September, the month of the shacket

This summer like most of the year has been and gone with very little activity. As we officially entered autumn this week, it’s time to reintroduce ourselves to a second layer for when we head outside.

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Outfit pictured: FATIGUE JACKET by UNIVERSAL WORKS, HALFDAN TEXTURE by NORSE PROJECTS, GREY STRAIGHT LEG TROUSERS [similar] by MR P. and CHUCK TAYLOR 70S [similar] by CONVERSE

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We’ve said our last goodbyes to summer, possibly managed to brave an unlikely summer break amidst an ever-changing set of rules and now we look at our weather apps to see temperatures taking a turn. Yes we all talk about the love of summer, being by the sea and alfresco dining in your new camp collar shirt that you brag not so humbly about finding in the sales. But deep down, not so secretly, we all yearn to wear a jacket. This urge probably peaks in late August and we find ourselves wearing more layers than required because we reach breaking point.

Enter September, a month that offers everything. A month that offers the Tomasz Schafernakers of the world every possible scenario. For the most part it’s been cooler days that perhaps could warrant a jacket. Of course, the heavy hitters and outerwear giants are not needed just yet - or as our parents would call, our sensible coats - so instead I point you in the direction of the shacket.

The menswear term that gets geeks like me excited and used to describe the shirt-cum-jacket amalgamation. While sounding a little odd, it solves the void in a wardrobe for an item that eliminates wind chill and mitigates months of feeling like you have lost all sense of style as you’ve been stripped of your ability to layer and limited to: a t-shirt, shorts and hopefully Birkenstocks.

The one I’m wearing above is from Universal Works which takes inspiration from a military m65 style jacket. While it’s definitely not army issue, you can swap out the front line for maybe front row aka your local high street. Made from a ripstop cotton construction it has a slightly camping feel to it while having four pockets to boot - two chest, two hip - to contain all your necessarily September gear (read: sunglasses, hipflask to get through COVID-19, external battery for your phone as you’re constantly checking the latest on how many people you can meet at any one time).

If you are currently staring into a wardrobe sans shacket then this one is on sale and would be a fine option. Though the focus is on the reintroduction of layers, it’s also where we are reverting back to covering up past the elbow and below the knee. I’ve chosen to don a drapey pair from Mr P.’s SS20 collection which sold so well that they are now out of stock, along with a Norse Projects l/s that was one of the first items I came to own from the brand when I was in university. I still treasure this Terry cotton top as much as I did at the till. There is still plenty of time to wear canvas based shoes such as a pair of Converse 70s - far comfier than their predecessor - but as we tumble through the weeks and hurtle towards winter, you’ll want to make sure you don’t get caught out by the rain. Tomasz Schafernaker over to you.jbicon

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