Nehru Jackets (Lana Lobell, Fall 1968)

 Nehru jackets!  Named for India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, they featured mandarin collars and were modelled after traditional Indian coats.  They made their way into western wardrobes during the 1960s when (thanks to the James Bond film franchise) they became the garment of choice for aspiring supervillains.  However, Nehru jackets also became fashionable among less villainous trendsetters, being particularly popular with people in the arts and entertainment industries.  They were apt to turn up at awards ceremonies and on red carpets.  For example:

"Actor David Hemmings wore an elaborately frogged Nehru-style jacket when he accompanied his actress wife, Gayle Hunnicut, to the London premiere of "Oh, What a Lovely War.""

"What People Are Wearing Overseas" (Australian Women's Weekly, 14 May 1969)

While Nehru jackets were mostly worn by men, in the late 1960s they were also available for women.  The Fall 1968 "Lana Lobell" catalogue featured a number of  Nehru-styled outfits.  No doubt they thought they offered an exotic and glamorous touch to women's wardrobes.

"AT-HOME GLAMOR—the sweep of a sorceress jacket, the luxury of exquisite brocade!  The new Nehru, curved from its scintillating collar, self-buttoned in duos—sleek tapered pants side-zipped.  Divine in Cotton-Acetate brocade."

 

"THE "NEHRU" SUIT — exciting and elegant!  Note the dramatic jacket, its stand-up collar, its golden-gleam buttons—its figure-carving flare atop the reed-slim skirt.  Rich Coloray Rayon Knit, bonded to acetate.  Elastic-waist skirt.

"LONG AND LONGER goes the new Nehru-collared jacket—smart and smarter goes the swaggering suit that says "fashion!"  Lustrous Acetate Sharkskin bonded for shapekeeping—see the hip-top flaps, button-spiked sleeves. Skirt is very slender, elastic waisted."

"THE NEHRU JACKET—so divine with pants, so stunning with skirts that we give you one of each!  Glamor at home or on the town in a silken-sheen blend of Rayon-Acetate—the top curves from regal collar to siren slit hem, takes a march of color-keyed buttons.  Skirt and pants are slim-fitted—skirt with elastic waist, side-zip pants with slits that echo the jacket detail."

"THE NEHRU LOOK—done in a divine dress that' one smooth figure-following sweep from stand-up collar to A-line hem.  Rich honeycomb Orlon Acrylic, bonded to acetate—note the welt-stitched seaming, the hip-top tabs, the chic back vent!  Gleamy buttons to the hem for easy-on."