Capsule Wardrobe Addition: Sport Coat by DAKS

Today I want to stress how important it is to get one good sports jacket in your wardrobe. I've recently splashed out on a cream and black check sports jacket by DAKS. 

First off we need to clarify what a sports jacket is, and how it differs to a Suit Coat, (tailors term for a suit jacket) and a Blazer. I'll refer to an article by Tim Cornell that says, 

A sport coat is a patterned jacket that coordinates with trousers that are not made of the same fabric or have the same pattern.

So there you have it. This sport coat, is (for my money) a great example of how to bring some shades of formality to an otherwise casual look. I like to wear a sports coat if I'm a little grey on what the dress code of an event might be. The cardinal sin for any man like myself that writes about menswear is to turn up anywhere underdressed. And whilst 90% of my invites will have the Dress Code specified if there is one, especially if it's Black Tie or very smart, it's always good practice to show respect and make some effort, no matter the climate, venue or expected demographic. 

That all said let me talk to you about my new sport coat from DAKS. And perhaps a little history on DAKS from their website:

Established in 1894, DAKS produces luxury clothing and accessories and is a holder of 3 Royal Warrants; representing our long standing relationship with the Royal Family.

You can view the range of DAKS blazers and coats on their website here. Although due to the brand's heritage you'll also be able to find many retro and vintage pieces on eBay and thrift stores. You can see the seventies styling of DAKS suits and kipper ties in the TV series, The Serpent. The clothes have been written extensively over on From Tailors With Love. 

My own DAKS sports coat, (seen pictured) has echoes of that seventies styling in the slightly wider than usual lapels. These lapels also have high notches. You can see it almost runs flush to my shoulder line. It's finished with straight hip pockets and a barchetta breast pocket It's made from a wool blend and I've managed to style in 3 different ways. Due to the neutral colours in the check I can wear it in contrast to a black tee and black chinos or grey tailored trousers. I've also smarted the look with a cornflower blue shirt and tie. I've gone for a busy tie which I feel accentuates the check, but I know a lot of you may want to keep the tie a solid colour so as not to distract.