Safari jacket with lace and drawcords

A short safari jacket in light polyester, drawn in by two cords, with a sheer lace back.

A mid-season jacket that plays on two registers. The front takes up the codes of the safari jacket: high collar with a buttoned tab, gold buttons, shoulder tabs, small flaps at the top of the sleeves. The back, for its part, opens onto a wide panel of sheer lace, extended by a scalloped frill that shows below the hem.

The cut

A full volume and a short length: 63 cm at the back in XS, 66 cm in L. The raglan armholes give dropped shoulders and a puffed sleeve, drawn in by a narrow cuff with a gold button. At the waist, two cords with metal tips let you define the silhouette or leave it floating. You choose how much blousing to give it, depending on the outfit.

How to wear it

• Open over straight jeans and a vest top, cords loosened, for the day.
• Closed and drawn in at the waist over a long skirt or a fluid dress, the lace frill echoing it.
• As a third piece in the evening, when the temperature drops but a coat would be too much.

The fabric

Light polyester, with enough hold to keep the volume of the sleeves without stiffness. The jacket weighs about 530 g: it protects against the cool wind of spring, without playing the part of a coat. The lace back stays sheer: plan on a top under the jacket.

Colourways

Two shades: beige, the lightest and the closest to the utility spirit, and light camel, warmer and more summery. The gold buttons stand out on both.

Key points

• Sheer lace back with a scalloped frill at the hem
• Waist adjustable by two cords with metal tips
• Short cut that works over jeans as well as over a dress
• Dropped raglan shoulders and puffed sleeves with a buttoned cuff
• Gold buttons, shoulder tabs and a high collar: a safari-jacket spirit
• Light polyester, about 530 g, designed for mid-season

Fabric and care

Composition: Polyester. Lace panel and frill in polyester. Buttons and cord tips in gold-toned metal.

Care: Machine wash at 30 °C, delicate programme, jacket fastened and inside out. Place it in a net bag to protect the lace at the back. No tumble dryer, no bleach. Dry flat or on a hanger, in the shade. Iron with a gentle iron on the reverse, avoiding the lace and the metal buttons.

Size

A deliberately loose cut: take your usual size for the intended volume, or one size down if you prefer a jacket closer to the body. Measurements taken flat, tolerance of 1 to 2 cm. XS: bust 114 cm, raglan sleeve 67 cm, length 63 cm. S: bust 118 cm, sleeve 68 cm, length 64 cm. M: bust 122 cm, sleeve 69 cm, length 65 cm. L: bust 126 cm, sleeve 70 cm, length 66 cm. The bust measurement is the jacket's full circumference, with the cords loosened.

Good to know

• Is the lace back really sheer? Yes, the back panel is openwork and lets what is underneath show. That is an aesthetic choice. Wear the jacket over a vest top, a T-shirt or a dress: the contrast is part of the look.
• Is polyester warm, or is it too light? It is a mid-season jacket, not a coat. It cuts the cool wind of spring and summer, over a shirt or a fine jumper. Below 10 °C, it is worn as a layer under something warmer.
• Will the loose cut make me look wider? The two waist drawcords are there for exactly that: you draw them in to mark the waist and create a blouson effect, or you leave them open for a straight drape. The short length, at the high hip, lengthens the leg.