Fashion Is Borrowing From Michael Jackson Again

Michael Jackson made the military jacket iconic. Now, fashion is finding a new way to wear it.

By Isabella Donovan 

Graphic by Gretchen Barnard

Fashion has a habit of bringing back the past with its own charm. This season, the trail of gold buttons, structured shoulders, and military detailing leads straight back to Michael Jackson. A fitted military jacket covered in gold buttons does not exactly blend into an outfit; and neither did Jackson. The military inspired outerwear that he wore was designed to command attention with its shiny hardware and bold colors. The jackets and outerwear that are showing up in stores right now are very clearly descendants of his pieces.The difference is that this time, they are designed to blend into your closet. 

Military jackets have been making their way back into fashion throughout 2026. They have appeared in McQueen, Dior, Khaite and Ann Demeulemeester and on celebrities such as Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid. More accessible versions of these pieces are available at places like Zara, Princess Polly, Urban Outfitters, and Mango. 

The timing of this comeback is very obvious. Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic made it to theaters in April and brought Jackson’s style back onto the screen along with his music. By June, reporters were already calling the trend the “Michael Jackson jacket,” specifically pointing to Zara’s selection of military inspired pieces. Jackson wore military jackets as performance pieces and they consumed his outfits. He wore bright red, royal blue, black, and gold throughout his wardrobe and paired pieces with enough embellishment that there was no question about which part of the outfit you were supposed to notice. His style was bold and eye-catching. His jackets were extremely decorated and intentionally theatrical. The confidence he had while wearing these pieces made them even more striking. 

The versions that are returning in 2026 have kept many of the same details, but have removed some of the spectacle that his pieces had. They are a lot less “loud.” Zara’s current jackets use the same rows of shiny and decorative buttons, fitted silhouette, and military inspired structure as Jackson’s, but the colors are very neutral. The jackets come in navy, brown, cream, black, and denim. Instead of looking like replicas of something Jackson would have worn onstage, they feel more like everyday pieces that could be thrown into a casual outfit. A red military jacket with gold detailing is the star of an outfit, but a chocolate brown or navy version can simply be part of one. The structure and hardware still make it more interesting than a basic fall jacket, but the neutral palette makes it much more versatile. 

Michael Jackson’s influence is still very clear, but what has changed is the styling around it.

What is most interesting about this comeback is how little explanation the reference needs. Decades later, a row of gold buttons and a structured shoulder are recognizable enough to make people call it a “Michael Jackson jacket.” Very few artists or celebrities leave 

behind a legacy wardrobe that is recognizable enough to become its own category of clothing. This fall, that category just happens to be hanging on the racks again and walking around Comm Ave.