Faux leather jacket, shawl collar and shirred waist

A jacket in supple faux leather, generous shoulders and a shirred waist that draws the silhouette with no belt.

This jacket plays on a simple contrast: volume at the top, hold at the waist. The shoulders are wide, the sleeves puffed, and an elasticated shirred band draws in the lower back and front. The result is a slight peplum effect over the hips, with nothing to tie.

The fabric

A faux leather in polyester fibres, supple to the touch, with a lightly aged look in the dark brown colourway. It does not creak, sits well on the shoulders and keeps its shape wear after wear. The jacket is lined inside; the lining does not show from the outside. Expect about 780 g on the scales: a piece with presence without being heavy to wear.

The cut and the finishes

• Double collar: a high collar closed by a zip, covered by a large folded shawl collar. You can pull the zip up for a closed, graphic look, or open everything and let the shawl fall.
• Shirred waist front and back, completed by a single button.
• Puff sleeves drawn in by cuffs with a buttoned tab.
• Visible panel seams and topstitching at the back and on the sides, which structure the volume.

How to wear it

It is a mid-season jacket, at ease from September to November and then when spring returns. Over straight jeans and ankle boots, it is enough to make the outfit. With fluid trousers or a midi skirt, the drawn-in waist comes into its own. Avoid thick tops underneath: the shirred waist calls for a fine base, a light roll-neck or a close-fitting top.

The dark brown goes with beige, khaki and raw denim. The black remains the safe choice, drier and more urban.

Key points

• Double collar: a zipped high collar and a large folded shawl collar
• Elasticated shirred waist that defines the silhouette with no belt
• Puff sleeves and cuffs with a buttoned tab
• Supple faux leather with a lightly aged look
• Inner lining for comfortable mid-season wear
• Two sober colourways: dark brown and black

Fabric and care

Composition: Outer in faux leather, polyester fibres. Inner lining not visible from the outside. Weight of the item: about 0.78 kg.

Care: Dry cleaning recommended. For everyday use, wipe the surface with a soft, slightly damp cloth, with no harsh detergent or solvent. Do not machine wash, do not tumble dry. Do not iron directly on the faux leather: if needed, hang the jacket in a humid room to relax the creases. Air dry, away from a direct heat source. Store the jacket on a wide hanger to preserve the volume of the shoulders.

Size

Measurements taken flat, tolerance of 1 to 2 cm. Size S: shoulders 52 cm, bust 108 cm, sleeve length 54 cm, front length 67 cm. Size M: shoulders 53 cm, bust 112 cm, sleeve 55 cm, front length 68 cm. Size L: shoulders 54 cm, bust 118 cm, sleeve 56 cm, front length 69 cm. The cut is deliberately loose on the shoulders and sleeves: take your usual size. If you prefer to wear a jumper underneath, or if you hesitate between two sizes, go up a size. As the shirred waist is elasticated, it adapts over several centimetres.

Good to know

• Faux leather — does it look cheap? It all depends on the grain and the suppleness. This one is matte, lightly aged in the dark brown, and supple enough to fall without stiffness. The visible topstitching and the panel seams at the back avoid a smooth plastic effect. It is not leather, and we do not present it as such: it is a polyester material, lighter and easier to live with.
• Will the shirred waist squeeze or cut into my stomach? The band is elasticated and gathered at the front and the back, so it gives as you wear it and as you sit. It creates a slight peplum effect that flares over the hips rather than clinging. If you prefer a looser look, wear the jacket open and let the shawl collar fall.
• Is it warm enough for winter? It is a mid-season jacket, lined but not quilted. It handles autumn and early spring well over a fine knit. In deep winter, you will need a warm layer underneath, or a coat instead.