of a practical innovation by Native Americans, whereby the addition of fringe trimmings to traditional buckskin mountain wear and woollen ponchos helped the garments to shed rain and dry faster during the wetter months. Fringe, or sometimes quills, worked as water-wicking devices to quickly disperse water droplets.
The concept of fringe as a decorative embellishment only arrived in the early 1920s, otherwise known as the flapper era. Thanks to the daring and outrageous libertine women who chose to flaunt traditional societal expectations, skirts rose inches above the knee for the first time in Western history. Fringe at once became a provocative style choice for movers and shakers, as well as a means to add little bit of extra length to garments.
Native American-inspired fringe clothing in modern fashion, however, was born out of the late 1960s and early-70s hippie, free-love movement. If you’ve been bingeing Daisy Jones and the Six like the rest of us, you’ll already have an idea of just what this kind of style looked like. With a particular interest in civil rights and the support of minority groups across the country, young Americans often wore fringed jackets to show solidarity with Native American communities.
As we develop a better understanding of where we might be crossing the line from cultural appreciation to cultural appropriation, we feel it necessary to stress that wearing modern adaptations of native-inspired fringe jackets is all well and good. Traditional Native American clothing and regalia, on the other hand, is not a costume and is never appropriate to wear – even when bought second-hand through supposed vintage retailers.
Sparkly tassel here, suede, cowboy-like fringe there, it’s an effortlessly stylish adornment that has enduring popularity. In fact, the likes of Katie Holmes, Dakota Johnson and Miley Cyrus have all been spotted sporting stylish fringe jackets in recent years. Even Taylor Swift, as she blazes through her first set of US dates on The Eras Tour, has been showing-off some dazzling, beaded fringe numbers.
Keep scrolling for our round-up of the best fringe jackets available right now for the most wonderfully dramatic outerwear moments.
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Petite Rachel Stevens Real Leather Fringe Jacket
This classic suede number from Oasis ticks all of our boxes. The long-sleeved, collared and waist-length jacket features statement fringe in all the right places. From the classic chest fringe moment, to the tassels along the back and sleeves, we love the idea of styling this piece as shown with an understated turtleneck and some wide-leg jeans.
Buy now £129.50, Oasis
Vintage Fringe Leather Jacket
For a biker-style leather jacket with a fringe twist, Superdry has got you covered. This design works to bring back the edgy, rock-inspired Rebel Without A Cause-esque outwear style seen in the 1950s while adding a bohemian touch. It is made from genuine goat’s leather and is fully lined, making it an all-season staple. We also love how the ribbed cuffs and cropped silhouette are also reminiscent of an old-school bomber jacket.
Buy now £195.99, Superdry
NastyGal Tassel Beaded Fringe Embellished Jacket
This beaded, embellished jacket is like a bright orange mirrorball. It’ll catch and reflect all those spectacular beams of light while you spin around on your tallest tiptoes. The design features both cropped sleeves and a cropped length, making it the perfect style companion to a simple bralette, mini skirt and knee-high boots. You’ll look like a real-life Daisy Jones in no time.
Buy now £119.25, Debenhams
Free People Twist & Shout Vegan Shacket
Love the look of suede, but are on the hunt for a vegan alternative? Look no further than Free People. Connoisseurs of the modern bohemian look, if you’re looking to embody a 60s and 70s style – Free People is the place for you. This faux leather jacket is made from 90 per cent polyester and 10 per cent spandex. It has a trucker-inspired silhouette with fringe detailing across the back and down the sleeves, as well as some statement Western-style stitching details below the collar.
Buy now £118.00, Free People
Galvan Vesper fringed velvet blazer
Emerald green and oh-so chic, this fringed velvet blazer by Galvan is the perfect combination of 20s flapper-era fashion and the free-spirited, bohemian party-girl vibe of the late 60s and early 70s. Expertly crafted and designed to slip on like luxury nightwear, this piece is made from 82 per cent viscose and 18 per cent silk. The exaggerated, extra-long fringe falls from a tightly woven, thick waistband – complimenting the velvet upper exterior beautifully.
Buy now £1195.00, Net-A-Porter
Hayley Menzies Ada Embroidered Suede Fringe Merino Crop Cardigan
Hayley Menzies is a slow fashion brand with an emphasis on expert craftmanship - and this embroidered merino cardigan is sure to capture your heart. Featuring hand-embroidered floral and heart motifs, cable knit designs and suede fringing – this piece is somehow able to bring together otherwise contrasting design elements to form a gorgeous, cohesive jacket.
We particularly love the exaggerated shoulders, cropped silhouette and subtle balloon-like sleeves. Picture wearing this piece with a plain white tee, your favourite jeans and some cowboy boots.
Buy now £540.00, Hayley Menzies
Stradivarius Jacket With Fringing
A simple, suede fringe option with a silhouette not too dissimilar to your classic denim jacket – this is an all-season staple designed to be thrown on daily. Made from 95 per cent cotton and at a reasonable price point, we think this option from Stradivarius is a sure-fire win.
Buy now £45.99, Stradivarius
Dodo Bar Or Suede Jacket With Fringe
The intricate, thick suede stitching on this piece by Dodo Bar Or is what sets this fringed jacket apart for us. Made in Turkey with 100 per cent leather, we love how the fringe details on this piece are ever so slightly longer than usual. The tan colour reminds us of a Californian sunset, which we can imagine riding off into, shoulders brazenly covered with this classic cowboy jacket.
Buy now £154.00, MyTheresa
Western Fringe Jacket In Cloud Nine
Complete your vintage-inspired Canadian Tuxedo with this denim fringe jacket from Wrangler. Made from 99 per cent BCI, non-stretch cotton, this piece comes in a myriad of sizes for all bodies. The thick denim fringing is offset by a gathered waistline and is finished in a delightful light blue wash. It has also been dyed with a sustainable denim dying process known as Indigood, which saves 90 per cent of water in comparison to conventional dyeing. Now that’s style with a purpose.
Buy now £120.00, Wrangler
H&M fringe-trimmed shacket
For a more casual fringe look, try this cosy and oversized gingham piece from H&M. This shirt-jacket takes inspiration from the casual cowboy styles of the Appalachians – combining the historical woollen poncho look with the classic, modern plaid shirt. Both the outer shell and inner lining are made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, so you can look good while feeling good about your carbon footprint.
Buy now £49.99, H&M
