If you’re among the generation who can remember it was once possible to save up for and buy an item of designer clothing, hiya!
Not any more though; since Covid, the price of designer clothing has risen by more than 50%, making a once-in-a-lifetime aspirational buy completely off the menu for most of us.
Chanel is a case in point. A denim jacket from the just released, and very gorgeous, collection by their new designer Matthieu Blazy costs £4,960. An animal print jacket from the same range is more than £11,000. It is eye-watering.
Luckily for us not in the extreme wealth bracket, though, this is where the newly elevated high street stores come in. Specifically Zara, who in recent years has made a significant effort to create long-lasting style investments from natural fibres that are decidedly not throwaway fashion.
This cropped denim jacket from their pre-Autumn collection is one such piece. It is clear from the photos shared here that this denim jacket, with its frayed-edge details, sharply cut hem, cute buttons and huggy arms, takes its inspiration from Chanel.
These details make the jacket sit close to the body, and mean it will look equally great and chic with a little camisole and jeans, a slim-cut dress, or a shrunken T-shirt paired with a flowy maxi skirt.
When I saw this on Zara, I honestly did a double take. I magnified the images so I could see the stitch details and the cut up close. The buttons, the stitch detail and the shrunken cut do not say high street fashion to me at all.
If you adore Chanel, but don’t have five grand to spare, plan how you’d style this jacket with your existing clothes. If it will give your wardrobe some new life, give yourself permission to spend £79.99 on this jacket. It might be the best investment you make in your style for the year ahead.
