By As we head into colder weather, the headline is very much: COATS. Big ones, with belts and lapels and shearling trims. They are warm and flattering and grand and classy, and that’s almost everything you need (and deserve!) for the foul weather season. But a wool overcoat, for example, doesn’t cover all the bases. What if you get caught in a downpour? What then, hey? Wool won’t keep the water at bay, nor will it dry quickly. And the way climate change is progressing we’ll be in a Blade Runner-style climate before you know it and anything that can’t handle torrential acid rain will be obsolete anyway.
No, what you need going forward is something stylish/handsome/comfortable, but also waterproof. The common misconception about waterproof jackets is that they’re all shiny, luridly coloured and ostensibly designed for mountain manoeuvres. But in recent years, we’ve seen fabrics such as Gore-Tex – traditionally used in proper extreme weather gear – appearing in clothes crafted by much more style-conscious brands.
Take Carhartt’s latest capsule collection, which uses Gore-Tex Infinium to maximum effect. The usual utility-wear aesthetic remains, but it’s augmented by waterproof, windproof, breathable fabric, AquaGuard zip closures and sealed seams, so water doesn’t stand a chance of getting in. (There’s even a Gore-Tex bucket hat, should that appeal.) Elsewhere, Italian foul-weather specialists Herno use Gore-Tex too, but in much more classic menswear. The kind of thing stylish Milanese reach for when clouds gather overhead.
For those with more traditional tastes cast your eyes toward Mackintosh, which might just be the preeminent name in wet weather chic (it’s the basis of the phrase ‘rain mac’, after all). They are the go-to for smart, no nonsense rainwear, but are also about to launch ‘Modern’, a new collection which will run alongside the usual thigh-length macs and the collaborations, which include Jil Sander, Alyx and Margiela. Modern starts at a lower price point and will comprise of more ‘experimental’ styles, say the brand.
Mackintosh recently teamed up with The Workers Club on the latter's new array of outerwear, which leads us neatly onto those waterproof coats with heritage at their heart. Harking back to the tough, do-it-all outerwear of the early 20th century, their new shell jacket is cut from waterproof, windproof bonded canvas and features a drawstring hood, ‘bellow’ pockets and reinforced elbow patches.
No discussion of heritage outerwear would be complete without a mention of Barbour, whose waxed cotton has been keeping rain at bay (with bucolic style) since 1894. The classic Beaufort is menswear staple, but might we recommend pieces from the new collaboration with Noah? It has a two-tone take on the Beaufort and a Bedale jacket (slightly shorter in the body) in mustard yellow. Both of which are a fine example of how good waterproof coats can be.
The Workers Club
Mens Autumn Shell Jacket (Made by Mackintosh), £595, theworkersclub.co.uk
"We experiment with traditional themes in our design every day and try to make the most subtle adjustments that are simultaneously holding to classic style but evolving just enough to feel new and unique," explains Noah founder Brendon Babenzien. "This collaboration gave us the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Finally, if all else fails, just get a Burberry trench or a Patagonia shell jacket. If one isn’t in style at any point, the other one definitely will be.
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