If I was the kind of cultural peon who gushed the phrase, “oh my days” in the event of mild surprise, I’d probably say it now. I haven’t though. In fact, even at the precise moment of mild surprise, when I first saw this new Engineered Garments jacket on The Bureau, all I did was frown a bit and make a quiet noise a bit like, “mhhhhff…” I mean, it’s a nice jacket no question. But the thing is, I rarely announce surprise. In truth, nothing much surprises me these days. Except the amount of simpletons saying, “oh my days“.

Grouchy, out-of-touch grumblings aside, this is a significant jacket. Cut in Nyco Poplin, it boasts a colossal ten pockets, a fact that, while verging on the ludicrous, is hardly atypical for EG. However, four of those things are on the back. Usually I get weirded out when there’s one inaccessible pocket on the reverse of a coat – this thing’s got four. Four opportunities for people to ask, “what the hell you gonna put in there?” And four opportunities for me to monotone back, “I have no idea”.

Also aboard there’s a two-way zip (for rocking it Ice Cube style) a storm flap, press studs amundo and couple of drawcords for even more stylistic manipulation. I do like the asymmetrical collar on this too. Sure you could stud it back into a symmetrical position, but why would you? I’d let it hang. It’s kind of odd looking. Even mildly surprising.