At first glance, the jacket may seem reserved for formal occasions. However, there is an ever-growing offering of casual jackets, riding the wave of soft tailoring and a menswear wardrobe that leans towards less formality. The casual jacket meets the demand for both comfort and elegance. These jackets stand out from more formal tailoring through their textures, colours, details and cuts.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the different ways to wear a jacket casually, starting with the various styles of casual jackets.
The sports jacket
At the risk of disappointing you, the sports jacket is not really designed for playing sports. We refer to a sports jacket when the jacket is worn as a separate from the trousers, as opposed to a suit jacket. The term originates from its use at the beginning of the 20th century for more leisurely pursuits like shooting, seaside holidays or indeed spectating at sporting events.
Often called a blazer (which is actually a navy jacket with brass or silver buttons), the sports jacket is most often distinguished from a suit jacket by its more textured fabric. In winter, the standout material is wool flannel, a robust brushed wool fabric that keeps you warm while adding beautiful texture to the garment. Tweed is also a classic favourite for casual jackets in winter.
In summer, linen is an excellent choice for a casual jacket as it is the fabric best suited to hot weather. It is breathable and dries very quickly. For those who dislike the crumpled look of linen, weavers have developed over the past decade beautiful blends of wool, linen and silk that bring exceptional texture to the jacket whilst keeping it breathable.
Finally, there is cotton, which lends the jacket a relaxed feel with undeniable charm.
The unstructured jacket
At Hast, we have reinterpreted the traditional jacket in an unstructured version. The construction is exceptionally soft and fluid, offering absolute comfort and making it easy to pair with a wide range of pieces in your wardrobe. This jacket embraces a more relaxed attitude while retaining refined tailoring hallmarks. The collar is cut with a distinct tailoring spirit, redesigned with generous shape to give the jacket presence. For a casual touch, it features two patch pockets at the sides as well as a patch chest pocket.
The work jacket
Revived a few years ago, the work jacket is a great way to wear a jacket casually. Originally, this piece was utilitarian workwear worn by labourers. It has since been modernised and integrated into the wardrobe of men looking for a piece that adds extra character to their outfit.
In wool, corduroy, cotton or linen, the work jacket comes in a range of fabrics to see you through the year.
With the different casual jacket styles covered, let’s look at how to wear them.
One of the easiest ways to wear a sports jacket is to pair it with a shirt and wool trousers. In this look, the ecru shirt makes an excellent alternative to the traditional white shirt.
While a double-breasted jacket might seem strictly formal, here it is paired with a roll neck for a more casual feel, alongside ecru corduroy trousers. Combining the wool of the jacket with the corduroy of the trousers creates a harmonious interplay of textures that adds depth to the outfit. Ecru trousers are increasingly favoured by men who appreciate their luminous quality and versatility. Originally confined to the summer wardrobe, they have now become a winter staple in corduroy, flannel or cotton moleskin.
The unstructured jacket brings a more relaxed feel to this formal look, offering an appealing alternative to the suit jacket.
The work jacket is a piece that pairs with everything. Across these two looks, it works just as well with a jumper and cotton moleskin trousers as it does with a shirt and tie. One of the great strengths of the work jacket is indeed its versatility.
A final word
As you will have gathered, the casual jacket—be it a sports jacket or a work jacket—goes with almost everything. It can also be paired with jeans and a T-shirt. It is therefore an essential piece to add to your wardrobe, if you don’t own one already.