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As the seasons change I've realised I don't own a coat or jacket that isn't a "proper outdoor" type - it's all down, fleece or Goretex.
Could do with something a bit smarter for nights out, but still with a bit of warmth and weatherproofness. So where else would I ask for sartorial advice than you lot 🤠
Barbour lexton .. shower proof .. lightweight for aver a shirt, or get bit roomier to wear hoody underneath
I've never managed to fully bridge weather proof and smart casual.
The closest thing I've had is a Musto Sardinia BR1 jacket. Pretty sure it's origin is short course / inshore keelboat racing so it's properly weather proof, fairly light weight, single colour and is without the usual dayglo bits (like hoods and scotch lite on wrists) of yachty clothing just a reflective logo on the hood cover. It's a waist length rather than hip length.
My idea of smart casual is probably less formal than some people's but I'll wear it into work (suit/business casual) and just about anywhere.
It also gets used when I'm out on a RIB as well.
Yes - `smart for a night out` would, for me, suggest something light over a shirt/sweater; something to walk from the taxi to the pub/restaurant. Anything heavier to walk 2 miles to the pub/restaurant risking a bit of weather on the way wouldn`t really be in the smart for a night out category.
Wool pea coat/duffle coat?
Sounds like you may be looking for something cool Khul
I’m a big fan of Frahm and have many, probably too many, of their jackets. This one would fit the bill and is currently out for delivery, due here in the next hour.
https://frahmjacket.com/products/waxed-classic-field-jacket-honey-tan-2025
They are very spendy, however they are high quality, look good and last well, with great customer care.
I’m out 3 times a day with the dog, and usually have one of their jackets on, so that’s my justification 🤪
I struggle with this too - I have a Patagonia cagoule (waterproof, green, not exactly smart casj), a lined Barbour (mostly waterproof, warm, too warm most of the time) and a Ayacucho softshell (mostly waterproof, tidy, perfect for most days). None of them really fits the bill; I used to have a couple of more macintosh type things, but no longer.
Wool pea coat/duffle coat?
This is what I came to say. Weather proof rather than full waterproof, but it would have been to be a proper deluge to soak through.
If my John Lewis one wasn't only a decade old, (😁)I'd probably get a Community Clothing one. That's another thing about Pea Coats, they are kind of fashion proof.
https://share.google/B7cwNzXuZSAzycefY
Actually I just looked at the community clothing website, and they have a good number of traditional rain coats too.
i have a grey waterproof Carhartt jacket with a kind of thin fleece liner.
it is awesome.
I've just bought a Fjallraven Sten jacket for exactly the same reason. I haven't tried in the rain yet but I have a Greenland winter jacket made of the same material and the factory wax coating lasted all last season.
Coat for warmth and umbrella for rain?
Next casual mens cotton jacket, new with tags from Vinted: £12.
Nikwax Cotton Proof: £8.
Job jobbed.
I walked about 15mins across London a week or two ago in pretty heavy rain and was dry under my jacket. Head and legs soaked....but dry shirt under the jacket.
I've just bought a Fjallraven Sten jacket for exactly the same reason. I haven't tried in the rain yet but I have a Greenland winter jacket made of the same material and the factory wax coating lasted all last season.
I was about to suggest Fjallraven as an outdoor brand that looks a little less outdoorsy. If you're stinking rich, Arc'teryx has a fashion sub-brand called Veillance, which uses technical fabrics and construction tech to produce urban-friendly, designery stuff. It's heinously expensive, but sometimes comes up in the Arc'teryx outlet store, where it's marginally less heinously expensive, but still not what you'd call affordable.
https://arcteryx.com/gb/en/veilance
Maybe something like Didriksons if you're that way inclined, Scandi crossover stuff: Haglofs does a few similar jackets I think.
https://www.didriksons.com/uk/
I have an old Lowe Alpine jacket dating from the era when they still made clothes and were Italian owned. It's a PrimaLoft lined, very Italian, semi-chic waterproof jacket with a sort of corded face fabric. It's still what I drag out on the rare occasions when I need to wear a warm, weatherproof jacket without looking like a refugee from Everest base camp. I don't know if they ever sold any tbh, but I like it.
Depends how weather proof smart.
Leather jacket of some description?
Mine is 14 years old and still shower proof
Sounds like you may be looking for something cool Khul
I have that jacket and it does tick the boxes tbf
Slightly lighter, not AS weatherproof, but definitely fulfilling smart casual, the Frahm waxed Woodland Worker jacket - which I also have and like very much
Another vote for Barbour (not International, please) as being pretty much classless and hence acceptable anywhere/everywhere. Various degrees of weatherproofness and warmth available.
But this is a problem I have, too - mostly technical jackets. I just find it hard to buy anything that isn't at least a little bit waterproof, and/or that doesn't have a hood. I tend to go for ski jackets as my everyday winter wear which can have a sprinkling of fashion about them, even if mine are usually 2 years ago's fashion from SportPursuit 🙂
If you have the time/inclination, do a charity/vintage shop trawl. They pretty often have decent smart men's coats in. I've had a duffel coat, a Crombie coat and a tweed 'country-style' jacket, all wool and top quality, none very much money.
(And they nearly always have some kind of a pea coat in)
In fact, depending on your size/interest, the duffel coat and the Crombie coat are surplus to requirements and probably looking for a new home as they don't get worn (due to my habit of buying coats from charity shops...)...
I also have a full cashmere overcoat that was a bargain, but it just too smart to wear anywhere other than one's club on Mayfair. I really must sell that.
*Thanks for the Frahm brand. I'd never come across that one before. Some nice light casual jackets in their lineup. Particularly liking the - Lightweight Blouson Jacket - however this isn't in their waxed cotton range.
Any feedback on their waxed cotton garments? I read they don't need re-waxing .. which leaves me questioning the actual effectiveness.
I have more than a dozen Frahm items, made up of 8 or so jackets of different types and weight, plus a few overshirts. The jackets date from 2020 to yesterday, and stand up well to daily wear on soggy, often muddy, dog walks, across fields, at sea shore etc.
My oldest one, a ventile field thermal jacket was showing some wear around the zip poppers last autumn, I contacted Frahm and they got their in house tailor to sort, at a nominal charge to me, pretty good for a nearly 5 year old item that had seen hundred of hours of use.
I have a couple of waxed ones, and so far haven’t seen any wear suggesting reroofing required.
One thing I would say, they aren’t as warm as the likes of proper winter synthetic jackets, if that’s your prime need. If the temperature is below about minus 5 I’ll put on an Alkpit Ohiro rather than my warmest Frahm.
A lot of places do a casual cut softshell jacket these days, I have a nice plain black one from Tesco (of all places).
Uniqlo are worth a look too, I have a very smart waterproof duster jacket from them. Best to pop into a shop if you can though.
The guy from 'sewing bee' bought a Lancashire clothing factoring and set up a company called 'community clothing' with everything made in the uk - lots of smart casual jackets
That Fjallraven looks great; I've just upgraded my everyday backpack to a Fjallraven and like the quality of materials. Only question about the jackets is: are they in any way breathable?? I've heard some of the waxed stuff is like sitting inside a warm bin bag in terms of sweatiness
I've heard some of the waxed stuff is like sitting inside a warm bin bag in terms of sweatiness
The same can be said of pretty much any material that’s supposed to be fully waterproof. PU nylon hi-viz jackets are about the worst, though.
My answer for working ten hour days through the winter, when it’s raining from leaving home to finishing in the evening was a Buffalo Special 6, with a £20 Peter Storm packable waterproof jacket and a hi-vis vest over the top. The Millets jacket kept the worst of the rain off, leaving the Buffalo slightly damp on the top, and me warm, dry and comfortable all day.
A waxed cotton Belstaff or Barbour classic motorcycle jacket would be my choice, by design meant to keep the worst of the weather off, and still maintain an element of style - I’ve seen more than a few characters in various police procedural series wearing them.
, they aren’t as warm as the likes of proper winter synthetic jackets, if that’s your prime need. If the temperature is below about minus 5 I’ll put on an Alkpit Ohiro
I know it's daft, but I've got an Ohiro too but I find that it doesn't 'feel' as warm as a 'proper' coat cos it's so light. The slight heft of a woollen coat makes me feel more protected or something, I dunno.
Sport Pursuit have Vulpine jackets on sale at the mo, some of which are pretty smart looking (I just bought a Harrington one for work). Not sure if any are insulated though so might not fulfil the warm criteria https://www.sportpursuit.com/products?bid=365&sp_nav=ct-4.pb-365.&gender=Male&type=Jackets
We are back to the choice between the outdoor warm & weatherproof jacket .. which is only really smart paired up with a set of wellies or muddy walking boots with a dog tied to your wrist.
Or the asked for smart casual jacket that needs only be warm enough for the office or pub, and waterproof for the 25yd walk from car to office or taxi to pub.
Harrington or trucker jacket type always a solid choice for the smart casual look. I'm liking the waxed materials at moment .. for the not smart or casual weatherproof look, I have a Columbia outdry for the wettest dog walking days, layer underneath as temperature requires .. just a t-shirt required underneath at the moment.
*Frahm have some nice looking lightweight jackets. Unfortunately the jacket I liked only came in dodgy colours not a solid black, navy or even an acceptable khaki/brown.
I've one of the Vulpine Harrington jackets. It's my goto summer jacket for 7+ years but there's no insulation whatsoever in it. I wear a fleece under it for autumn but definitely not a winter jacket.
Hows about a double layer ventile jacket https://www.privatewhitevc.com/products/the-manchester-parka - spendy but oh so nice to wear. windproof and largely waterproof as well without you getting boil in the bag.
I've had a ventile cycling jacket from Lancashire Pike for about 10 years, and its still going strong. Zips still work, no rips and plenty of pockets for conkers and bits of fluff. I love it!
https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/mens-coats-jackets/products/mens-raincoat-olive-02
I've been buying odd bits from here, not actually had a rain coat though
Hilltrek do a smart looking looking double layered ventile Harrington.
Put a middle aged man in 'Men's Raincoat - Olive - Community Clothing' and he'll look like a green grocer. Or Professor Les.
Harrington jackets are not smart full stop. Barbour or similar, or a parka. I have a nice Patagonia, and a smart Sand raincoat
Sand raincoat
It's that a flashers Mac?
Belstaff Crosby?
Handmade in Bristol. I walk past the store and keep thinking I should treat myself to one at some point. Half Moon Jacket.
Bought a few jackets over the years from Howies. None especially smart, but not outdoor or active in style.
- Black Ventile cotton unlined jacket.
- Grey/Green cotton waxed jacket with lightweight lining.
- Navy Ventile cotton jacket with warm lining.
I have more than a dozen Frahm items, made up of 8 or so jackets of different types and weight, plus a few overshirts. The jackets date from 2020 to yesterday, and stand up well to daily wear on soggy, often muddy, dog walks, across fields, at sea shore etc.
My oldest one, a ventile field thermal jacket was showing some wear around the zip poppers last autumn, I contacted Frahm and they got their in house tailor to sort, at a nominal charge to me, pretty good for a nearly 5 year old item that had seen hundred of hours of use.
I have a couple of waxed ones, and so far haven’t seen any wear suggesting reroofing required.
and how waxed are they? I’ve got a “waxed” vulpine and it’s very much shower resistant/quick drying as opposed to waterproof. The Howie’s ventilation pilot jacket I had stayed dry inside, but ventile gets stiff and heavy when wet, and takes a while to dry out.
ventile gets stiff and heavy when wet, and takes a while to dry out.
The way Ventile works is that when it's wet, the closely-woven cotton fibres swell up and increase the water-resistance of the fabric, so the getting heavy is kind of an integral part of its functionality, Single Ventile - one layer of the stuff - is pretty much windproof and water resistant and lighter, Double Ventile is, like it sounds, two layers of Ventile fabric and is functionally waterproof. It's decently breathable. The downside is that it's heavy, gets heavier when wet, particularly Double Ventile, and is eye-wateringly expensive. It was - and in some cases still is - a staple for polar explorers and, in the past, mountaineers.
Modern technical clothing is generally lighter and more effective, but in most cases - bar merino and various poly-cotton materials, as used by say, Fjallraven - basically plastic. In a more sustainable world we'd be using cottons, wool, silk, and down, maybe in combination with recycled plastics, of which there must be an awful lot out there, rather than virgin plastic fabrics, but that's where you crash into the sustainability v performance thing. The reality is that 95% of the time, or something, lighter, faster wicking, more breathable synthetics are about fashion and a few degrees of improved comfort than survival, though tbf, with serious mountaineering, modern tech has arguably upped the survivability of extreme conditions and allows queues of high altitude tourists to stand in line high on Everest for hours while Sherpas feed them bottled oxygen.
Sorry, that went way off topic fast.
I’m not much help as I have no issues buying product from the likes of Veilance or super niche Japanese stuff, but if you like “outdoor” performance but want a smarter look then I’d recommend Houdini.
probably the only brand actually being truthful about sustainability and pushing the technology forwards.