Boucle boucle

Pretty much my favourite Summer jacket fabric.  Oh how I love a bit of boucle.  So we've already had a look at statement jackets the other day which I have admitted to love.  I would say the twin brother of the statement version is the boucle one.  

A boucle jacket will take you far.  I have three at the current count.  All navy based.  And all worn really really regularly.  And all, it so happens, are from Zara. 

We are now edging nearer the 7yr old's First Holy Communion and whilst the dress, shoes and bag are all sorted, I have just realised that jacket wise - big fat fail.  I need a nipped in or cropped fitted black blazer.  And as the dress is a lace/broderie anglaise mix in white with a black belt (I promise you I do not look like a First Holy Communion wannabe... honest guv) and black accessories, it really can't be navy or cream.  I could wear the navy and black shoes I have but the dress has a lot going on with it and the shoes are quite detailed too and for me - that would be just overload.  Of stuff.

I did ponder the idea of a red one and was nearly beside myself when I saw this one from Zara. I am a humungous "boucle jacket from Zara" fan so had super high hopes.

This is the one I had my eye on. 

Tweed Jacket £69.99

Total disappointment.com.  This is absolutely not the shade pictured above.  It's a rather gawdy orangey red shade.  Which I could MAYBE forgive if it wasn't for the bright cheapo gold trim (you can see this from space) on the pockets.  Not to mention bits hanging off all over the jacket.   For £70.  This epitomises why I don't shop in Zara that much any more.  The quality for so so many items just isn't there any more.  

So it was back to the drawing board.  And for not that much more I found a bargain black one in the sale at Jaeger.  I would almost be tempted to get a brooch to go with this (no I haven't lost my mind.. a Chanel brooch I think would be life changing...  Ok so admittedly I haven't given any other sort of brooch any thought...I suddenly have The Need for a Chanel brooch.  This too will pass).  Lots of layered necklaces, plain tee and jeans - this would be your go to jacket and look infinitely more polished and expensive than certainly the one above.

A great buy at this price.   The perfect take on a classic blazer shape in a boucle fabric.  You would happily wear this all year round - over dresses, skirts, trousers and jeans.  To work, out for dinner or on the school run with sneakers.
Jaeger Boucle Trim Jacket was £175 now £110





And there are more bargains that I've uncovered at the Jaeger Outlet. 

Boucle Jacket in navy was £250 now £149



And in the black.. again £149 not £250





And cropped in navy also at Jaeger.  Was £250 now £99 (again.. tee, jeans and you're off.  Or how about with an oversized shirt..).





Speaking of navy - this is up there with my favourite and if I hadn't overdosed on navy boucle already (there appears to be no support group), I would buy this in a heartbeat.  Reminiscent of mine which I drag out every year (see below). 

Trim Cotton Jacket from Mango £59.99



Black and white now and I have to say, I may have been put off by the fact it's from Miss Selfridge and is only £18... I normally don't have a problem AT ALL about where something is from but having ventured into Miss Selfridge recently and feeling about 100 (unlike Topshop, New Look or Forever21 where I will happily mooch around, getting down with the kids - and no I've no idea why my 11yr old finds me embarrassing at all.  Apparently it's not cool to sing along with the background music.  Who knew?).  But I think if you take the jacket on its own, it's a pretty darn fabulous piece of kit.  For an absolute bargain.

Miss Selfridge Cream Boucle Jacket was £35 now £18





Slightly more casual with a black biker version.  This would be so super useful.  Also love these jeans.  May have to take a further look at Promod.  We don't have one in the UK (certainly not anywhere near me) and I'm always laden down with children when we go back to Ireland.

Zipped blouson from Promod was £44.95 now £22  How gorgeous are these jeans?


It doesn't have to be super lightweight though and I have found a complete bargain at Forever 21.  Whilst I am looking for a jacket, this was too much of a steal not to include... much respect as always to Forever 21 for their styling.  Adore.

Classic Boucle Topcoat from Forever 21 was £40 now £15.99




And now we move onto some which don't say they're boucle but definitely have a boucle looking texture to me and would fit the brief perfectly.  Maybe not quite as boucle boucle as most definitely an excellent summer jacket.  Did I mention, not properly boucle?

Pocket Cotton Jacket from Mango £59.99  If this were black and white - oh YES.  But alas, it won't work for my outfit needs and I feel I should be surgical about this escapade.



Another gem from Mango and again, this isn't as "furry" (exceptionally non fashiony term there) as boucle but works perfectly as a near substitute. 

Pocket Cotton Jacket from Mango £69.99




But I made the fatal mistake of going into Libertys and seeing the Isabel Marant ones.  

Which were lovely.. 

Etoile Isabel Marant Flenn Tweed Jacket £280



But that wouldn't do as I needed the black... and then I found the black version - again £280.




Which again was lovely but I had been wearing my black military jacket from Zara (which *might* work to be fair but is probably too heavy for the dress as it's quite a wintery jacket..although I should probably try it....) and that looked just as nice as the double breasted Marant one.  It was the double breasted bit that didn't quite work on me (well it looked blooming gorgeous if I'm honest but again I had to Be Surgical and it wasn't perfect). 

However I then made the mistake of looking online to put the above jacket into this blog and oh DARN YOU ISABEL.  Look what I found at My Theresa.  Jacket.  Love.   This would be the absolutely perfect jacket for the dress - just the right mix of casual and smart, the right length, the right shape, the right colours - it really couldn't be more ideal.   Apart from the price.  But I would get so so much wear out of with other things, right??

Isabel Marant Etoile Ferris Blazer £340










I reckon there is more than one boucle fan out there apart from me.. come on... make yourself known... and can we please please start a self help group??

If justification were needed, here I am in one of mine which is four years old.  I know that as I remember I wore it to lunch at Sushi Samba and then to the final of the 100m at the last Olympics (yes I am THAT sad I remember what I was wearing...).  And have worn numerous numerous times since.


Navy tee - Zoe Karssen
Boucle jacket in navy, khaki and cream - Zara
Phoebe jeans - MiH
Superstar sneakers - Golden Goose
Black Haworth Bag - Village England

And almost forgot outfit from Friday night.  Yes I am caked in fake tan but cracked out the new jumpsuit from Finery London which I bought at Easter.  I have to say I was on the fence about it but I loved wearing it and know that I'll get loads of wear out of in the coming months.  Don't forget I think you can still get 20% off with the code Paypal20 at Finery London.  Were it to be scorchio tomorrow I would happily wear this during the day with sandals.



Milford D Ring Jumpsuit - Finery London
Black glove shoes - Balenciaga

So today it was hot hot hot which a) always sends me into a spiral about what to wear (anyone else?) but b) randomly gives me loads of food for thought outfit wise.  I will be back back to explore more tomorrow.