FIELD YOUR WAY

Say bye to your Barbour and press pause on the bomber, for field jackets are having their moment in the sun

Designed to keep soldiers warm and dry during the Second World War (the style was called the M-43 at the time) and later in monsoon season during the Vietnam War (the M-65), the field jacket—like so much of menswear—was conceived for utilitarian purposes. It has since been re-envisioned for the everyday wardrobe and, easily identifiable by its two chest and two hip pockets, has been remade in countless colour ways and styles by designers keen to make their mark on the classic shape. For spring 2017, Brunello Cucinelli’s interpretation is entirely urban, while Bottega Veneta’s leather iterations hint at a countryside weekend spent cruising in a vintage soft-top car. Whichever take is your taste, invest in a field jacket for spring.