Allow us to induct you, dear reader, into the world of “transitional dressing”. It’s a bit of an industry phrase, and not one we use too often – we prefer language that everyone can understand – but it’s an important weapon in your sartorial armoury nonetheless. In layman’s terms, it describes how you might dress for that in-between weather, when it’s neither too warm nor too cold. In London, where MR PORTER’s headquarters are based, that description more or less accounts for the entire year, so trust us when we say we know what we’re talking about here.

Your first step should be to invest in a good medium-weight jacket. There’s never a single, must-have jacket for spring, rather a range of options to choose from instead. To help you sort the wheat from the chaff, we’ve picked out our favourites – and given you a few examples of how to wear them well.

A trench coat won’t keep you warm in a snowstorm, but it’s perfect for the kind of blustery, showery weather that spring throws our way. And you don’t need the belted, double-breasted variety, either: there are plenty available without the additional bells and whistles. This outfit also demonstrates one of the key lessons of transitional dressing, which is the importance of layers. By wearing his trench coat over a lightweight, collarless worker jacket, the man in this photo shows a versatility in keeping with spring’s changeable conditions.

This diamond-quilting reminds us of the sort of jacket that the British Royal Family might wear while engaging in country pursuits on the grounds of their Highland Estate, which is perhaps why it’s so eye-catching here, worn over a boilersuit and in a setting that could hardly be further removed. The oversized fit and muted colour palette contribute to the sleek, contemporary appeal of this outfit.

Because nothing says “I’m ready for spring” like mustard-yellow paisley print, right? This jacket, which is actually from one of sought-after streetwear brand Supreme’s autumn 2019 drops, is exactly the kind of thing we’re looking for this season: big, bold and packing a generous hit of colour. It’s just full of the joys of spring. It is, also, sold out – but there are plenty more like it that are still available now, including the distinctive patchwork bandana jackets from Japanese brand KAPITAL, the glorious creations of Ms Emily Bode and more.

Utility jacket, chore jacket, worker jacket: they all seek to describe more or less the same garment, an example of which is modelled by the gentleman in this picture. It’s a jacket of blue-collar origins, as the names suggests, but one that has recently been adopted by the mainstream as part of the workwear trend. Though it’s often seen in a deep indigo blue, it works just as well in other colours, as demonstrated here, where the off-white tone contrasts nicely with the mustard-yellow trousers.

This decidedly modern take on the M65 army field jacket comes with the additional detail of bellows pockets on the back panel. It’s the sort of feature that you might expect on a cycling jacket, and it gives this strange hybrid piece a unique appearance. However, the vintage military influence is still felt through the choice of material – a hard-wearing cotton-twill – and the olive-drab colour, which blends well with the earthy tan of the chinos.

This spring’s key look? Imagine you’re going camping. We’re only half joking: the outdoorsy “gorpcore” trend (named after “Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts”, a variety of trail mix) has been cited as one of this season’s biggest influences, and forms part of a wider trend that’s seeing technical outerwear incorporated into our everyday wardrobes. From a purely practical perspective, this is the sort of thing that makes perfect sense for spring – you know, wind, rain and so on – but it can be a stylish choice, too, as the gentleman in this picture ably demonstrates with this cardinal-red shell jacket from the cult Japanese outerwear brand And Wander. The lesson here? Don’t be afraid of a little bright colour. Just not too many of them at once.

Though we make a point of showcasing the more adventurous side of men’s fashion in our edits, when we come across an outfit such as this, we do have to concede that simplicity really is the best option. The jacket in question – a modern take on a field jacket, complete with press studs and a concealed hood – is the perfect outer layer for spring, and this midnight blue colour goes with everything, too.

The people featured in this story are not associated with and do not endorse MR PORTER or the products shown