When it’s too warm for a coat but too cold for just a shirt, you need something in your wardrobe that you can count on

After searing heat, tropical downpours permitting, could it actually be feeling… a bit nippy? Leaving the house with just a shirt on isn’t an option, but who’s ready for a weighty coat? Not me. That’s right – we’re now in that awkward no man’s land between light summer clothes and properly covered-up autumn attire. So what are your options? 

Whether you want to call it a “worker’s jacket” or a “chore jacket”, this is essentially a light, easy layer that borrows from the cover-ups worn by blue-collar workers in 19th century rural France. 

The particular USP here is that it’s unstructured but its workwear roots mean that it’s robust enough for cooler temperatures. It’s an informal piece, but wearing a la Chiwetel Ejiofor – with chinos and smart shoes – lends a smarter spin. 

Is it a shirt? Is it a jacket? No, it’s a shacket, a portmanteau for what your father would have simply called an overshirt. This is a heavier take on a shirt, with the same silhouette, but in fabric designed to insulate rather than look smart; see the smart casual sweet spot that Ryan Reynolds hits. 

Flannel or corduroy are the best choices here, because they’re hard wearing but relatively lightweight; wool versions can be too hot. Consider denim too; a classic denim jacket is a tad Gen-Z try-hard on older men, but a version in a shacket-shape is more rugged and appropriate. 

This is traditionally an item that’s rather restrictive and “proper” – no one wants to be wearing a stuffy blazer when the sun comes out during a garden lunch. But there’s a happy medium in the form of a loose, knitted blazer; one that apes the shape of a traditional one, but in a fabric that’s looser and easier. 

Ideal for when a degree of polish is required – for example, Jamie Dornan at a soiree – but not “done up” enough to be fully formal. 

Not to be confused with a bomber jacket, the blouson is a thin gauge and less puffed-out alternative that’s a transitional weather wardrobe saviour. So termed thanks to its similarity to the blouse, it’s a neat, sleek little cover-up that looks sharp thanks to its cinched-in waist – there’s a reason that Miuccia Prada’s been enamoured with them for decades. 

Standard varieties in cotton and wool are the obvious go-tos, but it’s worth considering – a la Prada – versions in silk or technical nylon too. These look pleasingly contemporary and sleek, as noted on Michael Fassbender, who steadfastly takes a minimalist approach. 

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