Five Jackets to Keep You Warm and Casually Elegant

A jacket should, of course, keep you warm. But it also says a lot about you as an individual – if you ignore its form and focus solely on function, you’re missing out on the perfect opportunity to define your personal style. Looking and feeling well-dressed is all about subtle details, cuts, and fit, but depends first and foremost on your ability to make striking sartorial choices that nonetheless perfectly suit the situation at hand. Being able to combine style and utility elegantly and seamlessly is a sure sign that you know what you’re doing. If you do this using timeless cuts and designs, with discreet textures and colours, then you will also have a wardrobe that will look and feel exquisite for years to come. The feeling and impression of casual elegance needn’t necessarily involve synthetic, sporting apparel, or loose and oversize models of ill-defined shape.

The Woollen Coat

‘A double-breasted wool coat in a casual ensemble?’, I hear you ask. But you read it right – with a chunky-knit turtleneck and jeans or chinos, topped off with a pair of Chelsea boots, brogues, or curling boots in brown suede or grained leather, a woollen coat is perfect for creating a look that is casual yet unmistakably well-dressed.

The Parka

The parka is a true identity marker in countless situations. The connoisseurs among us often prefer ‘fishtail’ models – the detail at the rear hem. On the original M51 parka, also known as the ‘Korea parka’, the fishtail was a purely practical addition, allowing the rear of this long jacket to be tied to the front around the wearer’s legs in high winds. The right parka works just as pleasingly with jeans and boots as it does over a navy flannel suit, making it a versatile and elegant part of your casual wardrobe.

The Down Jacket

Down jackets are perhaps the most common choice of outerwear when the mercury begins to drop. Materials such as flannel are particularly elegant choices, while the type of jacket itself keeps things casual. A navy-blue model with a pair of grey flannel, or perhaps olive-green corduroy, trousers allows you to add a bit more variety to your casual autumn and winter wardrobe than simply choosing jeans.

The Wax Jacket

Waxed jackets tend to evoke thoughts of English countryside estates, tweed caps, and Wellington boots. Though there are also models with completely different associations – those designed to keep motorcyclists warm, dry, and safe during long and demanding trips. Belstaff, founded in England, but now flying the Italian flag, is particularly closely associated with this motorcycling tradition. For bitingly cold weather, try wearing your waxed jacket atop a padded gilet. In combination with black jeans, black Chelsea boots and a black turtleneck, a black waxed jacket creates a monochromatic, understated, and stylish combination that radiates integrity and personality.

The Duffle Coat

Like the parka, the duffle coat is also of military origin. Nowadays, it is the cornerstone of the preppy wardrobe, and an excellent alternative for those who find a traditional woollen coat a bit too formal. Wear it over corduroy trousers, chinos, or jeans paired with an Oxford shirt and perhaps a softly tailored blazer or cardigan.