The outerwear to invest in this season, by Herno Laminar, a smart Italian brand new to MR PORTER that knows its outdoors gear.

When you think of Italy, scenes of glorious weather usually come to mind. But it’s not all sunshine – in fact, around Lake Maggiore, near the Swiss border, the climate can get rather wet and humid. And thank goodness that’s the case, for this is the reason that stylish outerwear brand Herno (which started out making raincoats) became such a success upon its launch in 1948. Today offering a diverse range of understated coats and jackets, Herno is one of those clever brands that combines effortless style and quality with absolute practicality. In its Herno Laminar line – a more stripped back and contemporary offshoot of the main collection which was launched in 2012 –  it also offers some distinct technical advantages over the competition, utilising exclusive GORE-TEX® waterproof fabrics that are not available anywhere else. All these virtues make it the perfect starting point for those plucky souls who are already thinking about how they might survive the coming AW16 season. With the following items, you will certainly not be caught out in the rain.

This sleek piece constitutes Herno Laminar’s take on the classic mac. Where the brand improves upon the archetype is in its addition of GORE-TEX® and an insulating down lining – meaning it won’t just protect you from the rain, but the chill it brings, too – as well as a neat seam-sealed internal zip pocket to protect valuables. But such innovations do nothing to detract from the simple, smart silhouette of the coat. It’s perfect in fact, for wearing with a suit on professional or formal occasions.

You don’t want to take a giant coat with you everywhere you go, nor do you always want need the same amount of warmth throughout the day. Which is why a throw-on-able down jacket such as the above example from Herno Laminar is a wise investment, which will see you through both autumn (when you can wear it as an outer layer) and winter (when you slip it on under your overcoat). In the former eventuality, it can be paired with an equally cosy sweater – this marled cashmere-blend example from Helbers will do nicely. Either way, though, it will keep you warm, thanks to its GORE Windstopper® shell fabric.

This coat is a rather more versatile, outdoorsy option (note the removable hood), and should accompany you on a more intrepid off-duty occasion or weekend away. Particularly one where you might encounter a lot of water – its sleeves are specially designed with internal cuffs to keep moisture from crawling its way up your arms. Wear it with a zip-up fisherman jumper from S.N.S. Herning – a Danish brand that, like Herno, has long been dedicated to dressing men for adverse conditions.