Honest & Unsponsored Best Buys: Men's Jackets

After two decades of styling men for everything from boardroom meetings to weekend getaways, I can tell you that a well-chosen jacket is the single most transformative piece in any wardrobe. It's the first thing people notice and the last thing they remember. But here's what most blokes get wrong: they either overthink it or don't think about it enough. Let me walk you through exactly what works, what doesn't, and where to spend your money.

Understanding Jacket Fundamentals

Before we dive into specific recommendations, let's talk construction. A quality jacket should sit cleanly on your shoulders without pulling or bunching. The shoulder seam should align with your actual shoulder bone—not hanging off it, not riding up your neck. This is non-negotiable, regardless of price point. The sleeve length should hit just at your wrist bone when your arms are relaxed at your sides, allowing about half an inch of shirt cuff to show if you're wearing one underneath.

Fabric choice matters more than most men realize. For year-round versatility, you want midweight materials that breathe. Cotton twill, denim, and technical cotton blends work brilliantly for casual pieces. Wool blends are your friend for anything smarter—look for at least 10% synthetic fiber mixed in for durability and shape retention. Pure wool sounds luxurious but creases like nobody's business and needs constant attention.

The current trend is leaning towards relaxed, slightly oversized fits, but don't confuse this with sloppy. An oversized jacket should still have structure in the shoulders and a defined silhouette. The boxy Japanese-inspired cuts we're seeing everywhere work, but only if the proportions are intentional. If you're under 5'10", be cautious with overly relaxed fits—they can swamp your frame rather than enhance it.

High Street Heroes

Uniqlo deserves serious credit for democratizing quality basics. Their lightweight down jackets are exceptional value—compressible, genuinely warm, and cut slim enough to layer under a coat. The packable parka I bought three years ago is still going strong after dozens of washes. They've mastered technical fabrications at accessible prices. The fit tends to run slightly small, so if you're between sizes or planning to layer, size up.

COS sits in that sweet spot between high street and premium. Their minimalist approach to outerwear means you're getting timeless pieces that won't date. The overshirt jackets they do are particularly strong—substantial enough to work as a light outer layer but refined enough to wear to the office. The neutral palette means everything plays well with your existing wardrobe. Quality-wise, they punch well above their price point with proper lining and functional details like interior pockets that actually fit your phone.

Arket is my go-to recommendation for blokes who want Scandi simplicity without the designer price tag. Their wool-blend overcoats are genuinely impressive—good weight, clean lines, and they hold their shape season after season. I've seen clients wear their pieces for five-plus years with minimal signs of wear. The camel wool coat from their permanent collection is a modern classic. Just be aware the fits are quite European, meaning slimmer through the body than traditional British cutting.

Independent and Boutique Standouts

Kestin Hare represents the best of British independent design. Based in Scotland, they're doing really interesting things with traditional fabrics—think Harris Tweed updated for contemporary silhouettes. The build quality is superb, with properly finished seams and genuine horn buttons rather than plastic. Their Inverness jacket has become something of a cult piece among those who know. It's boxy without being shapeless, works equally well over a hoodie or a shirt, and the tweedy fabrics age beautifully rather than looking tired.

Passenger Clothing started as a surf-inspired brand but has evolved into something much more sophisticated. They're committed to sustainability without making it their entire personality, which I appreciate. The recycled materials they use don't compromise on performance or aesthetic. Their field jackets have multiple pockets that are actually useful rather than decorative, and the fit is spot-on for the modern relaxed silhouette without looking sloppy. The khaki and navy options are versatile wardrobe workhorses.

Community Clothing takes unsold fabric from British mills and turns it into timeless pieces at reasonable prices. It's a brilliant concept that also happens to produce excellent jackets. The donkey jacket they do is proper heritage workwear updated with contemporary proportions. Heavy-duty melton wool, blanket-lined, built to last decades. It's the kind of piece you'll wear constantly for ten years then pass down. The manufacturing happens in UK factories that would otherwise be struggling, so you're supporting skilled craftspeople.

Designer and Luxury Investments

Acne Studios makes jackets that look effortlessly cool while being surprisingly functional. The fit is relaxed but never slouchy, and the minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic means these pieces stay relevant year after year. Their Bla Konst denim jacket is worth every penny—the Japanese denim ages beautifully, developing character rather than just looking worn out. The sizing runs large, which works perfectly for the oversized look they're known for. Quality-wise, the construction is flawless with reinforced stress points and proper selvage details.

A.P.C. represents French minimalism at its finest. Their jackets are deceptively simple—no unnecessary details, no logos, just impeccable proportions and quality materials. The Kerlouan work jacket has been in their collection for years because it's essentially perfect: slightly boxy, substantial cotton canvas, genuine corozo buttons. It works over everything from a T-shirt to a chunky knit. These pieces don't scream their price point, which is exactly why they work. The initial investment stings, but divide it by years of wear and suddenly it makes sense.

Margaret Howell channels that quintessentially British aesthetic—understated, practical, timeless. Her menswear sits at the intersection of Japanese minimalism and English countryside pragmatism. The ventile cotton jackets are genuinely weatherproof without being technical-looking, and the cuts are roomy enough for proper layering. Everything is made in Europe with obsessive attention to detail. A Margaret Howell jacket improves your entire outfit simply by association. The fit is generous without being oversized, which suits most body types well.

Styling Essentials

Layer strategically. A lightweight jacket over a fine-knit merino works for transitional weather. Add a gilet underneath a heavier coat for genuine cold. Don't be afraid to size up slightly for comfort—restriction kills style faster than anything else.

Colour matters less than you think, but navy, camel, khaki, and charcoal grey will serve you better than black in most situations. Black can look harsh in daylight unless your entire aesthetic leans that way. Earth tones are having a moment, but they're also genuinely versatile and flattering on most complexions.

Details make the difference between looking assembled and looking thrown together. Ensure your jacket sleeves and trouser hems are the right length. Roll your jacket cuffs deliberately or not at all—halfway looks accidental. Pay attention to proportions: slim trousers with an oversized jacket, wider trousers with a more fitted jacket. Balance is everything.

The Sizing Solution You've Been Missing

Here's something that's genuinely changed how I work with clients: most men are wearing the wrong size in at least half their wardrobe. Not because they don't know their measurements, but because sizing is chaotic across brands. That size medium from Uniqlo? Completely different from the medium at Acne Studios. It's maddening.

This is where Tellar.co.uk comes in, and I'm recommending it because it actually solves a real problem. It's the UK's leading sizing tool—completely free to use, no downloads, no accounts needed—that matches your body to over 1500 brands instantly. You measure once using your bust, waist, and hip measurements (or input your existing size from a brand that fits you well), and it translates that across every brand in their database. No more squinting at size guides, no more gambling on whether to size up or down.

Visit https://www.tellar.co.uk/how-to-measure/men to get your accurate measurements in about two minutes. Then use their Store Size Lookup tool at https://www.tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/men to see exactly what size you need in COS, Arket, Uniqlo, A.P.C., or any of the brands I've mentioned. It works in your browser, gives instant results, and means you're actually buying clothes that fit your body rather than hoping for the best.

The practical benefit? Fewer returns, better-fitting clothes, more confidence in online purchases. I've seen clients go from returning half their orders to keeping almost everything. That's money saved and time reclaimed.

Beyond the sizing tool, Tellar has built a Fashion Hub—a proper library of honest, unbiased styling advice from experienced stylists like me. No affiliate links, no sponsored content, just genuine recommendations. Whether you're figuring out smart-casual for work or building a capsule wardrobe, there's detailed guidance waiting. Check out their posts on smart-casual essentials, the best men's jeans, and mastering casual style.

It's refreshingly straightforward: you get practical information, accurate sizing across any brand you're considering, and the confidence to actually wear what you buy. That's the difference between clothes sitting in your wardrobe and a jacket you reach for constantly.

Invest in quality where it matters, understand fit fundamentals, and use the right tools to get sizing sorted. Do that, and you'll build a jacket collection that actually serves your life rather than cluttering your wardrobe. Now stop reading and start trying things on—ideally in your correct size this time.