Tips: How to wear a men's safari jacket?

Like several pieces in our wardrobe - like the pea coat or chinos - the safari jacket comes from the military world . Appearing at the end of the 19th century, it was initially the uniform of the British armies in India, appreciated for its lightness in a hot climate.

Subsequently, the Hollywood of the 50s took over. We will notably remember Clark Gable in Mogambo, and Roger Moore in several James Bond films, thus contributing to the popularization of the safari jacket, at a time when cinema styling was a very serious matter.

From the end of the 60s, it was finally under the leadership of Yves Saint Laurent that the safari jacket was given all its letters of nobility.

Since then, it has obviously modernized. We owe a lot to the work of Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme around ten years ago, or more recently at Balmain.

The safari jacket has therefore established itself as a timeless piece. Both urban and functional , it offers several stylistic possibilities.

Let's take a closer look!

Inspiration #1 – Wear a safari jacket in a dressy look

The shape of the safari jacket is similar to that of a blazer , particularly when you decide to bend it (thanks to the interior cords) and remove the hood.

The beige of the safari jacket will not cause you any matching problems, it is a color that fits easily into predominantly sartorial outfits . Thibault - new recruit to the editorial department - also plays on reminders, opting for shoes and socks in similar tones.

Nothing too complicated here, we have a mixture of elegance and relaxation that you know well.

The tip remains the same: if you don't know how to tame a room at the start, opt for neutral shades to complement it, such as gray and white.

Inspiration #1bis - Wear a safari jacket in a dressy look

Same influences, different look, with raw jeans and a pair of ankle boots.

Not often wearing a tie, I nevertheless chose to wear one to reinforce the formal dimension of my look. Likewise, the tie clip further accentuates this effect. It was Florian who recommended it to me, an eternal supporter of the tailored style. It's a pretty fun accessory to use, and it always has an effect.

The ankle boots and the safari jacket are in the same shades, which creates a reminder. In addition, the patina of the shoes supports the “raw” side of the safari jacket, a legacy of its military origin.

As you can see, I have no problem wearing a blazer underneath. The volumes remain proportionate, and the result harmonious.

Inspiration #2 - Wear a safari jacket in a look with workwear influences

Given the military origins of the safari jacket, it seems entirely natural to include it in a look with workwear influences. True to the position, it’s manual Lionel who sticks to it.

Very thick chinos with inserts, checked shirt, shoes, safari jacket... no doubt, we're talking about workwear.

The navy blue chinos - with the rolled bottom to emphasize the workwear side of the look - find their place, since they are the only piece outside the beige/brown palette. Generally speaking, navy blue goes well with almost all colors , but looks particularly good with these shades.

The pattern of the shirt remains sober, it does not impose any specific constraints. The waxed appearance of the safari jacket evokes that of certain work clothes, thus emphasizing the coherence of the look. This is completed thanks to the brown derbies, which take up the overall spirit of the outfit and refer to the details of the jacket.

You can also accentuate the workwear side by wearing large denim pieces, the safari jacket is also made for that!

Inspiration #3 - Wear a safari jacket in an Italian-influenced look

Make way for Luca, our Alessandro Squarzi from Le Sentier, who chooses to mix the safari jacket with his transalpine influences.

Italian influences oblige, Luca wears white jeans, which he very subtly recalls by the collar of the white t-shirt worn as a layering.

That being said, wearing white jeans is a perilous exercise, requiring you to be perfectly comfortable with your wardrobe on the one hand, and to choose a model with impeccable fit and cut on the other. Do not hesitate to look at our article on how to wear white jeans for more information.

It is essential to calm down pants of this type with more sober pieces. Unsurprisingly, the navy blue of the sweatshirt works perfectly. This contrasts nicely with the elegance of jeans and derbies, while providing a certain nonchalance that lends itself well to the safari jacket.

Finally, even if Luca opted for derbies, desert boots would also have been entirely possible.

Note from Geoffrey: a discreet but fundamental element in this look is the collar of the white t-shirt which lifts the eye up to the top of the silhouette and echoes the white pants.

Inspiration #4 – Wear a safari jacket in a casual look

Thanks to its lightness, the safari jacket is a piece that can easily be incorporated into casual looks.

The look is built on the beige/blue combination , which can be found in monochrome throughout. It's very safe , you have little chance of making a mistake by relying on this combo.

The bag and the jacket complement each other: beyond the similar nuances, they refer to the same "adventurer" spirit , further underlined by the leather inserts of the bag.

The sneakers take up the colors of the look, and thus finalize the outfit. They also bring a lot of dynamism to the whole: the same look would work with boots, but would convey very different ideas.

Inspiration #4bis - Wear a safari jacket in a casual look

Even more casual, you can combine your safari jacket with a t-shirt, jeans and desert boots for a total desert look. (only the camel is missing) .

On relatively simple looks, it is important to take care of the materials and textures. For this reason, Jérémy, our designer-editor, opted for a heather gray t-shirt.

The raw denim serves as a binder for the outfit, and the desert boots take up the nuances of the safari jacket (we could also have imagined a gray model, reminiscent of the t-shirt).

Otherwise, there is nothing complicated. Don't worry: it's a spontaneous look, and it should stay that way.

Inspiration #5 - Wear a safari jacket in an outfit with streetwear influences

If this isn't the combination that comes to mind first, nothing stops you from integrating your safari jacket with streetwear-style looks, as proven by Alexandre.

We find the beige/blue combo distilled throughout the outfit, no problem in terms of color harmony.

In fact, you can introduce more intense touches, like here with the New Balance sneakers and the burgundy hat. This brings a twist and avoids any monotony.

Furthermore, the curve of the safari jacket gives structure to the whole: it contrasts with other less fitted pieces.

Don’t hesitate to play with the volumes.