Sweaters are important. Boots are key. But as far as your fall and winter wardrobe goes, outerwear is the number one MVP. If first impressions are everything, then when the weather starts to chill, your top layer is critical. Not only is your choice of coat or jacket the most direct way to telegraph your style, it’s also a utilitarian necessity for looking sharp come rain, sleet or snow—or any meteorological situation in between.
Now that layering season is upon us, we’ve rounded up the finest examples of ten essential styles every man should have in his closet. From lightweight jackets for brisk fall days to puffer coats that’ll withstand a polar vortex, this outerwear arsenal will have you covered no matter the weather.
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THE CHORE COAT
Image Credit: Barena Heftier than a shirt jacket but lighter than a proper coat, the chore coat is an invaluable addition to your outerwear rotation. Originally a workwear staple for French laborers, the chore coat is all about practicality: durable materials, button closures, plenty of pockets. The weight is ideal for those tricky transitional weeks when only the lightest of layers is needed, and the streamlined silhouette works as well with a shirt and tie as it does with a tee.
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Éclectic Outdoor Jacket
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Craig Green Men’s Quilted Worker Jacket
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Isaia Suede Field Jacket
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Barena Cotton Corduroy Jacket
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Drake’s Heavyweight Suede Chore Coat
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THE BOMBER JACKET
Image Credit: Paul Smith Bomber jackets were originally created for World War II pilots and their air of high-flying swagger endures to this day. Decidedly sporty, bombers are marked by elasticated cuffs and hems and a zip closure—details that make the style especially insulating. While the earliest versions were generally cut from some variety of nylon, bombers rendered in a suiting-grade wool or cashmere offer a more dressed-up alternative without sacrificing the cool factor.
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Dior Reversible Leather Bomber Jacket
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Loro Piana Stirling Bomber Jacket
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Ami Bomber Jacket
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Ermenegildo Zegna XXX Wool and Cashmere Bomber Jacket
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Paul Smith Wool and Cashmere Bomber Jacket
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THE FLIGHT JACKET
Image Credit: Brunello Cucinelli Dating back to World War I, the flight jacket (or pilot’s jacket) is the bomber’s more tailored older brother. This style is distinguished by a point collar, often trimmed with shearling, that traditionally would be popped up and buttoned closed for extra protection from the frigid air of open cockpits. The flight jacket’s collar and streamlined body make for a statelier alternative to the bomber’s athleticism.
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Golden Bear Flight Jacket
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Yves Salomon Shearling Flight Jacket
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Mr P Flight Jacket
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Officine Generale Flight Jacket
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Brunello Cucinelli Cashmere Flight Jacket
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THE MOTORCYCLE JACKET
Image Credit: John Elliott Immortalized by James Dean and co-opted by punk rockers, the motorcycle jacket is the outerwear of choice for rebels and renegades. Dean’s iconic Perfecto style, featuring peaked lapels with pressed studs, epaulets, zipped cuffs and a belt, is the most classic rendition. A more modern variation, called the racer jacket, is marked by a sleek collar and fewer embellishments. In either case, in traditional leather or a more refined textile, the motorcycle jacket is the easiest way to imbue any outfit with serious bravado.
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Schott Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket
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Sid Mashburn Suede Racing Jacket
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Tom Ford Biker Jacket
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The Real McCoy’s Leather Jacket
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John Elliott Rider Jacket
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THE TRENCH COAT
Image Credit: The Armoury Another menswear staple we owe to the military, the trench coat was originally created for British troops engaged in trench warfare. The hallmarks of a traditional trench coat include a double-breasted closure, a storm flap on the shoulder, a belted waist and cuffs. But this canonical silhouette is continually riffed on: in luxe cashmeres and wools, made minimalist with less hardware or a single-breasted front. In any variation, the trench coat’s lean lines and trim waist are a timeless recipe for polish.
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Todd Snyder Reversible Mac Trench Coat
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Bottega Veneta Trench Coat
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Gabriela Hearst Trench Coat
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Jil Sander Wool Trench Coat
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Coherence Trench Coat
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THE PEA COAT
Image Credit: Berluti The military strikes again! Peacoats began as an ultra-insulating topper for the Dutch navy and were quickly adopted by all sailors of the high seas. Traditionally made of a thick, tightly-wound wool (in navy blue, of course), the peacoat’s most defining features are a double-breasted closure, an ulster collar that can be buttoned closed, and a short, upper-thigh length. A longer, knee-length variation was historically reserved for high-ranking officers — both score top marks in our book.
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Ralph Lauren Purple Label Pea Coat
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Billy Reid Bond Pea Coat
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Mackintosh Wool Cashmere Pea Coat
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Salle Privee Pea Coat
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Berluti Pea Coat
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THE RAINCOAT
Image Credit: Stutterheim The trench may be the most ubiquitous way to keep dry in a shower, but there’s an abundance of raincoats to suit every style and occasion. Silhouettes vary from understated balmacaans to utilitarian hooded slickers. The one constant is a water-repelling fabric: tightly woven gabardine is good, waxed cotton is even better, but a synthetic like nylon or “shell” is your best bet for keeping the damp out.
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Prada Nylon Gabardine Raincoat
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Barbour Haydon Waxed Double-Breasted Coat
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Burberry Raincoat
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Lanvin Cotton Twill Raincoat
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Stutterheim Stockholm Raincoat
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THE TOPCOAT
Image Credit: Matches Fashion Undoubtedly the nattiest way to keep warm in inclement weather, a sharply tailored topcoat is essential. It’s the most formal of all outerwear options, but that doesn’t mean it should be reserved for suiting—it’ll pull together even the most casual off-duty looks. A textbook topcoat comes single or double-breasted with a notched lapel, knee-length and back vent. The car coat, a somewhat more dandyish variation, has a point collar and looser fit, making it a smart choice for bigger builds.
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Armani Double-Faced Cashmere Topcoat
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Gucci Reversible Wool Coat
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Louis Vuitton Topcoat
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The Row Topcoat
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E. Tautz Double Breasted Wool Topcoat
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THE DUFFLE COAT
Image Credit: Saint Laurent With its patch pockets, generous hood and frogged toggle closure, the duffle coat has a boyish charm. That it was popularized by mid-century ivy-leaguers only underscores the style’s youthful appeal. But even if your school days are long gone, duffles make a handsome, casual alternative to more formal topcoats. Less nostalgic iterations swap the classic toggles for sleek zippers or press-studs. Toss one on top of your workday suit to stand out from the crowd.
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Dunhill Duffle Coat
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Stone Island Duffle Coat
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Acne Studios Duffle Coat
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Herno Wool Blend Duffle Coat
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Saint Laurent Wool Duffle Coat
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THE PUFFER JACKET
Image Credit: Loewe Some days, staying warm takes precedent over all other sartorial concerns. Braving a blizzard in a beautifully tailored coat? Not worth it. It’s in those situations that an attractive puffer is key—and luckily, the options are better than ever. Down filling may add bulk, but it needn’t mean looking like the Michelin man. Silhouettes that mimic a blazer or topcoat make for a more debonair puffer; shorter lengths and wider quilting yield puffers that won’t overwhelm.
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Hermes Quilted Parka
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Ienki Ienki Puffer Coat
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Moncler Puffer Jacket
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Thom Browne Puffer Jacket
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Loewe Puffer Jacket
Image Credit: Loewe Puffer Jacket
