Kimono Jacket Men 'Blue Hideki'

The blue of Japanese workers, turned into a jacket you actually choose

Indigo was never a fashion colour in Japan — it was the colour of work, the dye in the coats of farmers and tradesmen because it was cheap, tough and hid wear. This navy kimono jacket for men borrows that honest blue and turns it into something you pick on purpose: a short open layer in deep marine with a bit of that working-cloth backbone.

The detailing is clean and considered. A cream contrast border traces both front edges and the hem, and the elbow-length sleeves turn back with a pale folded facing that catches the light. The navy body stays solid and print-free, so the colour and the crisp pale edging carry the whole piece.

The reason to own navy over black: same versatility, warmer feel. Over a white tee it goes clean and almost nautical; over grey it turns quiet and grown-up; over black it adds depth without the dead flatness of black-on-black. The pale edging keeps it sharp in every case, so it never slips into looking like plain loungewear.

It's made from a textured cotton-linen blend with a soft, lived-in surface and an easy drape from the shoulder. The navy is dyed to stay deep rather than fading to a tired grey-blue, and the cream facings hold their contrast over time. The relaxed fit sits comfortably over a shirt without pulling across the back.

Reach for this if you want the kimono silhouette in a colour you'll wear on repeat and never tire of. It suits the man building a blue-and-neutral wardrobe who wants one Japanese-inspired layer that goes with all of it. Wear it open over a tee with denim or chinos. It runs slim, so size up by one for comfortable layering room.

• Type: Short open kimono jacket, elbow-length sleeves
• Material: Textured cotton-linen blend
• Pattern: Solid navy with contrast cream edging
• Fit: Relaxed, open front
• Sizing: Runs slim — take one size up
• Wear it with: White or grey tee, denim or chinos