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Ok, so this is something I’ve been thinking about for a very long time, and I don’t know that I’ve ever tried to explain it, except maybe to my wife, who was probably politely listening and nodding along but secretly wishing I would stop talking: What is the difference between a spring jacket and a fall jacket?
Both are meant for shoulder seasons, when the weather is ostensibly neither too hot nor too cold. This alone would lead you to believe, then, that they are one and the same. And, sure, if you’re not inclined to own quite as many jackets as I am, you could certainly get away with having one that pulls double duty — a nice navy chore coat would probably be the most obvious choice.
But I always think about it in this very specific way, where I factor in not only the current weather, but which way the weather is headed. During fall, I think of it as a journey from lightweight pants and short-sleeve shirts toward sweaters and heavy coats, so it’s very much about adding things — specifically length and texture. Consider something like the classic Barbour Bedale, which hits just below the hip and features a corduroy collar and a flannel lining. It is as fall as fall can be, the first step toward the parkas and pea coats in your not-too-distant future.
For spring, though, it’s the opposite. You’re nearing the end of a long, cold winter, with eyes toward summer. So you start taking away those very same things you excitedly added back in October, until you find yourself in your backyard, wearing shorts and a T-shirt with your feet up on your patio table as you drink a beer and grill. Your first step down that road is to remove a shorter jacket in a more basic fabric. Just about the only area where you’ll want to consider adding anything is when it comes to color. The perfect example, then, in pretty much all ways, would be James Dean’s iconic red Baracuta G9 Harrington.
But that’s far from your only option. Here, I’ve chosen five jackets that will start you on your journey toward summer.
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