“Jacket weather” can be practically any day now – even in Florida – thanks to the timeless look of men’s coats over the last few centuries. Thick wool coats that once kept 18th century sailors warm while at sea today dot the sidewalks of our biggest cities. Denim jackets that popped from the cattle country of the Southwest quickly became fashion statements around the world. If you’re looking to upgrade your outerwear, here are five timeless jackets we recommend for men.
Chouyatou Double Breasted Pea Coat
If you’re curious, a pea coat is based on English and Colonial American navy coats, which extended below the waist. Mentions of them in newspaper ads date all the way back to the 1700s. Obviously intended for the most inclimate weather, they’re warm but also super stylish and work equally well with formal or casual outfits.
Levi’s Original Trucker Jacket
Jean jackets from Levi Strauss date back to the 1880s, so if someone calls you “old school,” they don’t know the half of it. It may conjure up visions of the Marlboro Man or the entire starting lineup of the 1984 University of Texas Longhorns football team, but the jacket’s popularity hasn’t waned over the decades – it’s still a nearly perfect accessory any time of the year. This particular Levi’s jacket is 100 percent imported cotton with button closure and adjustable waistband and cuffs.
Members Only Men’s Racer Jacket
It’s hard to believe this very distinct jacket survived the 1980s, but it did. The brand was created back in 1975 and prospered in the ’80s thanks to never-ending celebrity endorsements. After its initial popularity faded by the end of the decade, the brand was re-licensed in the 2010s and now is considered chic again.
Landing Leathers Air Force Bomber Jacket
No great surprise where bomber jackets came from – these first gained in popularity in Europe and Japan following their use by combat pilots in World War II. (Can you imagine Tom Cruise in Top Gun without a bomber jacket?) Notice the American flag imprint features 48 stars instead of 50 – a clever salute to its WWII origin.
Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Packable Down Jacket
If this jacket gives the impression that its wearer will soon be tackling some epic mountain climb, that’s not a coincidence. The first down jacket – also called a quilted jacket or puffer jacket – was designed back in the 1920s by an Australian chemist for a planned Mount Everest expedition. Put your high-climbing theatrics on hold and sport this jacket on windy, wintery days.
Steve Spears is editor of Florida Travel & Life, an online brand that inspires active, affluent travelers, providing them with insider information on discovering the best of Florida. Informative and engaging, the website showcases travel destinations, arts and cultural venues, vibrant dining scenes, recreational activities, the great outdoors and the revitalized real-estate market. He is based in Orlando and counts St. Augustine, Key West and the Gulf Beaches among his favorite destinations in the state.
