We talk a lot about timeless wardrobe essentials—pieces that could comfortably live in your closet for a decade or longer. While many items fall into this elite category—camel coats, biker jackets, exquisite tailoring and a little black dress, to name but a few—none feel quite as classic as a bouclé jacket.
First conceptualised by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel way back in the 1950s, the bouclé jacket drew inspiration from menswear tailoring—something that informed many of Chanel's designs at the time. Its signatures include a boxy silhouette, contrast trims and, yes, a bouclé fabrication, something that has endured and become synonymous with the French fashion house ever since.
Today, the bouclé jacket is indicative of power dressing; this, I believe, is the core of its appeal. For people who want to convey a sense of prowess with the outfits they wear, it's easy to understand why the bouclé jacket appears in their ensembles, be they quintessential French girls (Chanel bags and all) or devoted minimalists.
To show just how versatile this staple can be, I've collated seven outfits that perfectly showcase how to style a bouclé jacket. Scroll on to see them.