You know when a fashion trend manages to span more than a decade that it’s something to take note of. But 60 years? That really is on another other level. Coco Chanel created the first iteration of her iconic boucle jacket back in the 1950s; inspired by menswear tailoring, it featured the signature contrasting trim, boxy fit and logo buttons, and to this day it remains a firm favourite in the fashion hall of fame.
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While traditionally the boucle jacket’s been associated with a certain ‘Upper East Side matriarch’ persona (Bunny from Sex and the City springs to mind), in recent years a younger crowd have embraced its sophisticated charms and introduced a new fresh take on the classic silhouette. There will always be a place for the famed matchy-matchy twinset pairing, but I’ve loved seeing how fashion fanatics have turned the trend on its head with distressed denim, leggings and even a cheeky jogging bottom or two.
As you can imagine, there is a huge variety when it comes to price point, and you can happily nab a jacket for £35 from H&M or take the plunge with a vintage Chanel from Vestiaire Collective for a cool £2,000 (casual). But don’t worry, there is plenty to be found in the middle-ground from brands such as M&S, Ted Baker and Mango—oh, and while we’re at it, I would recommend checking out vintage iterations on sites such as Etsy. By shopping secondhand you stand a better chance of getting a designer quality piece at a high street price, just saying.
This spring I plan on balancing out the boucle’s traditional polish with a white tee, straight leg jeans and my favourite vintage cowboy boots. But when May rolls around and, fingers crossed, we’re allowed out-and-about, I might just have to glam it-up with a pussy bow blouse, flared trousers and gold hoops. Versatile, classic and oh-chic, this really is a jacket to get on board with. Scroll down to see and shop my edit of designer, high street and vintage boucle jackets.
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