The Perfect Summer Jacket?

The jacket that quietly became my go-to

I’m not usually one to focus on just a single piece. I’d rather keep things a bit broader, look at a few options, that sort of thing. But every now and then something comes in that makes you want to do the opposite, and this is one of those.

I know everyone says it, but I genuinely haven’t taken this off since I picked it up. And I’m aware how that sounds, but in this case it’s actually true.

It’s the REMI RELIEF work twill swing top. It’s cut from a faded gabardine that’s got a slightly worn-in feel to it, not in an overdone way, just enough to take the edge off. The silhouette is relaxed without looking sloppy, easy to throw on without thinking too much about it, which is probably why I’ve been reaching for it so much.

Before getting into the jacket properly, a bit on the brand. REMI RELIEF was founded in 2008 by Yutaka Goto, and the name comes from “Remix” and “Relief.” The brand themselves point to Californian skate and surf culture as a source of inspiration, which, now knowing the name, does make a lot of sense!

It ties into something I mentioned in last week’s piece on the Osaka Five. The Japanese don’t just reproduce American clothing, they tend to reinterpret it. “Remix” is probably the right word for it, and in that sense the name feels pretty fitting. It’s not just about keeping a style going, it’s about pushing it forward a bit as well.

Even just looking through the wider collection, there are a lot of interesting pieces doing that in different ways. But the one that really landed with me was this.

There’s something about it that immediately struck a chord, and I think a lot of that comes down to my own bias towards 50s drizzler-style jackets.

My issue with this style of jacket these days is that most of them are cut too slim. Like a lot of people into this sort of thing, I went through a big Baracuta phase, and whilst I do still love the G9 for what it is, I’ve always felt the cut drifted a bit from what it used to be. Once the brand changed hands, it definitely leaned slimmer, and for me that takes it further away from what a proper, functional golf jacket should feel like in the first place.

This is where this one gets it right. It proves that something can be relaxed without looking sloppy or oversized. It still feels put together, still looks considered. The elasticated cuffs and hem help with that. You can shape it how you want, wear it a bit more cropped if you like. I’ve been rolling it slightly with my jeans and it just sits properly, no fuss, no overthinking it.

The good thing about this jacket is it does most of the work for you. It’s the main piece, without trying too hard. You can dress it up or down depending on how you’re feeling. And what I mean by that is, it’s relaxed enough to just throw on over whatever you’ve already got on and still look put together, even if you weren’t really trying. But at the same time, it doesn’t look out of place with a shirt and tie and a smarter pair of trousers either. It sits in that middle ground quite nicely. It’s classic without feeling boring, and it doesn’t shout for attention, but it’s still doing something. The double zip helps as well. You can wear it a bit more open, a bit more closed, change the shape slightly depending on what you’ve got on underneath. Nothing dramatic, but enough to make a difference.

I won’t lie, I’ve mentioned this before, but I do dread warmer weather a bit. It always ends up being a case of, what am I actually going to wear? How do I still get a jacket on without overheating? I feel a bit lost without one, so having something like this helps. It’s genuinely lightweight, almost shirt-weight, which I really like, but it still looks like a proper jacket.

The first day I wore it was a typical Manchester spring day. Underneath I had a sweatshirt from The Real McCoy’s and a chambray button-down, and there was still enough room for all of that without it feeling tight. At the same time, you could just as easily throw it on over a T-shirt and it wouldn’t look oversized. The elasticated cuffs and hem keep it sitting close enough without it looking like it doesn’t fit properly.

I picked this one up from Haku Clothing, based out in Osaka. They’ve got a physical shop there, but also an online store that ships worldwide, which makes things a lot easier. They stock REMI RELIEF alongside a lot of other brands I’m into, so it’s worth a look. I’ve linked my picks from them below. I’ll definitely be wearing this a lot over the next few months, and I’m sure it’ll end up in a few more outfits.

My Haku picks!