1/7

Checked Quilted Wool Jacket

$159.00

A Bastion, For the In-Between.

Introducing The Seasonal Garrison Jacket from Empty Reference—a garment engineered as a thoughtful response to the turning season. It is a study in pragmatic defense and enduring style, designed for the crisp air and shorter days that demand both warmth and unwavering composure.

Its first language is one of heritage: the black-grey houndstooth check, a pattern synonymous with tailored resilience and quiet authority. This is not mere surface decoration, but the foundational shell, crafted from a robust 20% wool / 80% polyester blend that offers the natural insulative property of wool bolstered by the durability and weather-resistance of polyester.

Beneath this shell lies its second language: strategic insulation. A layer of batting is quilted into the body, creating a lightweight yet effective barrier against the cold without the bulk of a winter coat. This is warmth as a considered layer, not an overwhelming one.

Its form declares its purpose: two chest pockets with button-flap closures and two hand-warmer pockets at the waist provide secure havens for essentials and comfort. The full button-front closure offers a classic, adjustable seal against the elements. This jacket is the uniform for the mindful transition—a portable piece of stability for autumn strolls, winter commences, and all the contemplative moments in between.

🛡️ The Blueprint of a Practical Defense:

✔ The Houndstooth Armor: The classic check pattern provides a visual and textural depth that transcends trends. In a sober black-grey palette, it conveys a grounded, intelligent elegance suitable for both urban and rural landscapes.
✔ The Quilted Insulation Layer: The diamond or channel quilting serves a dual purpose: it structurally holds the insulating layer in place and adds a subtle, tactile texture that breaks up the pattern, creating a sophisticated, compound fabric.
✔ 20/80 Wool-Polyester Intelligence: This blend is the engine of practical luxury. The wool contributes natural warmth and a rich hand-feel; the polyester ensures shape retention, wrinkle resistance, and increased resilience against moisture and wear.
✔ Utility as a Design Principle: The four pockets are not add-ons but integral components of the jacket’s philosophy. They represent readiness and self-containment, allowing the wearer to move through their day with everything they need securely at hand.
✔ The Empty Reference on "The Guarded Transition": We are drawn to garments that provide a sense of secure passage. This jacket is a guardian for the shoulder season. It builds a gentle fortress of warmth and order (the check, the quilting, the pockets) from which one can observe and engage with the cooling world, comfortably and with poise.

🧱 Anatomy of an Autumn-Winter Hybrid:

The Shell as a Legacy: Houndstooth is a pattern with history—academic, sporting, tailored. Using it for a quilted jacket bridges the gap between formal heritage and modern, functional ease.
The Quilting as a Functional Blueprint: The lines of quilting are like a drafted plan for warmth. They segment the jacket into zones of insulated comfort, creating a lightweight, mobile warmth that doesn’t restrict movement.
The Silhouette as a Statement of Readiness: The cut is straightforward, slightly boxy to accommodate layers beneath, and ends at a practical hip length. It is the silhouette of someone prepared, not burdened.

🧥 Styling the Grounded Layer:

This jacket is the definitive outer layer for crisp-weather versatility.

For Urban Uniformity: Layer over a simple black turtleneck and tailored wool trousers. The houndstooth adds pattern without noise, perfect for a day that moves from commute to café.
For Rustic Utility: Pair with a thick cable-knit sweater, sturdy denim, and leather boots. The jacket’s practical nature shines in a countryside context.
For Layered Smartness: Wear over a collared shirt and fine-gauge knit vest, allowing the shirt collar to frame the neckline of the jacket.
Its Natural Habitat: Weekend markets, forest walks, evening bonfires, the journey to work on a frosty morning—any scenario that requires a reliable, stylish buffer against the chill.