Once The Goodman, Now A Betterman
As we were putting this piece together, we decided to break it into four parts, keeping it tight and concise, and to lighten the spirits for this fun piece!
Act I — Behind the name
"He’s a better man because he will pour you a drink"
The Goodman Jacket is for protection. But there’s always the ‘Better Man’ who would hand you that glass of drink you did not know you needed: a gin martini, a French 75, a negroni, whichever you fancy. But surely, this person would hand you that drink, in your hand, before you need to ask for it.
Is he truly a “Better Man”? Hard to say. But tonight isn’t about philosophy. It’s about fun. And fun, here, is the point.
Act II — The inspiration
“No need to be the best man. Better man will do just fine.”
The Betterman Jacket borrows the language of a dinner jacket, then promptly relaxes it. It will never be your best man’s uniform, and that’s precisely the idea.
Inspired by 1950s smoking jackets, with inspired being the operative word, it isn’t meant for black-tie rigidity. But for those modern, mildly casualised evenings, preferably in situations where you’re capable of reading the room and making an astute prediction based on the precedent, you might be able to get away with it. This jacket can be a fun alternative, and at times, a lifesaver, when you forget to bring proper one with you during your vacation.
Act III — The details & features
“He’s the better man because he looks better than most of you.”
Jokes aside, in a world overflowing with chore coats and work jackets, this one stands apart, and for sure makes for a rare beast or breed in its own right.
The unconstructed features are quickly the most intuitive and tell-tale sign that it is not a formal jacket. Cut unlined and without shoulder padding, this jacket melds the best of a traditional blazer and a chore coat. Formal cues softened, structure intentionally undone.
Still, forgoing a chest pocket as a part of the design language this time, like the Goodman, its predecessor, but with a different train of thought. Unlike the Goodman Jacket, where dual pockets take centre stage, the Betterman shifts focus to its full-parabola shawl lapels, fully showcasing its symmetrical and sinuous shaping that complements the body’s natural lines. Another gentle reminder: this is not a dinner jacket. Though, if you’re feeling bold, it can occasionally pretend to be one.
Act IV — Cloth is key
The choice of cloth is like your drink of choice, or what your choice of coffee says about you. It almost defines who you are. Apologies. Speed dating culture has clearly left its mark. That said, everything here moves slowly—except our service, it’s efficient and should be remarkable. Had to mention that.
But the deliberate choice of going for linen and cotton that would eventually turn slubby, worn-in, and slightly deformed is no mistake. Much like a well-worn chore jacket, they grow into themselves—sturdy, expressive, and full of character. That lived-in quality offsets the jacket’s refined architecture, keeping it relaxed rather than rigid.
After all, no one wants to spend the day in a shawl-lapel jacket that looks like it’s missed the memo. The best ones break the rules. And somehow, make them look better for it.
80% Linen, 20% Cotton
Inspired by the 50s smoking jacket and the traditional shawl dinner jacket, this is a jacket that has completely debunked the idea of a classic shawl lapel piece. Like its predecessor, the Goodman Jacket, it captures the essence of modern-day’s pared-down tailoring, tempered with a subtle note of indulgence. The Betterman carries all the hallmarks of a dinner jacket, yet it’s so casual. Cut unlined and longer with straight lines, this jacket melds the best of a traditional blazer and a chore coat. The design forgoes a chest pocket in favour of a full parabola shawl lapel and slanted pockets, achieving a sense of symmetry while following the natural contours of the body.
Crafted from a linen–cotton blend, the cloth is breezy and tactile, with a coarser, slightly rugged hand that contrasts elegantly with the jacket’s refined architecture, lending it a relaxed, modern character.
Pair this with: our polos, classic knitted t-shirts, or the feather t-shirts, linen trousers, shorts, or denim for a casual ensemble