13 Best Shirt Jackets for Men 2024, According to GQ Editors
GQ RecommendsForget those Frankensteined sneakers or, heaven forbid, dressy joggers: these are the only menswear hybrids worth your dollars.By Jeremy FreedOctober 31, 2024Collage by Sarah CassutoSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.Like so many elite outerwear silhouettes, the best shirt jackets for men are descendants of utilitarian pieces designed for lumberjacks, military officers, and other guys who spend a lot of time outdoors in the wind and weather. While traditional examples are made from hardy boiled wool, in the hands of some of today's biggest-brained designers this humble layering piece has diversified into a wide range of styles and fabrics.If you want a classic wool number to throw on over a tee, there are plenty of options for that, but you can also find covetable examples in everything from dressy cotton twill to sturdy waterproof waxed canvas, too. That means you’ll almost certainly find an overshirt you love among the selects below—and more likely a few of them.The Best Men’s Shirt Jackets, According to GQThe Best Shirt Jacket Overall: Buck Mason Felted Field Shirt, $268The Best Budget Shirt Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch Flannel Shirt Jacket, $80The Best Shirt Jacket Your Dad Swears By: Filson Wool Jac-Shirt, $250The Best Shirt Jacket for the Office: Stòffa Cotton-Twill Overshirt, $500The Best Shirt Jacket That's More Jacket Than Shirt: Flint and Tinder Bighorn Waxed Shirt Jacket, $198The Best Shirt Jacket for Menswear Nerds: Evan Kinori Field Shirt, $625Take Me To: More Shirt Jackets We Love | How We Review Products | How We Make These Picks | What Makes a Shirt Jacket a Shirt Jacket?Best Shirt Jacket Overall: Buck Mason Felted Field ShirtBuck MasonFelted Field Shirt$268 Buck MasonPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsHeavyweight felted merino wool fabricDual patch-and-flap chest pocketsSweet-spot silhouette hits right below the waistConsLimited colorwaysIt’s kind of a no-brainer that Buck Mason, a brand with a lock on rugged yet sophisticated wardrobe staples, is the source of the One Shirt Jacket to Rule Them All, but we’re calling it anyway. The cut is generous, with enough room to layer over a light sweater or sweatshirt, and a just-right length that falls a smidge below your waist. The 340 GSM felted merino wool fabric is heavy but understated, with a choice of two moody hues including a shade of deep brown poetically dubbed “marled river rock.” Basically, it’s the sort of jacket that’ll give you a new appreciation for cool days, crunchy leaves underfoot, and the pleasures of fall layering—which is exactly what a great shirt jacket ought to do.Best Budget Shirt Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch Flannel Shirt JacketAbercrombie & FitchFlannel Shirt Jacket$80 Abercrombie & FitchPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsVintage-inflected plaid flannel fabricExcellent cropped-and-boxy silhouetteDual button-flap pockets by the chestConsSkew a tad short for heavy-duty winter coverageA&F has been on something of a heater lately, with a seemingly endless stream of affordably-priced pre-Y2K classics to add a dash of Empire Records-era flavor to your look. Here’s another one, which looks like something you might have found in a SoCal thrift store circa 1992, right down to its decidedly vintage-y brown plaid. Everything else here is as it should be: boxy cut, a pair of buttoned flap pockets on the chest, and a soft cotton-poly blend flannel that’s just right for all of your seasonal layering needs.Best Shirt Jacket Your Dad Swears By: Filson Wool Jac-ShirtFilsonWool Jac-Shirt$250 BackcountryPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsCozy 18-oz. heavyweight Seattle wool fabricUnimpeachable pedigreeDual buttoned chest pocketsConsFabric skews a touch scratchier than our other winnersFair warning: your dad will definitely steal this from your closetDads may not be up on the latest lingo (skibidi what now?) or the latest fashion trends, but they know a thing or two about good outerwear. There’s a simple reason for this. After decades spent getting dressed for all kinds of weather, dads tend to find a jacket they love and stick with it. It’s called life experience, kid, look it up. That’s why dads across the land swear by Filson’s repertoire of old-school wool button-ups, which combine an unimpeachable style heritage with the superlative warmth of nature’s miracle fabric, wool. The Jac-Shirt (a portmanteau so ungainly only a dad could have thought it up) embodies this ethos to a tee, from its wind-and-water-resistant 18-oz. wool fabric to its relaxed fit.Best Shirt Jacket for the Office: Stòffa Cotton-Twill OvershirtStòffaCotton-Twill Overshirt$500 Mr PorterPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsPremium Italian cotton-twill fabricTailored fit and detailsLooks killer with a suit, but just as good with jeansConsSkews dressier than our other
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Like so many elite outerwear silhouettes, the best shirt jackets for men are descendants of utilitarian pieces designed for lumberjacks, military officers, and other guys who spend a lot of time outdoors in the wind and weather. While traditional examples are made from hardy boiled wool, in the hands of some of today's biggest-brained designers this humble layering piece has diversified into a wide range of styles and fabrics.
If you want a classic wool number to throw on over a tee, there are plenty of options for that, but you can also find covetable examples in everything from dressy cotton twill to sturdy waterproof waxed canvas, too. That means you’ll almost certainly find an overshirt you love among the selects below—and more likely a few of them.
The Best Men’s Shirt Jackets, According to GQ
- The Best Shirt Jacket Overall: Buck Mason Felted Field Shirt, $268
- The Best Budget Shirt Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch Flannel Shirt Jacket, $80
- The Best Shirt Jacket Your Dad Swears By: Filson Wool Jac-Shirt, $250
- The Best Shirt Jacket for the Office: Stòffa Cotton-Twill Overshirt, $500
- The Best Shirt Jacket That's More Jacket Than Shirt: Flint and Tinder Bighorn Waxed Shirt Jacket, $198
- The Best Shirt Jacket for Menswear Nerds: Evan Kinori Field Shirt, $625
Take Me To: More Shirt Jackets We Love | How We Review Products | How We Make These Picks | What Makes a Shirt Jacket a Shirt Jacket?
Best Shirt Jacket Overall: Buck Mason Felted Field Shirt
It’s kind of a no-brainer that Buck Mason, a brand with a lock on rugged yet sophisticated wardrobe staples, is the source of the One Shirt Jacket to Rule Them All, but we’re calling it anyway. The cut is generous, with enough room to layer over a light sweater or sweatshirt, and a just-right length that falls a smidge below your waist. The 340 GSM felted merino wool fabric is heavy but understated, with a choice of two moody hues including a shade of deep brown poetically dubbed “marled river rock.” Basically, it’s the sort of jacket that’ll give you a new appreciation for cool days, crunchy leaves underfoot, and the pleasures of fall layering—which is exactly what a great shirt jacket ought to do.
Best Budget Shirt Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch Flannel Shirt Jacket
A&F has been on something of a heater lately, with a seemingly endless stream of affordably-priced pre-Y2K classics to add a dash of Empire Records-era flavor to your look. Here’s another one, which looks like something you might have found in a SoCal thrift store circa 1992, right down to its decidedly vintage-y brown plaid. Everything else here is as it should be: boxy cut, a pair of buttoned flap pockets on the chest, and a soft cotton-poly blend flannel that’s just right for all of your seasonal layering needs.
Best Shirt Jacket Your Dad Swears By: Filson Wool Jac-Shirt
Dads may not be up on the latest lingo (skibidi what now?) or the latest fashion trends, but they know a thing or two about good outerwear. There’s a simple reason for this. After decades spent getting dressed for all kinds of weather, dads tend to find a jacket they love and stick with it. It’s called life experience, kid, look it up. That’s why dads across the land swear by Filson’s repertoire of old-school wool button-ups, which combine an unimpeachable style heritage with the superlative warmth of nature’s miracle fabric, wool. The Jac-Shirt (a portmanteau so ungainly only a dad could have thought it up) embodies this ethos to a tee, from its wind-and-water-resistant 18-oz. wool fabric to its relaxed fit.
Best Shirt Jacket for the Office: Stòffa Cotton-Twill Overshirt
Some shirt jackets lean more towards the jacket side of the spectrum, while others are decidedly more shirt-like. This one belongs to the latter category, with a sumptuous Italian cotton-twill fabric that’s lighter and drapier than a traditional heavyweight wool, and made for casual days out in the city, not chopping firewood at the cabin. Likewise, its shirt-like cut, tailored fit, and fine details like Australian mother-of-pearl buttons position it firmly in the dressiest tier of the shacket hierarchy and make it an easy way to incorporate into a casual 9-to-5 wardrobe.
Best Shirt Jacket That's More Jacket Than Shirt: Flint and Tinder Bighorn Waxed Shirt Jacket
Flint and Tinder
Bighorn Waxed Shirt Jacket
- Ultra-rugged waxed canvas fabric from British Millerain
- Lightweight, breathable, and water-resistant
- Rewaxable for years-long wear
- Dual chest pockets with button-flap closure
- As long as we're nit-picking, we'd love to see a version with a slightly boxier silhouette
On the hardiest end of the spectrum, you’ll find this absolute unit of a shirt jacket, which pairs a button-down silhouette with an ultra-rugged waxed canvas fabric. For those who’ve never had the pleasure of owning a quality waxed canvas jacket, it combines the wind-and-waterproofness of heavier fabrics with the breathability and lightness of cotton, making it an essential piece of outerwear for spring and fall. Flint and Tinder sourced the 8 oz. Tekwax Evolution 6 fabric from British Millerain, the world’s foremost specialist in waxed canvas, giving it provenance, too. Hit it with a new coating of wax every year (check Huckberry’s website for a how-to video) and it’ll serve you well for years to come.
Best Shirt Jacket for Menswear Nerds: Evan Kinori Field Shirt
If you caught a glimpse of GQ boss Will Welch rolling up to last spring’s Met Gala in a bespoke Evan Kinori tux, you probably have a good idea of what the SF-based designer is all about (and why it’s worth coveting his premium takes on workwear and tailoring.) If not, this extremely vibey shirt jacket makes a fine introduction. Cut from a Japanese-made fabric woven from cotton and washi paper, it gets its slouchy fit from Kinori’s love of early-aughts skater style and its earthy brown hue from a natural dye made from logwood and iron.
More Shirt Jackets We Love
Portuguese Flannel
Valle Checked Tweed Overshirt
What did the overshirt say to the tweed jacket? We don’t know either, but we’re sure glad they got to know each other if this tasteful hybrid was the result. The enlightened minds at Portuguese Flannel deserve some credit too, of course, for combining the sartorial appeal of checked wool tweed and the easygoing silhouette of an overshirt with typical aplomb.
Todd Snyder
Boiled Wool CPO Shirt Jacket
Blending early 20th-century military inspo with high-end Italian craftsmanship is one of Todd Snyder’s signature moves, and if you’ve never experienced how well it works, this overshirt is a good place to start. Inspired by 1930s Navy officer jackets and made in Italy from soft yet rugged virgin wool, it’s the best of both worlds.
Loewe
Calf Hair Overshirt
Plenty of brands can make an overshirt out of wool or cotton, but it takes a special kind of vision (and an equal measure of chutzpah) to craft one out entirely of hair-on calfskin. You can thank Loewe, a.k.a. the brand helping Daniel Craig attain a new level of wardrobe freakiness, for going there. With the silhouette of a classic button-down overshirt and the feel of a cowhide rug, this is a shirt that’ll carry your whole look and then some.
Lady White Co.
Wool Overshirt
It should come as no surprise that the makers of your favorite white tee can also do great things with an overshirt. As with their signature cotton tees, the proof is in details like Japanese-woven suiting wool fabric, matte nickel buttons, and a wide, cropped fit that’s ideally suited to layering. And speaking of layering, you’d be well advised to pick up a two-pack of LW101s while you’re at it.
J.Crew
Sherpa-Lined Corduroy Shirt-Jacket
Next to more popular relatives like wool, denim, and canvas, corduroy doesn’t get much love in the outerwear world, a standing which makes this take on the shirt jacket genre all the more distinctive. With the unmistakable ridges of corduroy and a shearling lining for extra warmth, it’s a fall combination on par with turkey and mashed potatoes.
L.L.Bean
Signature 1933 Chamois Lined Cloth Shirt
Right up there with flannel shirts, fisherman sweaters, and their iconic Bean Boots, L.L.Bean’s overshirt is one of the things that has helped this Maine-based outfitter earn its spot among the best American outdoor brands. From the fit (pleasantly roomy) to the fabric (7.5 oz. cotton flannel woven in Portugal) to the details (check the lining!) it hits all the high notes of a quintessential Bean joint.
Tony Shirtmakers
Black Watch Plaid Casentino Wool Overshirt
Tony Damariscotta, the shirt enthusiast who founded this namesake brand, is the sort of person who obsesses over details like the way a collar is constructed and the graceful curve of a cuff. You don’t, however, have to share his obsessions with textiles and tailoring to appreciate the merits of this top-grade shacket. Made in NYC from Casentino wool (a centuries-old Tuscan fabric renowned for its warmth and distinctive fuzzy texture), its weight and warmth will make this the MVP of your fall outerwear roster.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)
What Makes a Shirt Jacket a Shirt Jacket?
Aside from the signature combination of sartorial respectability and easy-wearing ruggedness, you’ll recognize this versatile wardrobe staple by its wide-cut body and sleeves (all the better for layering), heavyweight fabric (ideal for keeping out blustery fall weather) and a pair of chest pockets (good for phones, wallets, and other small essentials).
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