The Statement Jackets That Have Won My Heart

A strong piece of outerwear is the easiest way to great personal style.

When I started this publication in a previous form over 5 years ago, I set out to democratize style and fashion knowledge. Groundbreaking, I know - like there's not a dozen or so other publications that do it as well. I wanted to bring good style to the masses and teach people that it can be easy to look nice. Along the way, certain style hacks stand out above the rest as being a cheat code to skip a few levels, taking you from a Charmander to a Charizard without running around fields crushing for experience points. The cheat code I wish to speak about today is the enduring value of a strong piece of outerwear.

I'm what you can call a person with a spending problem, so every year I have to grab new clothes for fall. I don't usually buy new clothes for summer or spring, but in fall and winter I'm scrounging through racks, allowing my hands to drift along the variety of fabrics and every store looking for the next piece of outerwear that will fix me. I fantasize about wearing them in a city much colder than my own and street style photographers take photos of me for their blogs and such.

Outerwear is usually the final frontier. You should already have a little collection of T-shirts, a couple of button-downs, a sturdy pair of stylish jeans, a good pair of sneakers, and some dressier shoes like loafers or boots. Once you have a foundation of well-made classics and basics, let's get you a crazy, high-brow statement jacket. I've been combing the bed on the web looking for the next great jacket that will enter my wardrobe. Here are a few that stood out:

Horse Equine Work Jacket - Found Co. ($172)

Found Co is a new company that I've been checking out on IG more and more as they have a number of strong outerwear pieces. This Horse Equine jacket is my favorite of their offerings despite the fact that it is a Bode clone. It's only available on preorder right now, but it's worth purchasing. I love the elevated detailing on the piece while the ground colour remains subtle. It's an eye-catching piece without being too in your face.

WWII Government Issue A-2 Jacket - Cockpit USA ($690)

I'd argue that this watch isn't necessarily a statement jacket, but rather a very beautiful one. Everyman needs a good leather jacket that will go the distance with them, and this WWII-inspired piece from a beloved American manufacturer is as good as it gets. Wear it on chilly days and freezing nights. there is not an outfit on God's green earth that this will look out of place on.

Hand Drawn Suede Jacket - Small Talk Studio ($2,500)

I just learned about Small Talk Studio the other day, and frankly don't know too much about the brand, but while browsing their website, I was drawn to this suede blouson. This $2,500 jacket is the most expensive piece on this list, but it's made in New York City and is hand drawn by an artists, so dare I say it's worth the money? Only you can answer that question for yourself, but it's beautiful and will make you look like a style god.

Chain-Stitched Leisure Jacket - One of These Days ($279)-

One of These Days is one of my favorite under-the-radar brands in the men's fashion space today. The brand started by artist Matt McCormick as a side project to further his artistic expression and dive into his curiosity about the American West. This denim jacket with the subtle left breast logo and chain-stitched image of a rancher and his horses is a great way to dip your toes into the Western aesthetics trend that's not going away anytime soon.

Racing Zip Sherpa Jacket - Cherry Los Angeles ($468)

This jacket combines two of my favorite looking things: racing jackets and sherpa fleece jackets. It's a match made in heaven for the young West Coast brand that has rose to prominance in the recent years. At almost $500 it's not cheap, but if you want to be the coolest kid at the bar, this is all you.

Violet Puffer Vest - Noah ($558)

Vests can get a bad rep sometimes because of the oversaturation in investment banks and venture capital firms, but a study vest is still an asset to any closet. Leave behind the Patagonia fleece or the Columbia down vest and gift yourself a fun puffer vest in a vibrant color to bring some life to your fall wardrobe!

SF 49ers Varsity Bomber Jacket - Abercrombie ($220)

It's Fall, you can support your favorite team guilt-free with extra steez thanks to our friends at Abercrombie.

Peace and Love