[Loose On The Lead]

I'm looking for a casual non-tailored jacket for the spring and fall. This would be something I'd wear with the temperature in the 50s or 60s, and if the mercury climbed high enough, I'd want to feel comfortable about tossing the jacket into a corner or even (depending on the material) tying it around my waist. Also, a little water repellance would be a good thing, but waterproof probably would not be.

I've considered Harringtons, among other styles, but I'm tall, so I'm self-conscious in jackets that are really short like that.

From what I've read, ventile sounds like a great fabric for this purpose, but it's not widely available in anything other than highly functional garments, and even then, it's pretty uncommon. Not sure why.

 

[alexanderc]

Depending on your tastes, you might consider an uninsulated canvas field coat such as I've seen in catalogs from L. L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and Land's End. I still have one that I bought from Land's End in 1995, though it has faded so much that it really looks bad (it was a dark green color--I imagine lighter colors would not have such a problem, but it is almost fourteen years old).

As far as water resistance is concerned, there are sprays you can buy for that sort of thing.

Below are links to Land's End and L. L. Bean field coats.

https://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/s...oreId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr

 

[Earl of Ormonde]

Dare I suggest one of the new range of lightweight waterproof non-waxed Barbours?
Here's the lightweight waterproof Beaufort https://www.scotia.uk.com/cgi-bin/product.pl?id=7 I think it looks very nice in the one solid blue version

Or even a traditional Barbour like the waxed Bedale, which is short and light.

I often wear a Bedale with nothing more than a tennis shirt underneath.

However, come high summer even an unpadded waxed Barbour is too warm.

But I wear it as late as May and throughout the autumn and even on warmer winter days.

 

[Loose On The Lead]

Dare I suggest one of the new range of lightweight waterproof non-waxed Barbours?

Do you happen to know what Barbour does to make these both waterproof and breathable? Maybe a Storm System kind of process.

STP has some seconds for $188, so perhaps the 175 pounds is a good price.

 

[Loose On The Lead]

Side question: To what degree can these jackets (any of them) be altered? For example, "Large" tends to mean 42-44, and a 44 is going to be too big for me in the shoulders. I realize this probably doesn't matter much with such a casual garment, but still, I'm curious.

I would imagine there's no way the sleeves can be let out.

 

[TMMKC]

I have a Newport Harbor suede jacket that I love. It fairly waterproof and the suede is washable (though I have never had the nerve to try it).

STP has a somewhat similar model for sale:

Mine is brown and in a style more similar to a barn coat. I believe I bought it at Nordstrom a couple eyars ago. It get a lot of wear (and compliments) from it.

 

[Lucifigus]

Orvis ofers a a few heavy cotton models that may work for you.
Their Zambezi Twill


and their Rhinohide


are examples, although the availability seems spotty lately.

Very versatile with an inner mesh lining to keep you cool and lots of interior pockets.


Lucifigus

 

[cycliste1]

Anything Barbour or Patagonia. How could you go wrong?

On the splurge end of things, the Loro Piana Horsey Jacket is awesome.

 

[Loose On The Lead]

I have a Newport Harbor suede jacket that I love. It fairly waterproof and the suede is washable (though I have never had the nerve to try it).

STP has a somewhat similar model for sale:

Mine is brown and in a style more similar to a barn coat. I believe I bought it at Nordstrom a couple eyars ago. It get a lot of wear (and compliments) from it.

Good suggestion, but the back length is only 27", and I'd likely be uncomfortable with that. Also, the available color, light tan, doesn't go with my complexion. No, you had no way of knowing that. I need a cool (i.e., more blue than yellow) color, and darker is better than lighter.

 

[Loose On The Lead]

Orvis ofers a a few heavy cotton models that may work for you.
Their Zambezi Twill

and their Rhinohide

are examples, although the availability seems spotty lately.

Very versatile with an inner mesh lining to keep you cool and lots of interior pockets.

Lucifigus

Again, the colors won't work well for me. Also not really made for being caught in a spring shower. Nice, though...and the Zambezi comes in Long

 

[Loose On The Lead]

Anything Barbour or Patagonia. How could you go wrong?

On the splurge end of things, the Loro Piana Horsey Jacket is awesome.

I think Barbour is a splurge, so you can imagine how I feel about LP for this particular application. The Earl's suggestion of the Lightweight Beaufort is really, really close to what I'm looking for. However, I'm not sure a jacket selling for as much as that one is should be sized S-M-L-etc. Do I want to pay that much for something that will probably be only a so-so fit? I'm looking into it, though.

 

[Loose On The Lead]

As far as water resistance is concerned, there are sprays you can buy for that sort of thing.

I don't think I'm up for that...which may be too bad, since there's a canvas Beaufort at STP.

 

[pichao]

I must say I like their Zambezi Twill jacket

Orvis ofers a a few heavy cotton models that may work for you.
Their Zambezi Twill

and their Rhinohide

are examples, although the availability seems spotty lately.

Very versatile with an inner mesh lining to keep you cool and lots of interior pockets.

Lucifigus

 

[printemps2001us]

I just bought a Borrelli field jacket in navy cotton for the same purpose. Casual and unlined, it will be great with jeans or khakis on a cool evening.

Also consider LP Horsey.