Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Asymmetric Zip Jackets are one of my guilty pleasures: be they classic riding jacket, modern techwear, or any anything in between. While they certainly aren’t low key, they add a certain amount of panache to whatever outfit they’re a part of. Whether you wear workwear, techwear, or business causal I hope you find something on this list that you’re able to imagine as part of your wardrobe.
1) MotifMfg: Canadian Deacon Flight Jacket
MotifMfg’s Canadian Deacon Flight Jacket is based no Canadian flight suits from WWII but re-inspired to be a much more wearable jacket. It’s made of an 11oz. dry waxed canvas and has tons of great details such as articulated sleeves, a pen arm pocket, split-zip hood, and this list’s requisite asymmetric zipper. While definitely not something we all have in our wardrobe, I feel like we could all think of a nice outfit or two that would be improved by this piece.
Available for $835 from Division Road.
2) Enfin Leve: Larrea Jacket Etaproof / Polartec Alpha
If you are familiar with techwear that’s a bit on the goth ninja side then you’re probably familiar with Enfin Leve and their propensity for unique fabrics and asymmetric zippers. Their Larrea Jacket in Etaproof / Polartec Alpha is just one such piece, featuring a two way YKK Aquaguard zipper, nylon lining, hidden front hand pockets, and removable hood. This jacket might be a bit out there for some of you, but I think you’ll find this and other pieces in its style to be surprisingly easy to wear.
Available for €720 (~$825) from Enfin Leve.
3) The Real McCoy’s: Double Breasted Wool Sports Jacket
The goal of this article wasn’t to show off all the great, leather riding jackets out there, but we couldn’t ignore the style altogether either. Luckily for us, The Real McCoy’s offers a phenomenal Double Breasted Wool Sports Jacket that is definitely more riding jacket that sports jacket (at least in this writer’s opinion). It features a 100% wool exterior with horsehide details, cotton lining, handwarmer pockets, and McCoy’s ball-chain zipper closure on the chest pocket. The front closes with more ordinary Talon zipper, but that’s nothing to scoff at either and is much less likely to be damaged with repeated use.
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Available for $790 from Standard & Strange.
4) Stone Island: David Light-Tc Asymmetric Zip Jacket
Stone Island isn’t a brand we feature on here all too often, but they offer many pieces that are right up our readers’ alley such as the David Light-Tc Asymmetric Zip Jacket. This lightweight jacket features a heavily angled asymmetric zipper, 63%/37% polyester/nylon blend fabric, button hood, and large front pocket. It also features their “iconic” arm patch, but fortunately that appears to be removable for those who prefer a more understated look (something I realize is completely contradictory with the entire asymmetric zip concept, but it’s where I’m at right now).
Available for $1,053 from End.
5) Acronym: J1W-GTPL – Backer Grey
Deep in the the realm of techwear lies Acronym’s J1W-GTPL Backer Grey jacket: a piece of outwear far more attractive than its name implies. Made from a 57%/43% nylon/ePTFE blend fabric, this oversized, Gore-Tex shell features an asymmetric YKK Aquaguard zipper, removable hood, a ton of pockets, and adjustable cuffs and hem. While this piece isn’t cheap and it takes a certain type of person to both buy it and feel comfortable pulling it off, if that’s you then you already know what a stellar jacket this is.
Available for $2,111 from Canoe Club.
Plus One – Army of Me: High Collar Jacket
For the thrifty goth ninja we give you the Army of Me High Collar Jacket: a relatively inexpensive, asymmetric zip jacket with a tight fit and oversized collar. Now I’ll be honest: some pictures of this jacket appear to have an asymmetric zipper while in others it appears to just be an effect of the large placket. And while ordinarily I’d air on the side of caution, this piece appears even more asymmetric when worn open and to be honest I just like it. It’s finished with a YKK zipper as well as snaps giving this piece a lot of closure versatility, although there might not be too much versatility in the style category.
Available for €225 (~$258) from Aleluya.
