The last time military jackets were in style, Kate Moss was stomping on the runways and through the fields of Glastonbury, pairing it with denim cut-offs and itsy-bitsy tank tops. Of course, it’s Dua Lipa that’s successfully run it back to making the frocked, gold-buttoned jacket a symbol of effortless cool-girl style again.
Lipa was visiting Cape Town, South Africa this week, and dropped an Instagram grid carousel showcasing “a fun work week with a few side quests” that included dinner at the grande dame of Cape Town dining, La Colombe, with daddy Lipa, seeing some art, and exploring lush local scenery. Her outfit of choice centered on the aforementioned military jacket. It’s an Ann Demeulemeester spring 2026 piece, cropped and red, with mustard piping and silver buttons. She styled it an Mm6 Maison Margiela white ribbed tank top, Ann Demeulemeester spring 2026 runway boots, and a long-strapped Chanel spring 2026 shoulder bag.
Photo: Instagram (@dualipa)
The military jacket has, somehow, become a contender to be this season’s go-to jacket, spotted on everyone from Sofia Richie Grainge to Jenna Ortega, Greta Lee, and Jodie Turner-Smith, as well as across the spring 2026 runways. Defined by epaulets, a standing collar, metal buttons, and an unwavering, precise cut, the military jacket—once synonymous with command—is now about controlled nonchalance. And while those details remain, they’ve been reimagined for the current moment with cropped silhouettes, fresh hues, and unexpected fabrics that call on the style’s utilitarian roots while fitting in with a modern wardrobe. That’s all thanks to Chloé, Dior, McQueen and Ralph Lauren, articulating the jacket with their own individual house codes: boho twists, more feminine details, historical cosplay.
Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
