I recently went on a weekend away through Paris and down to the South of France. Glam, I know— but, why am I telling you this? Well, when I wasn’t sipping rosé and taking in the sights, I was getting seriously inspired by the fashion. Of course, it’s a widely known fact that the French dress incredibly well, and so every time I visit I prepare myself to take mental notes. This time was more useful than ever, mainly because January on the Cote D’Azur is basically like spring in the UK (think sunny days and blue skies but still a notable chill in the air). It was perfect timing, then, to get some seriously good outfit ideas for the season ahead.
There were obviously some perfect denim looks, a sprinkling of bretons and some excellent wide-leg trouser pairings. But there was one particular piece I kept seeing on repeat that really stood out to me: the shearling jacket. Now, we’ve touched on the wonders of this cosy jacket trend before, but it wasn’t until now that I realised how chic and versatile they really are— and how much I’d like one in my life to prop up my wardrobe every spring, autumn and winter. Honestly, I saw French women from every generation sporting iterations, all over both Paris and Cannes— and even some very suave men. They’d pair it with some simple blue jeans or loose trousers and a vest, and it always looked effortlessly cool.
I know I can’t be alone in this new obsession (especially since I’ve also seen so many UK influencers sporting them recently) so I set out to find the perfect styles available here. I tried so many on from across the high street and designer to get to the bottom of which ones are actually worth the money— because let’s face it, if you want a real lasts-a-lifetime shearling, it’s an investment. I’ve also included some very good faux alternatives I found too, though.
Keep scrolling to see my verdict on which ones really stood out, and shop the looks below.
I still can’t get over the buttery soft deliciousness that is Joseph’s Calla coat. If there’s one item that’s going to live in your wardrobe forever, it’s this. Although it’s so cosy, the beige colour way keeps it from feeling too wintery and it’s perfect with just a T-shirt for chillier spring days. This is, after all, one of those wardrobe heroes that makes even simple basics look expensive.
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