Yahoo Finance Blousons, trench coats and tech fabrics: the best spring cover-ups for men
These pages have, in a fit of wild optimism, previously looked into the ideal wardrobe to see you through spring, with wistful thoughts of espadrilles, lightweight shirting and soft-as-newborn-lamb knits. But the cherry blossoms and blue skies have lulled us into a false sense of spring-curity; venturing out into the dazzling day more often than not is akin to venturing North of the Wall in Game of Thrones, rather than a Darling Buds of May amble. With colleagues arriving trussed up in winter coats or shivering in thin-as-paper shakets (that’s shirt jackets), it’s time to address the conundrum of spring cover-ups.
Certainly, a handsome trench should be a staple of any wardrobe, with its lightweight gabardine fabric working well over a suit jacket. Burberry are the undisputed masters of the trench coat, and to continue the fine tradition that it began in 1901 when it outfitted the British military - the very phrase ‘trench coat’ comes from WW1 - the brand’s driving force Christopher Bailey has reinvented it yet again, this time in a tropical gabardine material discovered in the archives which is engineered to allow breathability in this most substantial of garments. In a similar vein, I’m a sucker for the crinkle and rustle of a stately Mackintosh coat, which is lightweight enough for changeable weather but comes with detachable linings, and modern incarnations with hoods, or patterned with stripes or plaids, bring it bang up to date.
It’s also worth venturing into the world of technical fabrics, which don’t have to be quite so sport-centric and functional as the term sounds. New brand Emel and Aris has produced a “smart coat”, employing Loro Piana fabric and incorporating heating technology concealed within the lining that operates via a discreet battery and switch. For less gadgetry, brands such as Private White VC - all of which is handmade in Britain - create rugged, sturdy outdoors attire with special tech fabrics to ensure waterproofing and insulation.
And when arctic blasts do eventually cease (at least we’ll be well prepared for a nuclear apocalypse), it’s worth considering summer’s most trusty style companion, the blouson. An affectatious name perhaps for a jacket that’s lightweight, cropped neatly, with a square shape that’s not as retro as the bomber. Don’t be put off with the blousy name; Steve McQueen donning one at Le Mans in the 1960s should be all the credentials you need.
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