Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
The weather’s been turning colder and the leaves are turning a gorgeous red. It’s that time of the year to bust out those jackets and vests. If your old outerwear has been showing signs of age, maybe it is time to consider trying out new styles. I took the time to compile a list of 10 pieces of men’s outerwear that are currently weather appropriate. Some may even last you deep into the winter.
As college students, we all have limited budgets on our hands, so I have limited the price of the list to $200. Sure, that may not seem too thrifty, but we all want our coats to last a long time: I made sure to only include pieces that are worth the price tag they have, aesthetically and structurally.
1.
$94.75
Nice clean lines, great dark olive. Feels pretty warm too. For those of us who love keeping it simple.
2.
$108.00
A classic fall essential. Mac jackets can be layered with anything from a button-down to a sweatshirt and look effortlessly stylish. This khaki rendition by Gap looks way above its price tag with its detailed buttons and great color combination.
3.
MEN ULTRA LIGHT DOWN QUILTED VEST
$49.90
Here is a UNIQLO piece that I simply love. The dark violet coloring, the quilt pattern and the slim silhouette, comes together really well. Perfect as an outer layer during fall, or as a second layer during colder times.
4.
Native Youth Arctic Parka Jacket
$159
Throw on a parka jacket over a button down and look effortlessly collegiate. This piece by Native Youth comes with great buttons and a faux-fur hood, so you can pretend to be an arctic hunter while staying animal friendly.
5.
$129
Peacoats: they is so popular now that some labels are using horrible blends of materials to keep the prices of their coats down. This one by H&M keeps prices relatively low while retaining the sleek look we all love from a good peacoat.
6.
Dartmouth Quilted Bomber in Coal
$115
For a slightly understated bomber jacket, this piece by Frank and Oak features a nice quilted pattern. Just look at the contrast those metallic buttons bring to the jacket, its great.
7.
$175.00
Bomber jackets have been a wardrobe stable for quite some years now. After all, pilots are pretty cool. This paisley patterned piece by Original Penguin takes the same bomber jacket shape and silhouette we love and gives it an unique yet elegant character.
8.
$80.00
As the fashion forward label of Carhartt, Carhartt WIP takes classic pieces of outerwear from the main label and updates it with modern styling. I don’t usually wear really bright colors (other than white) but this shade of saffron is just too gorgeous.
9.
$149
Packed with details, this coat by Koto Koigashita will retain visual interest. I really enjoy the olive color. It works well as a neutral color and is sure to fit most combinations.
10.
MEN (+J) WOOL FLANNEL CHESTER SINGLE COAT
$229.90
Alright, so I cheated here. But it is a sin not to include the excellently constructed top coats that UNIQLO’s J+ label makes. The fabric avoids the cheap felt-ish feel of comparable labels. For this kind of quality, you usually have to fork out two to three times as much money.
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