The Alpine-Inspired Jacket Perfect for Falling Into Fall

I’m counting down the days until the temperature trickles down and I get to throw a thin jacket over my shoulders. There, I said it!! I love hyper-fixating and hunting for super-specific pieces at markets and on secondhand sites, and “trachten” or “janker” jackets are among them, thanks to my first find, pictured above a few years ago.

I didn’t know anything about these jackets and blazers when I bought my first one for less than a handful of euros, but knew it felt special (touching clothes is key when you’re head deep in a bin or table at a market). I loved the buttons, the linen-cotton composition, the Christmas-tree green trim, and the decorative medallion buttons running up the front and at the cuffs. I was going to give it to a friend, but at the last minute decided to keep it after seeing someone selling a similar one on Instagram for €120.

I now have four and counting, and my hunt for different ones is very much still on!

These traditional, tailored jackets and blazers have their roots in the German-speaking Alpine-regions, where similar styles were worn as practical clothing amongst families of farmers, foresters, hunters, and other outdoor workers or some sorts. Over time, versions of the jacket spread across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, and northern Italy, especially over there in South Tyrol, evolving from “rural” or “farmer” utility workwear into something much more polished and traditional, favored by aristocratic families around the Alps.

The more I’ve searched about them, the more I’ve dug myself deep into a rabbit hole trying to grasp the history, the names, and the regionality of these pieces. There are more brands to remember, styles that feel infinite, and no amount of beginner-level German (or YouTube videos) makes me feel like an expert. Often referred to as “janker,” “trachten,” or “trachtenjancker” these are pretty much generic umbrella terms for the entire “family style” of this type of traditional clothing, region to region, town to town.

Which, to my hyper-fixating point, makes the collection of them that much more fun! No two really are the same. Sure, most of these jackets or blazers share a similar family style, and by now I can spot one on a rack without even checking the tag (the collarless collar is a big, big giveaway), but the details make each one truly unique. Most are made from leather, wool, linen, cotton, or suede, in colors like charcoal gray, forest green, navy blue, or some bright colors like fuchsia pink, deep purple, and mustard yellow. And can we talk about the buttons? Horn, wood, brass, or stamped metal is just scratching the surface.

When I search eBay, Vinted, or Etsy, I usually type something like “trachten jacket,” “vintage Austrian jacket,” “vintage Austrian blazer,” “vintage-style Austrian jacket,” or “janker blazer.” Play around with some of these search-term combos and I can guarantee you will strike Austrian-style gold!

I love statement pieces that don’t require much thought (my brain is very much occupied with trying to come up with ways to convince my two-year-old to please please please sit in his stroller at the moment…), and these go perfectly with your favorite jeans and a white t-shirt. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve received each time I wear one of these, and trust me, present-day trendy brands have tried to riff on these traditional pieces, and they can’t get it down.

Second hand for the win, once again!

Thanks for reading as always.

xxx,

Gabriela