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’s on another level. Coco Chanel created the first iteration of her iconic bouclé 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.
Traditionally the bouclé jacket has been associated with a certain Upper East Side matriarch persona (Bunny from Sex and the City springs to mind), but in recent years, a younger crowd have embraced its sophisticated charms and introduced a 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 £2000. But don’t worry—there are plenty of options to be found in the middle-ground from brands such as ME+EM, Maje and & Other Stories. Oh, and while we’re at it, I recommend checking out vintage iterations on sites such as Etsy and Depop. By shopping secondhand you stand a better chance of getting a designer quality piece at a high-street price point. Just saying.
This year, I plan on balancing out the bouclé’s traditional polish with a white tee, slouchy jeans and my favourite vintage cowboy boots. But, when summer rolls around, I’ll add denim cut-offs and woven sandals. Versatile, classic and 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 bouclé jackets.
Ellie from Slip Into Style proves that even jogging bottoms can look more chic with a boucle blazer.
