To make it through winter without coming to a frozen standstill, you don’t need to sport a hefty double-breasted overcoat cut from military-grade wool that reaches below the knee and has a belt to cinch tight. On the contrary, you can achieve equal measures of warmth and stylish cosiness with something just as practical but eminently more casual: the soft jacket.

Soft jackets – that is, jackets that are typically made from woven materials, such as wool, cashmere, cotton and linen – are tactile by nature and less rigid across the shoulders and chest, thus giving you increased movement, flexibility and comfort. Plus, because they’re so casual, they’re also super easy to style. With winter about to engulf us, here are five for you to consider.

No style of jacket looks more at home with shearling than the bomber. In the early 20th century, high-flying and fearless aviators took to the skies in open cockpits, subjecting themselves to freezing temperatures with only shearling-lined jackets to keep them warm – the small pockets of air within the pelt trapped warmth. Since then, they’ve been a menswear mainstay for winter. Mr P.’s shearling-trimmed, houndstooth wool-blend bomber is just the ticket. The natural colour of shearling matched with the creaminess of the houndstooth makes it a particularly attractive option. Keep the military theme going with a pair of black leather Derby boots with crepe soles care of Officine Creative.

The fact that down jackets are worn on expeditions as far afield as Antarctica speaks volumes for their proficiency in cold weather. This number from Burberry goes one step further and contains goose feathers for extra cosiness. Wool-lined with the British brand’s signature check, this down jacket is technically sound, with concealed, removable sleeves giving you an alternative option. Let that pop of the check do the talking and sport it with a pair of slim-fitting black jeans from Acne Studios that have just a touch of elastane for increased comfort and flexibility.

Fleece was once considered a yawn-inducing normcore staple, but in the past few seasons it’s broken free from its stereotypical shackles and established itself as a must-have fabric. It’s practical, lightweight, insulating and takes to being dyed incredibly well. Not convinced? Designers such as Fear of God, Ralph Lauren Purple Label and McQ Alexander McQueen are all offering it in their collections. The iteration above is referred to as “cumin”, which is certainly fresh and different, and we’re all for it. Rock a pair of clean, neutral runners and you’re good to go.

Yes, we did state that a soft jacket is usually made from a woven fabric, but this leather café racer makes the cut because it’s lined in faux shearling. New York-based Schott makes the best biker jackets in the world, and if you haven’t yet got yours, you know what to do. When styling it out, you can go full The Wild One, or you can mix it up and layer a smart merino wool rollneck from Canali beneath. Biker luxe? Why not. Need more inspiration as to how you can pull off the biker jacket? We’ve got this guide to help you.

Chore jackets have had something of a renaissance this season. Once a staple of French labourers, they’ve been given a new lease of life as a dependable jacket that rests upon much of the formality scale. Keeping true to tradition, Faherty’s iteration is cut from a heavy-duty, mélange wool-blend fabric. Soft and easy to wear, brighten up an inevitably grey day and keep the workwear theme going with a punchy yellow wool beanie from The Workers Club.