France is often considered one of the most fashionable countries in the wold and the reason for this is the fact that it acknowledges, values and takes seriously emerging trends from areas other than itself. One example of this is how, unlike many of it's neighbouring European countries, the cultural and fashion explosion that is currently occurring in South Korea is greeted with keen enthusiasm by the French who have taken K-Pop and the vibrant sartorial styles of it's youthful stars to their collective bosom. (I've previously mentioned, as recently as a couple of days ago, my enthusiasm for Korean fashion .)

   Today's post features an item I purchased (after consulting the Twitter-sphere for approval) from the French E-bay store What Wears . The item has taken it's cue from the trends of Seoul and is currently being marketed by What Wear as a "Korean Style Men's Casual Slim Coat" - it's easy to see how it has taken a lot of its inspiration from Korean men's fashion including, but not limited to, its asymmetry, it's ability to straddle formal/informal, and it's versatility.

   For today's post I've featured the jacket worn in three separate ways, each subtle variation used to give an ensemble a slightly different flavour.


   The unbuttoned look is perfect for indoor casual wear but still, unlike most fleeces or hoodies, won't entirely de-formalise an outfit. As I'm wearing this with a shirt (and my favourite bow-tie c/o Amy from Wolf Whilstle), the mood achieved is "smart/casual" - whilst many take this phrase to mean "jeans and shoes" this fulfills neither of the two criteria mentioned to the same degree as the above look!


   This semi-zipped look is one of my favourites and certainly the most uniquely Korean of the three on display. It highlights that the jacket is indeed a hybrid (it's neither a fleece or a blazer but takes elements from both) and is perfect for wearing to occasions where a full suit would be too much (i.e. a trip to Nandos) and jeans and a t-shirt would be too little.


   The full-zipped look is the most traditional of the three styles - it gives the appearance of a classic double breasted jacket. It's a great "light" look for those not wanting to be burdened with a cumbersome outercoat and also shows off any neckwear you may be wearing (thus my choice to wear the bow-tie for these examples). Perfect for outdoor events where a blazer won't offer enough protection against the cold but a pea-coat may be too restrictive.