A blow-by-blow guide to the world's most stylish wind cheaters
From ultra-short bombers to floor-trailing trench coats, consider this your height-order manual to staying unbothered by the bluster this spring
I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but it’s very blustery in Brixton. It seemed only right, therefore, to share with you my edit of the best wind and rain cheaters available right now, to help keep you both dry and unbothered in style.
I’ve ranked them by length - from ultra-short, to extra-long - so you can pick one to best suit your body shape.
1 | Veeery short
This little number from Swedish brand Our Legacy is cut ultra-cropped so it finishes a good few inches above the bum. It’s so short, in fact, that it’s nearly a bolero jacket. The fluid wool shell will keep you insulated against gusts, regardless. Olé!
2 | Short
This nice little affordable number is cut from cotton by Spanish high street brand Massimo Dutti. It has all the trappings of a field jacket (note the bellows pockets and large collar), with the understated shape of a bomber, meaning it’s great for windy cities.
3 | Short-ish
At this point I should probably set up a direct debit funnelling all of my income to Bottega Veneta - but even then I’d be lucky to come away with more than this blousy Harrington jacket (can’t decide whether that’s a bad thing or not).
Crafted from wind-cheating nylon and featuring a vent across the back, it’s a perfect choice for indecisive spring days/new season bank decimation.
4 | Still above the bum
I recently acquired this little quilted number from Purdey and it’s a great layer. The cut of the thing means it skirts out slightly at the bottom and finishes higher than most other quilted jackets you’ll find.
It’ll look great worn with tonal knitwear and a WASP-y silk scarf, Hermes or otherwise, which can blow dramatically in the wind as you ride your Lime bike to work in the morning.
5| Middling
Drake’s does a lovely line in waxed jackets, this plaid-lined, corduroy-collared number being a case in point. Practical and elegant, you can wear it just as easily in the country as you can in the city (it’ll look particularly good worn with white denim and a blood red sweater). The waxed fabric is also made to keep out the wind for as long as you own it (aka, forever).
6 | Seat-covering
Few brands know how to tackle inclement weather better than British label Mackintosh. The market leaders in serviceable rain and wind gear, this cropped coat is crafted from Raintec cotton, meaning it’ll keep you as dry as it will unbothered by the wind.
7 | Long
It’s currently possible to find some excellent Burberry trench coats on the vintage market, meaning you don’t need to spend your savings on new.
This car coat is in great condition. It’s crafted from the gabardine first patented by Thomas Burberry in the early 20th Century, and costs less than £150. What wind?
8 | Very long
I love the Princess Anne-ness of this extra-long waxed jacket from Barbour. Team with a headscarf, some wraparound Oakley shades and a “tally-ho!” attitude to rock the look in royal style.
9 | Toe-tickling
Yes, the price of this hybrid quilted-cum-picnic-blanket from Balenciaga will make your eyes water as much as getting caught in a tornado of pepper spray might, but just look at it. It’s UNIQUE. And who doesn’t want to look unique/like a lovely spread in Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe.
10 | A gown
I’m slightly obsessed with this extra long, floor-trailing trench coat from Dries Van Noten. Another reason to buy it is that the Belgian designer recently announced his retirement, meaning that you’ll be purchasing a piece of fashion history, so grossiere not to!
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