There are certain vintage pieces that make me stop the moment I see them. Not because they shout for attention, but because the quality is immediately apparent.
These two 1980s Mondi jackets are perfect examples.
They arrived at The Alley separately, but once I had them both in front of me I knew I wanted to show them together. They are unmistakably from the same fashion world, yet each has a completely different personality.
And that, to me, is one of the joys of vintage.
A Little About Mondi
Mondi was founded in Munich in 1967 and first made its name with knitwear before developing into a complete fashion house.
The label became particularly successful during the 1970s and 1980s, when European fashion was becoming bolder, more polished and increasingly international.
There is also a fascinating connection with another name many of us know. Before establishing Escada with Wolfgang Ley, designer Margaretha Ley worked as head designer at Mondi.
Looking at surviving Mondi pieces today, it is easy to understand their appeal. There is confidence in the cut, beautiful fabric, distinctive detailing and, perhaps most importantly, clothes that were made to last.
Which brings me to these two jackets.
The Black & Grey Check
The first is a wonderful cropped black and grey checked wool jacket dating from the 1980s.
Made from pure new wool, it has a collarless, softly boxy shape with woven edging, four faux flap pockets and Mondi’s distinctive statement “M” buttons.
I particularly love the proportions of this one. At just 17½ inches long, it finishes beautifully at the waist without being tightly fitted, giving it that slightly relaxed shape that now feels remarkably modern again.
It’s one of those jackets that can do all the work.
I would wear it with simple black trousers and boots, but it would look equally good over a little black dress or, for a more relaxed look, with denim and a fine knit underneath.
Despite its age, it remains in excellent vintage condition.
Shop the Black & Grey Mondi Jacket
The Autumn Check
And then there is the second jacket.
This one couldn’t feel more autumnal if it tried.
A beautiful combination of muted brown, olive, rust and charcoal runs through the wool check, complemented by its wonderfully warm rust-orange lining.
Again, the shape is short and boxy, but this jacket has a slightly more relaxed, country-inspired character.
My favourite detail has to be the original leather football buttons. They are such a small thing, but they completely change the personality of the jacket and, remarkably, they have survived in beautiful condition.
It is precisely this sort of detail that I look for when buying vintage. You simply don’t encounter it very often in modern mass-produced clothing.
I’ve styled this one with jodhpurs and riding boots because it seemed impossible not to. It has that wonderfully polished country-house feeling without becoming costume-like.
Shop the Brown Mondi Jacket
Shop the Brown Mondi Jacket
Why Vintage Jackets Work So Well Now
Perhaps the most interesting thing about both jackets is how little styling they actually need.
More than forty years after they were made, neither feels like something that has to be worn as a “vintage outfit”.
Put either of them with trousers, denim, boots and a good bag and they simply become fabulous jackets.
That is one of the reasons I love buying older designer clothing.
A beautifully made garment doesn’t suddenly stop being beautiful because fashion has moved on. Sometimes it simply waits until fashion catches up with it again.
And right now, with shorter jackets, checks, heritage fabrics and relaxed tailoring everywhere, these Mondi pieces feel wonderfully relevant.
Two Jackets. Two Personalities.
If I had to describe them, I’d say the black and grey jacket is the sophisticated one.
The brown check is her slightly more adventurous country cousin.
I genuinely couldn’t choose between them.
What I do know is that they have reminded me why I enjoy researching the labels behind the clothes we find. A garment becomes so much more interesting when you understand where it came from, who was designing at the time and why those little details were there in the first place.
These aren’t simply two old jackets.
They’re two small pieces of a German fashion house at the height of a particularly exciting period in European fashion.
And they’re ready to be worn all over again.
With love,
Alli x
Beautiful Clothes. Carefully Chosen.