What “Authentic Dungarees” meant in the 90s
The “Authentic Dungarees” line was Polo’s salute to workwear at its roots. Dungarees is old-school language for durable work clothes—denim you could wear hard, wash a thousand times, and keep moving in. This wasn’t delicate fashion denim. It was meant to feel like something you’d find in a general store in a working town—then realize it’s Polo because the details are cleaner, heavier, and better built.
The build: why this jacket hits different
Wool blanket lining
Blanket-lined denim jackets were made for early starts and cold air—warmth without the bulk of a full coat. The wool lining traps heat, breathes, and keeps doing its job year after year. It’s the kind of lining you feel immediately when you throw it on: this isn’t just for looks.
Corduroy collar
That cord collar comes straight out of barn coats and field jackets. It’s a wear point, so corduroy makes sense: durable, comfortable against the neck, and it gives the jacket that unmistakable heritage contrast—blue denim, earthy cord, and a rugged interior.
Made in USA
This is a big part of the story. A 90s Made in USA Polo workwear piece is from an era when the brand was producing heavier, more substantial garments—jackets that feel structured, not flimsy. It has that “lift it off the hanger and you know” weight.
The vibe
This jacket reads like the intersection of:
blue-collar practicality (blanket lining + denim + cord collar)
and Polo’s Americana storytelling (clean lines, classic proportions, built-to-last finishing)
It works because it doesn’t scream. It’s just solid. The kind of jacket that looks right in a pickup, at a dock, in a warehouse, on a cold bleacher, or walking into a bar like you’ve been doing it forever.
Why it belongs in a curated vintage collection
A piece like this is the whole point of vintage: you’re getting an era, a build quality, and a feel you don’t find in most new jackets today. The denim breaks in, the lining softens, the collar wears beautifully, and the whole thing becomes more “yours” every season you wear it.
