Attention! It's the return of Napoleon!

Who would have thought that Napoleon would find himself relevant and popping up in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar in 2025? The resurrection of the Napoleon jacket might be a surprise to those new to fashion; however, the edgy jacket is a familiar face in fashion, showing up from time to time on the iconic bodies of Michael Jackson and Kate Moss. So why are we all running to buy the same jacket now, after sprinting away from it 10 years ago in band practice?

For some background information, they say that the sharp-fitted jacket decorated with sparkling champagne buttons was first identified as a fashionable piece associated with rock and roll in the ‘60s, after Mick Jagger was pictured wearing a bright red Grenadier Guards jacket in 1967. As more rock and pop culture icons like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury, and Michael Jackson began wearing the jacket style, it became more prevalent in mainstream fashion, breaking away from its association with its military origins.

By the early 2000s, the Napoleon jacket was everywhere, making its way onto the shoulders of top models and onto the runway in Christophe Decarnin’s Balmain collections in the 2000s and 2010s.

So, the jacket is more than back. It’s so back that if this is the first time you're hearing about this now, “it’s too late,” according to Vogue. But don't worry, I think that if you really reflect on it, time becomes relative, and to be honest, it’s never that deep. However, if you are looking to do justice to the jacket and the version of ourselves that were forced to wear it for the marching band, I've come up with some inspiration for styling the Napoleon jacket and where to find one.

As we enter the miserable winter months, I recommend using the Napoleon jacket as a layering piece on top of some good ol’ HeatTech from Uniqlo and underneath a long, heavy coat, preferably a dark color like black or navy. Or, if you happen to have a formal event coming up or are going to the ballet for the upcoming Nutcracker season, shoulder robing the jacket on top of a sleek dress or fabulous top will keep your shoulders and biceps warm, look classy, and add dimension to your ensemble.

If you're headed to a warmer climate, like the West Coast, I personally would love to see an ode to the indie-sleeze-rocker-girlfriend look being worn by someone who can actually wear micro shorts in November.

So Audrey, that's all great, but where am I finding this Napoleon jacket?

Okay, wow, patience please. But in all seriousness, I am so glad you asked. First, I would ask any family member or family friend who is older than 35. Hopefully, they have been keeping a military jacket in the back of their closet waiting for a moment like this one. This is how I found out that I have one waiting for me at home to snatch up this Thanksgiving break.

Second, check sites like Depop, ThreadUp, eBay, and The Real Real. Searching through these second-hand websites, with prompts such as “punk Napoleon jacket,” “military jacket,” “military blazer,” “evening jacket,” or even “military band jacket,” will find you a plethora of options with different price points to match your budget. Even though it might take a little extra effort and potential bargaining, I can confirm that this is another great way to find your military-style jacket.

Finally, if those two options have not satisfied your needs or you have a couple of extra hundred dollars to treat yourself, I would recommend looking at brands that love edgy sophistication in their outerwear, like The Kooples or All Saints.

And if you have a couple of thousand dollars, you just so happen to want to spend a random Tuesday, you might as well go ahead and buy one off the Spring 2026 collections from Alexander McQueen or the Spring 2009 iconic Balmain Jacket by Christophe Decarnin. And if you're considering that, you might as well buy me one as well.