Walk into any fashion retailer in London and you will most likely find a boucle jacket. Boucle jackets have been in fashion since Chanel designed and created the first boucle jacket in the 1950s. Boucle jackets are synonymous with Chanel but you can now find these jackets at many high street retailers like Zara and Mango for a fraction of the price of the Chanel version.
What does boucle mean? Boucle comes from the French word boucler which means to curl. Boucle is a looped yarn which makes the fabric have a nubby, fleece-like appearance. Boucle jackets are made from this fabric and traditionally have a boxy silhouette, statement buttons, and a cardigan-like softness. Boucle jackets are easily styled with jeans and a t-shirt or as a co-ord with a matching skirt or trousers.
Zara
Zara and Mango offer inexpensive dupes for the Chanel boucle jacket. A neutral boucle jacket is the perfect lightweight jacket to throw on over any outfit.
Shop left to right: High Neck £29.99, Rhinestone Buttons £59.99, Striped Knit £35.99, Striped Blazer £59.99, Textured Blazer £49.99
Me+Em
Me+Em offers fresh, updated versions of the traditional Chanel boucle jacket. My favourite is the bracelet sleeve boucle which still has the boucle fabric but has a clean, smarter look.
Shop left to right: Italian Boucle £350, Bracelet Sleeve Boucle £325, Hand Crochet Boucle £175, Italian Tweed Boucle £175
Self-Portrait
If you are looking for a glam and girly boucle jacket, look no further than Self-Portrait. These jackets are very similar to the original Chanel boucle jackets and wearing them will make you feel like a princess.
Shop left to right: Yellow Boucle £430, Lilac Boucle £400, Sequin Pink Boucle £430, Braided Boucle £400
Feast your eyes on the original Chanel Boucle jackets at the Gabrielle Chanel Fashion Manifesto at the V&A museum. The exhibit is running from the 16th of September 2023 to the 25th of February 2024.
XO, Alicia
I love these jackets. I prefer not having pockets on the chest but rather on the bottom part of the jacket. Soon it will be jacket season here in the USA.