This year marks 100 years since Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel first unveiled what would go on to become one of the brand’s most coveted pieces: a tweed jacket. Or, as my colleague Jess Cartner-Morley called it last month, the Little Boxy Jacket. Soft and untailored, Chanel’s original boucle jackets were a rejection of the corseted silhouettes that were fashionable at the time. A century later, the brand continues to riff on the style – most recently with pastel-coloured and pearl-adorned versions down its couture catwalk.
However, with prices starting from £2,000, they are a wardrobe staple most of us can only dream of. However, there is some good news: this spring, the high street has several iterations that could almost be the real thing, at more affordable prices. Here is my pick of the best.
The best Chanel-style jackets
Blue boucle crew neck jacket
£49.99 at New Look
New Look’s baby blue offering is the most affordable of my selection and would look chic styled with a slim polo neck and white tapered jeans. Add a thin gold chain belt through your loops for a fun but wearable Y2K update, or go full-on Cher from Clueless and invest in the matching skirt as well.
Hounds tooth box jacket
£350 at Me + Em
At first glance, the ochre tone of this jacket from Me + Em may seem tricksy to incorporate into your wardrobe, but trust me when I say it will elevate all your basic jeans and T-shirts. I’m a fan of the chunky military-style white buttons, which balance out the neatness of the round collar and boxy shape. Style it with a classic white shirt, blue jeans and heeled courts: very soft power.
Auguste jacket
This style from the cult French brand Sézane is made from wool rather than boucle or tweed and is more like a substantial cardigan than a jacket, perfect for those of us who prefer something a bit roomier and less restrictive. I love its retro-inspired trim and crochet buttons. Its softer lines will work well with loose-fitting dresses, laid-back trousers and classic jeans. One of my favourites.
Green, black and white tweed jacket
£360 at Essentiel Antwerp
For something with real personality, invest in this velvet-trimmed Essentiel Antwerp jacket. Embellished with pearls and four patch pockets, it has hook-and-eye fastenings, so it is less structured and more like a blazer than some other styles. Perfect for the weekend over a thin, soft knit and relaxed jeans.
Navy cotton blend boucle knit jacket
£130 at Mint Velvet
This navy double-breasted jacket from Mint Velvet has a bit of a military feel. I’m a fan of the high collar and extended cuff, details that make it feel quite tough and practical. You could throw it on with any outfit, from jeans to a jumpsuit. Wear it to the pub or the park – it has versatility in spades.
Maya tweed jacket
£99 at Monsoon
Yellow is having a bit of a fashion moment so tick two trend boxes at once and invest in this lemon jacket from Monsoon. It doesn’t have to be all about afternoon tea and petit fours: pair it with blue denim, wide-leg beige chinos or a camel-knit skirt and it will work for the office as well as for the weekend. Just add some chunky metallic jewellery for a final style flourish.
Cream collarless textured boucle jacket
£62 at Next
With sizes going up to a UK 26 in its tall range and a UK 20 in its petite, this jacket from Next works for all shapes and sizes. Its longer cut will give more coverage over the hips and, unlike cropped styles, will flow perfectly over dresses – ideal for a wedding. Equally, its length invites you to add a belt and cinch it in at the waist for pairing with wide-leg trousers. A really smart buy.
Tweed jacket with frayed ends
£89.99 at Mango
Looking for a jacket that’s a bit more fashion forward? Try this blue and creamy yellow frayed-edge style from Mango. The colour combination requires a bit more thought if you’re going to wear it with more than a white T-shirt, but its pastel lightness actually works well with darker colours. I would opt for a navy stripe shirt or maybe a coffee brown collared knit underneath. With sizes going up to a 4XL (UK 26) it’s among the high street’s more inclusive styles.
Tweed checked fringed jacket
£69 at Marks & Spencer
This navy and white tweed jacket from Marks & Spencer has a fringe trim, modern silver buttons – and is lined. You could pair it with jeans and metallic ballet pumps, as pictured, for a relaxed, but smart look. But I’d also wear it with wide-leg linen trousers and slingbacks for spring garden parties. Runs from UK size 6 to 24.
Charlie black and ivory tweed trim jacket
£349 at LK Bennett
It doesn’t get more classic than this offering from LK Bennett. Made from black-and-ivory Italian tweed with four patch pockets and a contrast trim, you can even buy a matching tweed corsage in a nod to the famous camellia that Chanel has often added to its own boucle jackets. It comes in an array of colours (mint green! Pink!), but I’m a fan of this salt-and-pepper style: pair it with black, or lighter neutrals like cream or putty pink.
Melanie Wilkinson is the Guardian’s styling editor
