One item. Instant style upgrade. Is it possible? Yes, with a jacket that fits your aesthetic. While it may seem too good to be true, this one piece can elevate an entire set of outfits in your wardrobe. Let’s dig in to the best casual jackets for men depending on your style type, as well as how a great jacket can transform your look.
Benefits of a Casual Jacket
A good casual jacket can have the same effect as good packaging for a product. It gives others a positive first impression of your style awareness and can hide the flaws of any underlying layers (not that you’d have any…).
A great casual jacket also gives your look some depth and gravitas. A jacket adds structure and definition to your look, with most accentuating and adding weight to your shoulders to give a more masculine appearance, as opposed to just wearing a t-shirt/shirt/sweater/etc…
It also adds a finishing layer to your look, increasing visual interest in your outfit. Think of someone wearing a t-shirt and jeans vs. someone wearing a chore coat over a t-shirt and jeans. Which outfit do you find more visually interesting? Which will draw more positive attention?
Additionally, jackets give you the opportunity to add personality and confidence to your look. With the myriad of options available for casual jackets, you can find something that perfectly suits you and allows you to best express your personality. This self expression will give you more confidence and help you appear more confident – always a plus.
Of course we have to mention the functional benefits of a jacket. More pockets can help you carry your random items (instead of stuffing them in your pants, thereby ruining the clean lines of your outfit). Plus, when on a date, you can pull off the gentlemanly move of offering your date your jacket if the weather is cold (p.s. women tend to be more sensitive to cold).
Examples of Different Style Types
Now that you’re thoroughly convinced of the benefits of a casual jacket, you probably have some idea of what complements your style best. If you don’t have a clear idea of your style type, that’s ok. You should take an inventory of why your personal style matters, and then you can start to define your type. Below are a few examples, as well as a few pieces that define each style type.
- Rugged – flannels, canvas pants, workwear boots, barn jackets, field jackets
- Refined – poplin dress shirts, oxfords, chelsea boots, overcoats, fine knits (cashmere/merino), wool suits/blazers, knit polo shirts, polos with sport coats, dress chinos, wool slacks
- Relaxed Casual – jeans, chinos, polo shirts, chukka boots, white sneakers, bomber-style jackets
- Preppy/traditional – khaki chinos, polo shirts (with the small logo), Shetland wool sweaters, OCBDs, corduroy pants, sweaters over button-downs, penny loafers, boat shoes, tweed sport coats, Harrington jackets
- Sporty – athleisure wear, technical attire, hoodies, running shoes, puffer jackets/vests
- Street/trendy – into the latest trends, not as solidly defined as the other style types, but you know if you fall into this category
You may fit into one of these categories, or your style may straddle 2-3 of these. Or maybe you don’t quite fit any category. That’s ok. The best thing to do is find a couple of pictures or celebrities whose style you like and can see yourself wearing. Then, slowly add pieces based on this inspiration. If you like them and get positive feedback, keep going in that direction. If not, find some new inspiration and repeat the process.
Best Casual Jackets by Style Type
Below are examples of the types of jackets you should check out depending on your style type.
- Rugged – flannel shirt jacket, canvas barn coat, trucker jacket, shearling coat (expensive)
- Refined – sport coat, chore coat, trench coat/mac jacket, long overcoat
- Relaxed Casual – bomber jacket, shirt jacket, field jacket, trucker jacket, duffle coat, pea coat
- Preppy/traditional – waxed cotton jacket (like a Barbour), traditional blazer, tweed sport coat Harrington jacket
- Sporty – quarter zip performance pullover, lightweight down jacket
Which of the best casual jackets for men from the pictures above fit the vision you have for your style? What they do have in common is that each jacket upgrades the entire outfit.
Get something in a neutral color, wear it a lot, and feel the improved confidence that it brings to all of your current wardrobe. You’ll also notice that people will pay more attention to you and give you more compliments.
Other Considerations
The weather should affect your choice of best casual jackets for men. If you live somewhere cold, purchase an overcoat or heavy jacket that you will wear all the time. This can be a statement piece. Consider a long overcoat, a balmacaan, a parka, or a pea coat, and don’t be afraid to spend on the higher end of your budget for a quality item.
If you live somewhere that hardly ever gets cold, then it would be a waste to invest a significant amount in a winter coat. Go for something you can layer up and down, like a shirt jacket, chore coat, lightweight sport coat, or mac jacket (if rainy). If you live somewhere hot, consider a linen overshirt to wear at night.
As always, make sure to get the fit right. Different garments will have different requirements (a sport coat will fit differently than a large overcoat, for instance). Look at different pictures and make sure your jacket fits exactly as you want it. Since these tend to be larger investments, don’t be afraid to return if it doesn’t look right or fit your style. Jackets also make great gifts.
When considering the best casual jackets for men, let your personality shine. This piece needs to be something you love, so do a fair amount of research and pick something you know you’ll want to wear day after day. Because this level of excitement will cause you to wear this jacket with confidence – which is the biggest benefit of a great jacket.