The Hooded Bush Vest is one of the few items that was present pretty much all the way through the Banana Republic catalog run. It is featured in my earliest catalog, Holiday 1982, and probably dates back even earlier. It was in the final fall 1988 catalog and every catalog in between. The size of the map pocket on the back changed over the course of the run. Early vests (through Holiday 1985) had a full size pocket across the back, large enough to carry a road atlas. Later versions (Spring 1986 and beyond) have a smaller pocket on the lower back that is big enough for a folded map.
Khaki is the most common followed by Olive. White and blue are least common. Examples of this vest have been found in a rusty red color that was not advertised in the catalog.
I have one of these and was looking for a value on today’s market. Any ideas? I also have a cowhide belt that has the hair on it and it has 2 snap pockets . I LOVE them both and wear the vest ocassionally “just because”! Great website!!! Brought back tons of memories and I remember seeing the shop when it first opened in Hawaii and I made weekly “pilgrimages” to the store with the “jeep in the window”! LOVED it! Wish I had more of the stuff that I bought there in the 70′s/80′s.
The Bush Vest is one of the most common BR items. They sold a ton of them and they never wore out. So the value isn’t high, around $30-40 usually?