Welcome to the jungle

In which G.M. Norton discusses the merits of the jungle jacket. 

Like many items of military clothing, field jackets have been immensely popular in menswear over the last few years.

There's something about a basic green jacket that just makes it work with almost anything, including tailoring. 

While M-43 and M-65 field jackets get their wear in autumn and winter, a chap needs something lighter to wear when the temperature rises. That's where the jungle jacket enters the fray.

First designed in the early 1960s for use by American troops in Vietnam, the jungle jacket could well be described as being a shirt, shirt-jacket or overshirt. It's slightly shorter than your regular field jacket and as it's completely unlined and buttons up, it does give off strong shirt hints.

The most distinctive (and my favourite) feature of the jungle jacket are the two slanted breast pockets. 

With two further bellowed pockets further down, the jacket is dashed useful for storing one's gentlemanly accoutrements. And thankfully for a military item, there are no fussy epaulets. 

Rather than get hold of a vintage military issue piece, I opted for a reproduction from Soldier of Fortune. At £30, it's not a lot of money to part with.

I must admit, I don't treat it particularly well. As I'm so short on clothes space and my beloved and I haven't got around to replacing a broken rail yet, I've just taken to throwing it onto a pile of clothes in my half of our shared wardrobe. But that's the beauty of this piece. It doesn't demand that you carefully store it - it can be left crumpled up in your motorcar or stuffed into a space in your suitcase and it's always read to wear. 

Versatile and lightweight, I'm really pleased to have one.  

G.M. Norton

Protagonist of 'Norton of Morton'