Duster Coat

One of the reasons I enjoy this hobby is spotting an item that doesn’t quite match the artwork. Case in point, the Duster Coat. Made of cotton Expedition Cloth in ivory and olive, it has a classic BR look that the catalogue artwork doesn’t really convey. The 1988 catalogue art generally lacks the character of the earlier work, in my opinion.

Only featured in the Fall 1988 catalogue, it’s very late in the run and quite rare. It has a Stars and Bananas tag, which really proves once and for all that tag was used up until the very end, in contrast to what I thought earlier.

From the catalogue: “In the early days of the auto, daring motorists outfitted themselves as though for Sahara expeditions. And for good reason: Their cars were open, with hard rubber wheels that stirred up dust clouds on unpaved roads. Men wore goggles, women wore veils; both wore dashing, lightweight, full length coats called dusters. Highways have improved, but we liked the adventurous spirit and graceful lines of the duster coat-so we made our own mid-calf-length version in tough, tightly woven Expedition Cloth. Two deep pockets carry maps, canteen, subway tokens. Practical on the road; perfect for a night on the town, too.”

Photos from a September 2020 eBay auction.