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For those in need of an outstanding versatile spring and summer sport coat — or for those in warmer climates — look no further than one in a brown wool & linen.
Growing up in the Northeast and having lived in the Mid-Atlantic region for over two decades now, I experience four distinct seasons. My wardrobe reflects that in its variety of fabrics and weights and, of course, since I’m in the business of sharing my personal style with you all, it informs the content I produce.
Although both of those things seem exceptionally obvious, I mention it because I am also sensitive to the fact that portions of my readership, followers, and subscribers, live in generally warmer year-round climates. I field many comments of the “yeah, but that [insert winter weight garment here] would never work in Texas (or Florida or California or you get the point)” variety. I totally get that.
What I also understand (and love) about comments like that is the undertone. Someone who takes the time to leave a comment along those lines is basically saying they really love classic menswear and want to starting building a wardrobe, but as much as they might love a certain flannel suit, for example, it’s just not practical for them based on where they live.
Makes complete sense. Why would anyone spend money on a garment they would get absolutely no use out of?
So, if you happen to be one of those commenters, you’re in luck because today’s post is for you. It’s also a twofer because for those of us who experience four seasons, a brown wool and silk sport coat is one of the most comfortable and versatile spring and summer sport coat you can own.
Here’s an overview of what we’ll cover:
- Why is a wool and silk blend good for warm weather?
- What makes a wool and silk blend stylish?
- How to style a brown wool and silk sport coat.
Let’s dive in.
Why Is A Wool And Silk Blend Good For Warm Weather?
I’d like to begin by addressing the elephant in the room with regard to both wool and silk. Let’s just say that it might seem extremely counterintuitive to wear either of those two fabrics when it’s warm outside. Both wool and silk are well known for their ability to keep you warm in the cooler months so how on earth can they be appropriate for spring and summer clothing?
Focusing specifically on wool, here are four reasons it can work so well as a spring and summer fabric:
- Strength and durability. One of wool’s superpowers is that it is incredibly strong. This quality makes it possible to create a lightweight yet durable version of the fabric. Although we often talk about cotton and linen being ideal warm weather fabrics, feel either of those in your hand and compare with a lightweight wool, and you will immediately understand the difference.
- Open weaves. Wool can be woven more openly. It’s one of the reasons I frequently cite hopsack and fresco weaves as excellent warm-weather fabric options. And open weave wool provides superior breathability. Couple that with its moisture-wicking quality, and you’ve got a recipe for an excellent warm weather garment.
- No compromises. Okay, so what are the worst qualities of cotton and linen as they relate to tailored clothing fabric options? Right, they wrinkle ridiculously easily. Wool, on the other hand, does not and maintains a wrinkle-resistant appearance, leading to a more polished look without compromising breathability or comfort.
- Easily blends with other fabrics. Wool plays very well with other fabrics. It can be blended easily with other fibers like linen, mohair, and, yes, silk. Each of these fabrics brings something unique to the table when blended with wool, further enhancing its look and appeal. More on that in just a second.
In short, wool’s incredible versatility offers many advantages when it comes to tailored clothing and when blended with silk, for example, those benefits continue to multiply. You’re getting durability and performance along with a not insignificant upgrade to its overall look and feel.
Which brings us to…
What Makes A Wool And Silk Blend Stylish?
For the classic menswear aficionado, a wool and silk blend sport coat is a great addition to a warm-weather wardrobe. Why is that, you ask? As we’ve established (and taken a rather strong position on), classic men’s style can be, well, “boring.”
(Seriously, go read the post if you haven’t already.)
What I mean by that is that in classic menswear, you’re typically dealing with a lot of solids, particularly when you’re talking about an outfit’s foundation. Solid color shirt. Solid color trousers. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all — again, please read the post linked above for a more in-depth exploration — but the easiest way to spice things up, so to speak, is to add a little visual and textural interest.
Enter the wool and silk blend.
As you can clearly see above, a wool and silk blend fabric has an incredible texture to it. This is caused by the variations between the fibers and the result is rather stunning. Far from appearing solid — even from a distance — what you are treated to is a lovely texture that is quite attention-grabbing yet not in any way flamboyant or over the top.
Those are the kinds of details we love around here. And as a result of its amazing texture, it’s also quite easy to pair with pretty much any pair of trousers, chinos, or jeans you may have.
And that, my friends, is what makes a wool and silk blend fabric stylish.
How To Style A Brown Wool And Silk Sport Coat
At the risk of stating the obvious, our brown wool and silk sport coat is an incredibly versatile garment. There are innumerable ways you could style it. But since the focus of this particular article is on using a wool and silk blend to upgrade your classic spring and summer style, I’ve decided to get build the look around a solid — literally — foundation to put the standout qualities of the fabric on full display.
The starting point of this outfit is one of the simplest and most basic classic menswear combinations — a baby blue poplin dress shirt paired with gray trousers. Since we spent some time investigating the many qualities that make wool a great warm weather fabric, I want to point out that the trousers I’m wearing are from our gray tropical wool suit. “Tropical” wool, like hopsack and fresco, is lightweight and has an open weave, making it a go-to for me in the spring and summer. It’s especially nice for trousers.
The brown wool and silk sport coat is a great option to complete this look. First, in keeping with my — ahem — “boring” style, we now have a trifecta of classic menswear colors. Second, it’s stunning texture adds an incredible amount of visual interest and appeal to a rather basic look. And third, it pairs very well texturally with the trousers, which also have a more open weave and therefore a slight texture.
When it comes to sport coat and trousers outfits sans necktie, I am often 50-50 on whether or not to include a pocket square. Because many of my most-worn sport coats have a prominent pattern, I will often forgo the pocket square as I feel it makes an outfit look too busy and try-hard. In this instance, however, even with the jacket’s lovely texture I think it’s necessary. It provides a nice contrast to the jacket and also helps connect with the shirt.
My Alden full straps in Color 8 cordovan provide a quintessential finishing touch to a very classic and old-school menswear look.
The Bottom Line
To sum things up, a brown wool and silk sport coat is one of the most versatile and stylish additions to any man’s spring and summer wardrobe. And if you happen to live in a warmer year-round climate, it could easily become one of your go-to jackets.
The wool and silk blend isn’t just great for warm weather, but its stunning texture adds a great deal of visual appeal while avoiding the pitfalls — i.e. wrinkling — of other popular spring and summer fabrics, like cotton and linen.
An equal parts cocktail of style, comfort, and versatility, I have no doubt that it’s a jacket you’ll reach for time and time again.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
