There are some garments that, despite the passing of the years, remain imprinted in the history of fashion forever: one of these is precisely the Saharan, an iconic garment, which today we at Virum are re-proposing in a totally new key, with a lively and bold tone.
But what is the story of such a fresh and sparkling garment? And why does it resist so much the advent of new trends and changes in fashion?
What is Saharan?
The Sahariana, or safari jacket, was born as a men's garment in the second half of the 19th century, during the colonial era. In fact, it was used as a piece of the uniform of the English colonists, who used it to survive the heat of Africa. Made with very light fabrics, such as linen and cotton gabardine. The name Sahariana comes from the famous African desert: the Sahara. The colors used have always been those linked to the earth: khaki, beige, brown.
The length of the traditional Saharan is up to the hips, with a belt to be worn at waist height (just like the classic military jackets) two or four side pockets and buttons, 4 or 5, to complete the garment. The cuff can be smooth or like a shirt.
History of the Safari Jacket
The Safari jacket, as we have mentioned, was born in the colonial period for practical reasons, but was soon used for safaris and later as a fashionable item of clothing.
The first famous person to wear this jacket was Ernest Hemingway, immortalized in one of his most famous photos wearing the Saharan jacket, during a safari in Kenya in the 50s. After him it was Clark Gable's turn, who wore it in the film "Mogambo" in 1953. Even James Bond wears it in the "African" scenes, shot in Egypt, of 007.
Coming to more recent times, we cannot fail to mention Prince Charles, an icon of style and elegance, who wore the Safari Jacket on several occasions. One of his most famous photos with the garment dates back to 1984, during his trip to Papua New Guinea.
Evolution of the Saharan Jacket
Over the years, the safari jacket has been revisited several times and has become a garment no longer strictly masculine, but also feminine. We find it in the catalogs of all those brands that make formal or semi-formal garments, in the 60s Yves Saint Laurent even brings it on the catwalk.
The Saharan jacket slowly transforms and evolves, it comes in new colors, like dark green, and it starts to be worn on more casual looks. David Beckham wears it as if it were a parka, while David Gandy uses it as a substitute for a classic blazer.
Models were born that are closer to a shirt than a jacket. One of the most famous brands that rode this trend was Balenciaga, which last summer launched several shirts in this style. Also very interesting is the proposal by Brunello Cucinelli, a model very close to the classic one, refined and elegant, like a true prince.
The tailored Saharan jacket by Virum
We couldn't help but ride the trend and create the tailored Sahariana signed Virum. An unlined, lightweight Safari jacket, made of solaro fabric, in Linen and silk from the prestigious Fratelli Tallia di Delfino wool mill. A refined garment for classy men who don't want to give up style even when temperatures rise.
We made it in different colors, to give every man the chance to match it with different garments, experiment and dare.
How to match the Safari jacket
The Safari jacket pairs perfectly with jeans, for a casual and fresh look for days, but also with linen and cotton trousers, fresh and ideal for the summer, even better if tubular in the model. It can also be combined with a nice Bermuda shorts in the summer.
It is important that the Saharan fits well to the body, that it is not too long and that it fits well on the shoulders. Being a versatile garment, you can wear it comfortably in any season. Try the combination of a beige Safari jacket and a blue shirt, with dark blue trousers. You can also combine it with a nice tie in a complementary color and brown leather shoes.
If you prefer a more classic look, wear the olive green Saharan over a white shirt with a nice earth-toned tie. Perfect for making a stylish impression during the day and showing up to work in style.
