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Spring is here, bringing with it longer days, higher temperatures… and a headache of a fashion conundrum.
Suddenly, the warmer weather has made it too hot for your heavy winter coat, but chilly mornings and evenings mean it’s still too early to forego an outer layer.
The solution? A transitional topper. Something that’s practical enough to keep you warm and pairs nicely with everything in your wardrobe, while still looking chic and on-trend.
Enter the boucle jacket. It’s been a hundred years since Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel introduced her iconic boxy tweed version to the world, and it’s rarely been out of fashion since.
The beauty of the boucle jacket is that it gives you the structure of a blazer, while the tweed fabric lends it a feminine softness. With a wide palette of colours available it can be as conservative – or quirky – as you like.
A classic Chanel tweed is the stuff of dreams. But don’t worry, thanks to the many high street boucle styles on sale at the moment, it is perfectly possible to look just as good without breaking the bank.
To bag the bargain of the season, head to Primark. Its double-breasted jacket (£36, below, far left) is fully lined and trimmed with decadent gold buttons, making it look far more expensive than the price tag.
Paired with this two-piece mint trouser and waistcoat suit from George at Asda, the overall result is smart and sophisticated enough to take you from the office to a night out with friends.
For something simple and subtle, Marks & Spencer delivers a modern twist with its V-neck ivory jacket (£65, above, second from left).
Cropped to land at the curve of the waist, it works well teamed with bright colours and voluminous skirts like this one from Mango.
Meanwhile, Me+Em’s short-sleeve cropped jacket (£295, third from left) is a perfect choice to see you through spring into summer, marrying the classic boucle fabric with a contemporary V-neck, frayed trims and military-inspired dark buttons.
For an investment piece that you’ll return to year after year, try Really Wild’s design (centre), especially if you still consider boucle jackets to be frumpy, Miss Marple affairs.
At £575 it’s certainly not cheap, but might be worth saving up for considering that you will be able to keep rocking it for decades. In an elegant pastel green, this jacket will elevate any outfit, but it looks especially cool with jeans.
While modern adaptations are all very well, for purists a collarless boucle jacket is the only acceptable style. Phase Eight has an unfussy one in an eye-catching coral shade with matching covered buttons (£149, third from right). It’s perfect for layering over dresses, especially this floaty butter yellow midi from Nobody’s Child.
Frayed edges are a clever way of adding an injection of youth, as the brand Saint and Sofia has done with its fitted blue style (second from right) that comes with a matching waistcoat for a sleek, coordinated look.
Pink and white is gloriously feminine – I’m in love with this Essentiel Antwerp jacket (£340, right), which manages to be flattering and girlish without slipping into Barbie territory.
So whether you’re heading to the office, a glamorous lunch or a spring wedding, now is the perfect time to make the boucle jacket your new best friend.
Jacket, £36, primark.com; waistcoat, £22, and trousers, £22.50, George at Asda; shoes, £225, russellandbromley.co.uk
Jacket, £65, marksandspencer.com; skirt, £89.99, and scarf, £12.99, mango. com; shoes, £50, zara.com
Jacket, £295, meandem.com; trousers, £45, marksandspencer.com; shoes, £245, russellandbromley.co.uk
Jacket, £575, reallywildclothing.com; shirt, £140, withnothingunderneath.com; trousers, £55, riverisland.com; shoes, £50, zara.com
Jacket, £249, and waistcoat, £189, saintandsofia.com; jeans, £30, George at Asda; shoes, £245, russellandbromley.co.uk; bag, £169, mibolsalondon.com
Jacket, £149, phase-eight.com; dress, £140, nobodyschild.com; shoes, £39.50, marksandspencer.com
Jacket, £340, and shirt, £260, essentiel-antwerp.com; top, £125, reallywildclothing.com; skirt, £150, meandem.com; shoes, £245, russellandbromley.co.uk
