5 Nehru Jackets
For the man who wants his chest warm and his arms slightly less so
The Chelsea Life Jacket is morphing. Just in time as the weather is doing the same. Those city boys (the ones who go to the country, shoot occasionally, and prefer their chests warm and their arms slightly less so) have packed the Schöffels away. They’ve made space in the wardrobe for something new. Well. New-ish.
The Nehru jacket. Named after India’s first Prime Minister, who wore it like a uniform. Like many other things from India, the British became rather fond of it. Here are five of my favourite brands that sell them, saving the best for last.
What Actually Is a Nehru Jacket?
Before we get to where to buy one, it’s worth understanding what you’re actually wearing.
The Nehru jacket takes its name from Jawaharlal Nehru, who wore a variation of the achkan (a long, fitted coat rooted in South Asian formal dress) as a near-daily uniform. The defining feature is the stand collar. No lapels, no revers, just a clean, upright band of fabric that frames the neck.
In the context of British dressing, it has evolved into something more specific. A collarless, sleeveless gilet variant that sits somewhere between a waistcoat and a shooting vest. Something to wear over a shirt that adds a bit of personality to an outfit.
Five Brands Worth Knowing
Founded by Henry Hales, originally selling boxer shorts made from surplus shirt fabrics.
Sirplus Nehru jackets are made in the UK with heritage tweeds, Italian wool blends, cashmere, Harris Tweed. Because the fabrics are available only in limited quantities, each run is small and unique.
The one for the man who wants to wear a Nehru in London on a Tuesday and in the country on a Saturday, and have it look right in both places.
A family-owned label from Leeds, with over fifty years of craft behind it. Their Harris Tweed William Nehru Waistcoat is hand-woven from 100% pure wool, authenticated Harris Tweed, with a distinctive check pattern that reads as serious without being stiff. Stand collar, side adjusters, patch pockets, gold paisley lining.
