OUTERWEAR REFRESH

For those who delight in nothing more than piling on layer after layer, the prospect of shedding clothing for spring is about one of the only things not to look forward to about a season of lengthening days and sprightly weather.

However, this season men’s outerwear has been given an impressive overhaul meaning that there’s no reason not to get similarly excited about throwing on one of spring’s new offerings. Here are our top styles for the months ahead.

THE SUEDE JACKET

We’re not even going to attempt to persuade you that a suede jacket is a wardrobe staple. In fact, its appeal lies precisely in the fact that it’s slightly indulgent. Yes, it may require a lot more TLC than most other things in your wardrobe, but that extra diligence is a price worth paying when its aesthetic attributes are considered.

For spring, the suede jacket comes into its own thanks to design which pays homage to this outerwear icon’s heritage of quiet luxury. Choose a bomber shape above a traditional shirt style suede jacket and dress down by wearing with a simple white t-shirt and a light wash pair of jeans. The aim here is to make your suede jacket appear unassuming rather than attention-grabbing.

THE MAC

What’s not to love about the mac? It will fend off rain, fold easily into luggage and has a versatile appeal which means it can be worn in countless different ways. It’s one of those rare designs which although primarily practical, is a complete knock out when it comes to looks too.

This season the mac takes with it all those features that have rendered it so popular with countless generations of men, but leaves behind excess fabric and the suggestion of fustiness. The result is a streamlined take on the mac or trench coat which riffs on the original but feels modern enough to wear with dressed down suiting.

THE LEATHER JACKET

Once a man has found the perfect leather jacket, there’s little else to strive for (we’re talking wardrobe-wise, of course) and few other clothing investments are quite so important to get right. When looking for your ideal leather jacket, go simple in terms of design and instead hone in on the quality of the leather skin.

The beauty of this approach means that you’ll find a leather to last which can be worn (not only in spring) in a practically unlimited amount of ways. Our recommendation this season is to give the leather jacket the high/low treatment by teaming with a hoodie and tailored trousers.

THE BLOUSON

Sometimes the next best new thing in menswear isn’t new at all, rather it’s an old favourite which has been put into retirement for a while. Case in point is the blouson which has returned to the fold of menswear this spring, which is great news for fans of classic style with a contemporary twist.

The blouson’s mid-century masculine credentials are only heightened by the addition of a Cuban collar as above. Further the sartorial throwback by teaming with a pair of sand chinos and black lace-ups, or branch out with a stylish bomber jacket instead. The fifties never looked so fresh.