For this SS21 season, we’ve curated a tight edit of lightweight, stylish and versatile jackets and coats that we believe will be discerning investments. From being worn over formal business tailoring or incorporated into a smart casual outfit with denim and a sports jacket, come rain or shine, we’re certain this crop covers all the bases and then some more.
Here at Trunk, we’ve always dedicated ourselves to unearthing and representing the very best of global menswear. It’s our quest for discovery that sets us apart from other men’s specialist retail stores, and this season there are a couple of names in the outerwear department that we think you ought to know about. Come rain or shine, we’re certain this crop covers all the bases and then some more.
We start with Manifattura Ceccarelli, an outerwear brand founded in 1998 in Forlì that’s new for this season. Like many great Italian brands that we admire, it’s family-owned and proudly manufactures everything in Italy (see our Made in Italy offering, here). Materials and fabrication processes, such as waxing, are something Manifattura Ceccarelli excels in, while its outerwear designs balance functionality and style with finesse. With influences coming from workwear and military-wear, the company used to make for the American brand Filson, and so its understanding of rugged quality is unrivalled. As such, these jackets are built for a lifetime of wear.
For an injection of brightness, we’re particularly taken by the Cotton Cameraman Jacket in Yellow/Tan. With a multitude of pockets that cater to the modern and multi-faceted lifestyle we now all lead, it’s incredibly water-repellent thanks to a light layering of paraffin applied by hand on top of the tightly woven cotton. It has an in-built hood so you’re prepared at all times in case of a spring shower emergency. Elsewhere in the offering, there’s a field jacket made in tan cotton/nylon blend fabric. With the telling design details such as four pockets and a drawstring waist, it’s perfectly accustomed to an urban adventure.
Regular customers might already be familiar with the Milanese brand Sealup, which was introduced last year, and so we’re pleased to continue the relationship into a second season for SS21. Sealup was founded in 1935, and so it’s fair to assume that it knows a thing or two about making coats, specifically raincoats. We’ve picked out two classics that we feel have a place in your wardrobe; a Parachute mac in navy and tan, which are both single-breasted and unlined.
What sets these apart is the fabric, which is impossibly light and crispy feeling cotton that’s water-repellent. Outerwear in spring/summer is sometimes questionable, but when it’s as light as airy like this there’s no debate. It’s cut with a split raglan shoulder, which offers sharpness and comfort in equal measures, and will serve you as a reliable companion in inclement weather this season.
While it’s not a new acquisition, Valstar has long been one of our most popular outerwear brands as its hallmark creation, the Valstarino, is a sporty and chic classic. This season, there are four iterations of it – two in suede and two in a cotton/nylon blend – but the Valstarino in greige goat suede is perhaps the most arresting. It’s irresistibly silky and soft and can be easily dressed up for the office or down with a York T-shirt and Resolute denim jeans. We don’t recommend wearing the suede models in the rain for obvious reasons, but thankfully there are two cotton/nylon versions that will stand up to mild showers this season. If you’re looking for something that can double up as a blazer, opt for the navy Valstarino. Like all great pieces of outerwear, these can be easily worn into the colder months with smart layering beneath – particularly the suede versions.
Last but by no means least is our Cavendish coat in navy, which is made by Japan’s foremost outerwear manufacturer Sanyo Sewing Co. Since the mid-40s, it’s been making classic raincoats with extreme precision. Comparatively to the mentioned jackets and coats above, our Cavendish coat is noticeably more formal, as such lends itself well to business tailoring. Made from a cotton gabardine, which is impressively water-repellent, there’s a detachable liner so that you can wear it throughout the entire year. There’s also a version in beige gabardine.
All in all, we hope this gives you a small taste of what’s online and in our stores in London and Zurich. While these pieces are mostly new for this season, they’re designed and made in such a way that they are to be worn for several more seasons. Outerwear is an investment and when you boil down the cost per wear, it’s arguably the most erudite investment you can make in your wardrobe.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Explore the range, here