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A staple of summer sartorialism reimagined for fall.
One of my favorite and most-worn summer pieces is our stone linen safari jacket. It’s incredibly versatile, perfect for travel, and one of the easiest ways I’ve found to add a touch of sartorialism to the general simplicity of summer outfits.
I’d never really given it much thought, but not too long ago I started to wonder why such a practical and stylish all-purpose garment seemed to be solely spring and summer-specific. As with a lot of menswear, it came down to its historical utility and original use case, which we’ll learn more about in just a bit, but in my mind there was absolutely no reason why, in a different fabric, it couldn’t be reimagined as a fall and winter garment.
So we made one. And guess what? Personally, I think it’s even better than the summer version.
I’ll be covering all the reasons why I believe that in this post in addition to talking about the origins of the safari jacket, what makes a safari jacket a safari jacket, an in-depth look at our flannel safari jacket, including what informed our decisions to modify certain aspects of it, and of course, show you a couple different ways you can wear and style it this fall and winter.
Let’s dive in.
Safari Jacket: A Brief History
For the sartorially-minded among us, the safari jacket may be a relatively recent addition to our collective consciousness (and wardrobe). However, the origins of the safari jacket can be traced back over 100 years to the late-19th and early 20th centuries.
The jacket was originally developed during the colonial era for military personnel stationed in Africa and India. During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), British troops on the continent used it as a part of their khaki-colored uniforms. This style was adopted by civilians who traveled to Africa to tour the continent on safari.
The garment began to gain status among the fashion set during the late-1950s through the 1970s as it was worn by celebrities and featured in several well-known films. There’s a fairly famous photo of Ernest Hemingway wearing one. Then-Prince, now-King Charles III was known for sporting one as well. And Roger Moore as James Bond wore a couple different versions in 1974’s “The Man With The Golden Gun.”
Like so much menswear before it, the safari jacket went from a garment designed for a specific purpose and place — with added military pedigree — and into the fashion mainstream. One of oft-cited first examples of this was when Yves Saint Laurent presented a haute couture version of it in his 1967 runway show and subsequently offering it in 1969 as a ready-to-wear piece at his eponymous rive gauche boutique.
What Is A Safari Jacket?
Also known as a bush jacket, by definition a safari jacket is a lightweight, casual jacket, which as we’ve established, was originally designed for British military personnel and later utilized for outdoor activities such as hunting or safari expeditions.
Here are some of the safari jacket’s key features:
- Multiple pockets. A safari jacket typically has four large patch pockets — two near the belt line, like a traditional sport coat or suit jacket, and two breast pockets.
- A belted waist
- Shoulder epaulettes, originally used to display military rank
- Made from lightweight and breathable fabrics like cotton or linen
- Typically in earth tones — khaki, olive, tan — matching their use on the African continent by military personnel
That’s what a safari jacket is by the book, but…
Wait, A Flannel Safari Jacket?
In keeping with the He Spoke Style ethos of classic style, modern sensibility, we’ve reimagined this staple summer garment for fall and winter adventures via a version in flannel.
I get so much use (and enjoyment) out of my linen safari jacket, I thought there really was no reason to not make one that was appropriate for the colder months as well.
Why deny yourself such a sartorial pleasure just because it’s colder outside?
And with that rhetorical question, let’s move on.
The He Spoke Style Flannel Safari Jacket
The goal with our flannel safari jacket was to create a rugged, yet refined piece of fall and winter outerwear. We wanted to create a piece that was versatile enough to be worn casually day to day but that could also be used to add a little sartorial flair to dressier looks.
Here are a few of our flannel safari jacket’s distinguishing features (and departures from the original) along with some explanations as to why we made these choices.
- No belt. To be honest, other than when I first received our original linen safari jacket, I rarely used the belt. It always just seemed a little “extra,” as the kids say, to the point where I felt that it called a little too much attention to itself. Add to that the fact that in the summer I generally wear the jacket open and stuffing the belt into the pockets (or removing it completely) seemed like a waste. I think a lot of guys have similar feelings, so we just decided to remove it altogether.
- No epaulettes. I don’t necessarily mind epaulettes on a safari jacket, but I feel like they add just a touch of formality to the garment that makes it less versatile than it can be, giving it military vibes when I don’t want them. By leaving them off our version, a very “specific” piece of outerwear becomes something you’ll reach for pretty much every day of the week.
- Non-lightweight fabric. Because this is a garment for the fall and winter, we obviously chose an appropriate fabric. In this case, it’s a wonderful flannel from the Gladson New York Snowflake Collection, a premium line of fabrics known for its unique, versatile, and luxurious winter-themed designs.
A closer look at the fabric reveals an extremely subtle herringbone pattern with flecks of white throughout. Both of these features add extra dimension, depth, and visual interest to the garment, making it unique and perfect for the HSS guy who values thoughtful details and subtle statement-making.
How To Style Our Flannel Safari Jacket
While there are an abundance of ways to style a flannel safari jacket, I’ve decided to highlight just a couple of ways I’ve been wearing it this season.
Here’s a classic sharp casual outfit idea along with something that I’m going to call modern sartorial chic.
Sharp Casual
I’m going to be honest and say that I sometimes struggle to put outfits together that are appropriate for regular day to day stuff. For my regular life, I generally dress between two extremes — very casual, a la going to the gym and running some quick errands, and classic menswear, i.e. suit and tie, sport coat and trousers.
My default when needing to do something smart casual or sharp casual always falls into the “just add sport coat” category. But sometimes a sport coat is just a little too dressed up although I still want some kind of jacket as I feel it really helps complete the look.
That’s where the flannel safari jacket really shines.
The foundation of this look is simple and a classic approach to sharp casual dressing. Some stone cotton chinos paired with a medium gray cotton pique button-up is definitely smart, but because of the fabrics, also casual.
The addition of the brown flannel safari jacket helps to finish the outfit off and give it a more “complete” look while also promoting a cohesiveness in terms of color and sportiness in keeping with the garment’s history.
Rounding out the look are a pair of suede derbies along with a suede belt — always a perfect match for fall and flannel.
Modern Sartorial Chic
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been exploring using a lot of black in my outfits. I’ve gone against some of my earliest menswear inclinations to tell people to stay away from black suits and also opined about why I think you should consider wearing all black. The bottom line is that it’s easy, effortless, slimming, and a very simple way to elevate a look.
Now, pairing black and brown together can be something of a hot topic, especially if they’re the only two colors you’re working with. Lots of people complain and say you “just shouldn’t do that.” To those folks I say: please stop talking.
The longer I do this and the more I refine my own personal style, the less I care about these sorts of arbitrary clothing constructs and the more I care about what I like, what makes me happy, and what makes me feel good. This is one of those things.
Far from being fashion faux pas, I find pairing brown and black together to be sleek, stylish, sophisticated, modern, and refined. All of those adjectives are amplified in this look by the foundation being subtly luxurious — a cashmere turtleneck and soft black flannel pants.
This provides the ultimate foundation for the flannel safari jacket to be the star of the show.
The Bottom Line
A flannel safari jacket is a perfect example of how a classic seasonal style can be reimagined. By adapting this iconic outerwear for fall and winter, we’ve created a versatile garment that seamlessly blends rugged with refined.
Whether you’re going for a sharp casual look or a more sartorial ensemble, this jacket proves its worth as a go-to piece. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of well-designed menswear and the power of thoughtful updates to timeless classics.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
