Men’s Shacket Guide: The Best Herno Shackets and Overshirts

A men’s shacket is a shirt-cut jacket: it keeps the shirt collar, buttoned front and chest pockets, but uses a heavier cloth so it works as a light outer layer. Herno makes its shackets in merino wool, wool and cashmere, corduroy and membrane-bonded technical fabrics, priced from $1,270 to $3,590 at Coveti. Buy your usual jacket size and wear one over a T-shirt, a fine knit and a shirt.

Quick answer

• What it is: a hybrid of shirt and jacket, cut like a shirt and built like light outerwear.
• Herno fabrics: double-construction merino, brushed wool and cashmere, wide-wale corduroy, bonded twill with a breathable membrane, quilted nylon with feather padding.
• Price at Coveti: $1,270 to $3,590 for Herno shackets, $1,460 to $2,000 for the lighter Resort overshirts.
• Sizing: Herno uses Italian sizes; Coveti lists the UK/US chest equivalent, which is the Italian size minus 10 (IT 50 = 40).
• Season: a jacket in autumn and spring, a mid layer under a coat in winter.
• Delivery: worldwide express shipping from Coveti’s UAE and Australia hubs, with duties calculated at checkout.

What is a shacket?

The word joins shirt and jacket. A shacket keeps the shirt’s collar, the button placket and usually two flap chest pockets, but the cloth is heavier, the body is a little roomier and the hem sits at the hip. It goes over your clothes, not under them.

That middle position is the whole point. A shacket is warmer and more structured than a flannel shirt, and far less formal than a blazer. For men who dress down for work and still want a finished line, it solves the awkward weeks when a coat is too much and a knit alone is too little.

An overshirt is the lighter cousin. Herno uses that word for its Resort pieces in suede-effect microfibre, matt nylon and linen, which sit closer to a shirt in weight. In Herno’s language a shacket is the heavier version, usually in wool, sometimes padded.

Shacket vs overshirt vs jacket: what is the difference?

Why does Herno make such good shackets?

Herno was founded in 1948 in Lesa, on Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, by Giuseppe Marenzi and his wife Alessandra Diana. It started with men’s raincoats and has spent close to eight decades on outerwear, including years spent making coats for other luxury houses. That background shows in a shacket. Cloths are often treated against water, pockets are placed to be used, and the cut leaves room for a knit.

Branding stays quiet. Herno’s signature is a small metal logo plate on the back rather than a large badge on the chest, which suits a piece you will wear three days a week. For the full story of the house, start at the Herno brand page.

The best Herno shackets and overshirts for men

Nine picks across wool, corduroy and technical fabrics. Sizes on Coveti are UK/US chest sizes, already converted from Herno’s Italian sizing.

1. Cashmere and Wool Shacket in Navy Blue

The most versatile shacket here, at $2,300. Herno brushes a 90% virgin wool and 10% cashmere cloth for a soft hand and a matt finish, then cuts it with a shirt collar, flap breast pockets and side welt pockets. Navy goes with grey flannel, dark denim and white trainers alike. It suits the man buying his first shacket, and it runs from chest 36 to 48, the widest size range in this edit. A dark green version is also in stock.

2. Wool Twill Shacket in Chantilly

Premium merino made with the double-construction technique: two layers of fabric woven together on the loom and joined by an extremely fine binding thread. The result is warm without bulk, and the pale chantilly shade looks expensive with very little effort. At $2,880 it can be worn as outerwear on mild autumn days over a T-shirt and a sweatshirt. Pair it with navy trousers to keep the colour crisp. It suits men who already own the navy basics.

3. Light Taupe Shacket in Fine Wool

Natural merino from sheep reared in New Zealand, woven for a slightly shiny, elastic and resistant surface. Herno treats the cloth without environmentally harmful chemicals so it stays breathable and resists water and dirt, a real help in a pale colour. Light taupe sits between grey and beige, so it works with both families. At $2,680 and sized 34 to 46, it is the one to pack for travel, when a single jacket has to cover several kinds of day.

4. Corduroy Shacket in Light Military

Wide-wale corduroy in polyester microfibre gives this shacket a soft, substantial feel and a strong rib that catches the light. It keeps the classic layout of shirt collar, flap breast pockets and side welt pockets. Light military is an easy green with jeans and ecru knits. At $1,830 it suits weekends and casual offices. It also comes in ivory, and the Corduroy Cargo Trousers in Light Military at $860 make a matching set.

5. Black Shacket in Matte Twill and Cotton Twill

The technical option. Herno bonds a super-matte polyester twill to a thermoplastic membrane for breathability and water resistance, then adds slub cotton twill details and a Power Dry finish that gives a soft feel and a gently wavy surface. It is padded with wadding, so it carries further into the cold than the wool pieces. At $1,970 in black, it suits the city commuter who wants a shirt-jacket that can handle a wet morning.

6. Light Military Shacket in Iridescent Nylon and Suede Effect

A quilted shacket with feather padding, in abrasion-resistant polyester nylon with an iridescent effect and soft suede microfibre details. The 50-denier yarn keeps it light. Think of it as a padded jacket in shirt form, with striped quilting, a shirt collar and side welt pockets. At $1,680 it bridges a shacket and a down jacket, and it sits neatly under a long coat in January. Sizes run 34 to 40, so it suits slimmer builds.

7. Grey Reversible Shacket in Cool Stretch Wool and Stretch Nylon

Two jackets for $1,910. One side is cool stretch wool blended with polyester and elastane, the other a technical stretch microfibre nylon with an integrated breathable membrane. Wear the wool side out for the office and flip to the nylon side when the forecast turns. The stretch makes it the most comfortable pick for driving and cycling. It suits men who travel light and want one piece to do two jobs.

8. Dark Brown Resort Overshirt in Suede-Effect Microfibre

The true overshirt of the group, from Herno’s Resort line and made in Italy. Extra-soft suede microfibre with a melange effect, made with a 50-denier yarn, gives the look of suede without the weight and without the worry about rain marks. Dark brown pairs with cream, navy and grey. At $2,000 it suits warm climates and spring, worn over a polo shirt. A light blue version is also available.

9. Grey Shacket in Melange Teddy

The entry point at $1,270. A melange teddy-effect fabric gives a soft, warm feel, and the contemporary cut comes with a shirt collar, breast pocket, side welt pockets and logo-button fastening. Coveti files it with coats because it is warm enough to be your only layer on a dry autumn day. Grey works with everything in a casual wardrobe. It suits anyone who wants Herno construction at the lowest shacket price in the range.

How do you wear a shacket?

• Over a T-shirt: the simplest version. A wool jersey tee from Herno’s T-shirts and polos keeps the outfit in natural fibres.
• Over a fine knit: a crew neck cashmere jumper under a navy shacket is the smart-casual office uniform. Browse men’s knitwear for the base layer.
• Under a coat: a thin wool shacket can sit under a car coat as a mid layer, in place of a blazer.
• With trousers: pair it with darted wool trousers rather than suit trousers. Herno’s men’s trousers in wool gabardine and flannel are cut for exactly this.

Wear the shacket open over a knit and buttoned over a T-shirt. Roll the cuff once if the sleeve covers your watch. In winter, a gilet underneath adds warmth without bulk: our guide to Herno gilets and down vests covers that layer.

How should a shacket fit?

Order your usual jacket size. A shacket should close comfortably over a medium-weight knit, with the shoulder seam at the edge of your shoulder and the hem covering your belt. Size up one only if you will wear a thick knit under a slim piece. Herno publishes a fit type on each product, and most of its pieces are regular fit.

For trousers, trainers and fit types, see the full Herno size guide. To see every style at once, browse all men’s jackets and the complete Herno collection at Coveti, each piece checked for authenticity before dispatch.

Read next: Herno La Giacca and the padded blazer, how to layer a men’s down vest and quiet luxury menswear built on Herno.

Frequently asked questions

What is a shacket?

A shacket is a shirt-jacket. It has a shirt collar, a buttoned front and chest pockets, but it is made in a heavier fabric so it can be worn as a light outer layer over a T-shirt and a knit.

Is a shacket the same as an overshirt?

They are close relatives. An overshirt is usually lighter and closer to a shirt, while a shacket is heavier and sometimes padded. Herno calls its lighter Resort pieces overshirts and its wool, corduroy and padded pieces shackets.

How much does a Herno shacket cost?

At Coveti, Herno shackets cost $1,270 to $3,590 and Herno Resort overshirts cost $1,460 to $2,000. All are full price, authentic and shipped worldwide.

Should I size up in a shacket?

Usually not. Order your usual jacket size and size up one only if you will wear a thick knit under a slim-fit piece. Coveti lists Herno’s Italian sizes as UK/US chest sizes, which equal the Italian size minus 10.

Can you wear a shacket in winter?

Yes. Padded styles, such as Herno’s quilted shacket with feather padding and its black membrane twill shacket padded with wadding, handle cold dry days alone. Thin wool shackets work as a mid layer under a coat.

Where can I buy an authentic Herno shacket?

Coveti sells Herno shackets at full price, checked for authenticity before dispatch, with worldwide express shipping from hubs in the UAE and Australia and duties calculated at checkout.