THE JACKET REPORT

As if it never happened, summer is in the rearview mirror. Long, warm evenings have been immediately replaced by knitwear and jackets; we couldn't be happier. If you ask us, summer gets too much attention. Autumn is the best season of the year and we're treating it with the respect it deserves. Making the most of the next few months relies almost entirely on what your wardrobe has in it, so we're introducing The Fall Report. Each week, we're hitting a different pillar of the autumn wardrobe and picking it apart bit by bit until all that remains is what matters: the actual brands and products you should know.

This week, outerwear. Welcome to The Jacket Report. A knit can only do so much once the temperature starts to drop, and that's where the right jacket earns its keep. Beyond the obvious job of keeping you warm and dry, a good jacket is the piece that pulls an entire outfit together. Thrown over a knit, a shirt, or even another jacket, it’s the common thread running through your wardrobe rather than a one-outfit-only purchase. Below, we've broken down the full autumn jacket spectrum from every viewpoint.

The Bomber Jacket

The bomber has spent a generation drifting between military kit and subcultural statement. It’s a style that’s done time with the skinheads, punks, bikers, hip-hop scene, and basically every other subculture you can name, each one making it its own through styling. Therein lies the bomber jacket’s true strength: The silhouette is so distinctive with its ribbed hems and boxy shape, that it styles with anything you throw at it. Sweats, fine. Jeans, fine. Dresses, fine. And so on and so on for eternity.

Leather & Suede Jackets

It’s a great year for leather and suede jackets. Alongside the usual suspects like Our Legacy in the mix with the grungier side of things, there’s an ever-growing list of clean, versatile options too. Studio Nicholson's womenswear approach strips everything back, favouring clean lines and a considered shape to double down on what has always made leather jackets so attractive: quality and longevity.

The Workwear Jacket

We’re not going to kid ourselves into thinking anyone reading this is buying workwear to work in. Heavy machinery or not, the beauty of workwear is in the honesty of the construction. The reinforced stitching, the boxy cut, the range of pockets that actually have a purpose. It’s the fact that at one point, these jackets were designed for serious usage that makes them still so applicable in autumn. Ronning has built a name on exactly that kind of quiet functionality, but there’s a massive range to pick from this season.

The Camo Jacket

Camo is one of those patterns that never really leaves; It might go quiet for a season or two, but you can be sure that it’ll be back with a new angle soon. Polo Ralph Lauren's take keeps things rooted in Americana rather than anything overtly tactical, making it an easy pattern to fold into a wardrobe that's otherwise fairly restrained. While realtree and modern camouflage often feels more aligned with gorpcore and technical styles, this slots into a much broader variety of styles.

Technical & Down Jackets

Not every jacket needs to nod to the past. Brands like Arc’teryx take the opposite approach, pushing performance fabrics and construction to their limit. Down still does the job better than almost anything else once the temperature really drops. It’s hard to argue with a jacket that weighs the same as a T-shirt and can still protect you from sub-zero temperatures. For those prioritising aesthetics, vintage editions from the likes of Big Rock Candy Mountaineering rank highly (and, by the way, it still features 600-fill down insulation), while performance connoisseurs should check out more technical options like the water-repellant 80/20-down Coldfront Jacket from Gramicci.

The Waxed Jacket

Stemming from hunting styles, the waxed jacket is a staple in British heritage that’s always been there, quietly performing in the background. Now, though, names like Barbour and Drake's are bringing it into the new season with collaborations and more tailored takes on the foundational design. Waxed cotton is naturally waterproof and ages with each wear, meaning your jacket might need to be rewaxed at some point, but the fact that each jacket will gain a unique patina over time makes it so worth it.