You Need to Get This Jacket
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Why don’t you have a Carhartt Detroit Jacket yet? As someone who has worn many but never purchased one of my own, and who has seen how many A-list celebrities love their own Carhartt jackets, this was the question I had to reckon with on one fateful autumn day. There was no good reason for me, as somebody whose job it is to identify good menswear, not to own a Carhartt jacket—and if you know anything about good menswear yourself, there’s no reason for you not to own a Carhartt jacket either.
I took my fate into my own hands and secured the iconic Carhartt Detroit jacket for myself after seeing it on the likes of everybody from Drew Starkey to Paul Mescal to Austin Butler. Granted, there are nice selections of vintage options out there on the Internet—but isn’t it more fun to buy new and break it in yourself? I certainly think so.
I’m pleased to report that my Carhartt jacket is the gift that keeps on giving. In fact, I might even become a certified Carhartt connoisseur, with a collection to rival Austin Butler’s. Watch out, Elvis—this is the jacket that everybody needs right now.
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This Is Real Function
Carhartt is a workwear brand, so let’s start there. The Detroit jacket has clearly evolved to become a streetwear icon and immediate signifier of a Cool Guy, but at its heart the jacket is designed for serious physical work in serious outdoor conditions. So naturally, it better be designed to fulfill its tasks as a workwear staple—and it is.
Down to every detail, this jacket is packed with performance specs that just make your life easier and your day-to-day more comfortable. The main seams are triple-stitched for maximum durability—and if you want to see how well this jacket will hold up, just take a look at any of the hundreds of vintage Detroit jackets available on the market, no rips or tears in sight. The cotton shell is soft and flexible but thick and tough enough to withstand a good beating, whether from the weather or from the work you’re doing. (Carhartt is a favourite among construction workers, so you know it holds up.) Plus, the two slant pockets at the waist are roomy enough to stuff your hands or your phone and wallet in, and the extra zip pocket at the chest keeps your essentials securely stowed.
What differentiates this jacket from similar styles from Carhartt Work In Progress, the elevated label with streetwear designs, is that it has a pleated, bi-swing back that makes doing physical labor easier and comfier. This design feature offers flexibility and full range of motion in the arms and shoulders—no feeling stiff or confined to your outerwear here, friends.
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It’s Endlessly Cool
Ask yourself this: Would all your favorite actors be wearing Carhartt Detroit jackets if the style wasn’t infallibly cool? Would people be getting into bidding wars over them on eBay, paying hundreds of dollars to secure their own? The answer to both of those questions is no, which means that the Carhartt Detroit jacket is hot.
For a piece so simple, it really is stylish as hell. The signature contrast corduroy collar is iconic, and the boxy shape just works well with everything, whether you’re dressing the jacket up or down. The Carhartt Brown shade is a little bit harder to dress up, I will say, so opt for Carhartt Black if you’re planning on wearing it to dinner and drinks. But either way, put on a pair of pleated trousers, loafers, and a nice sweater or oxford with your Detroit jacket and you’re golden. Hell, even dress down a tie by pairing it with this jacket.
This is the kind of easy, effortless, A-lister-off-duty style that many aspire to and few attain. (It helps that this jacket is, actually, worn by many A-listers off duty.) It’s a versatile staple, one you don’t have to think twice about throwing over a tee and jeans. Trust me when I say it’ll quickly become the most worn piece of outerwear in your closet.
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It’s Real Cozy
The Detroit jacket is blanket lined for extra warmth, and I’ll be honest with you—this jacket delivers in the comfort and warmth department.
Snap cuffs and a slightly cinched hem work to keep the heat in, and the super-soft lining that feels like a broken-in flannel just adds another layer of warmth. Plus, there’s quilted nylon lining inside the sleeves—it adds warmth, sure, but mostly just makes it easier to seamlessly slide this jacket on and off over your other clothes.
For a tough workwear jacket, it’s surprisingly cozy—it isn’t bulky in the way that many workwear garments tend to be, and it isn’t stiff either. Instead it feels broken in on the first wear—hard on the outside, soft on the inside. But always, no matter how you spin it, damn cool.
SHOP From £123, amazon.com
Photographs by Florence Sullivan
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