When it comes to seasonally-appropriate dressing, the tricky transitional period between the searing heat of summer and the icy winds of winter can be a right royal pain in the crease to navigate. Stride confidently out of the front door wrapped up in your parka and you can guarantee it’ll be 18°C and sunny by the time you reach the office; opt for a simple shirt and jeans and you can bet you’ll be caught in a torrential downpour. It’s a problem that crops up year after year, so surely there must be a solution by now?

Well, yes. Enter, the overshirt.

Now also known as a ‘shacket’, thanks to those oh-so-creative marketers, the overshirt is an often-overlooked staple item that melds the design aesthetic of a shirt with the warmth and comfort of a light spring jacket. It is quite possibly the answer to all your springtime and autumnal wardrobe woes in one garment.

“The great thing about an overshirt is that it bridges the gap between summer and winter,” explains Kasia Katner, a stylist at men’s personal shopping site Thread. “When it’s warm out, it’s basically a jacket; once it gets cold, it’s light enough to fit under a coat.”

Similar in appearance to a coach jacket, the overshirt differs in that it is typically constructed from soft, natural materials and usually features chest pockets as opposed to handwarmer pockets. Both zip-through and button iterations exist, while heavier fabric, a roomier cut and sometimes a lining set it apart from its cousin, the casual shirt.

What To Look For In An Overshirt

“The best versions are cut in fabric that’s heavier – and warmer – than a shirt,” Kasia continues. “Flannel is particularly good as the brushed nap traps heat and it also offers a nice depth to outfits.”

Twill, brushed cotton, moleskin and denim are also commonly used to create these two-in-one utility players, but down-filled padded versions and man-made materials are becoming increasingly common – presenting a handy option if you need something to carry you further into the winter months. That’s not to say that you can’t continue to wear a cotton version as the days become colder; the overshirt’s versatility means it can be effectively styled over a crew neck or layered under an overcoat. Which means excellent cost-per-wear potential.