Those in favour of the colder months, you can breathe a sigh of relief as this mild mid-August breeze has a succinct feeling of autumn to it. This can only mean one thing: wrapping up in coats and jackets is in spitting distance, sartorially speaking. Naturally, we here on the Grazia fashion desk always have our eyes on the new collections and Arket’s new crop of outerwear has been cropping up in many fashion chats, in particular the Swedish retailer’s take on a workwear jacket. In the name of journalism, we went to try it on to see if it’s worth the hype.
For those not in the know, there’s something to be said about Arket’s outerwear: if there’s one category the brand excels at (bar, perhaps, wardrobe staples), it’s coats and jackets. At least since lockdown, you can’t turn a corner in London without running into someone donning one of Arket’s best-selling puffer coats or quilted jackets (dirty chai latte in hand, of course) once the mercury drops. Of course, we remain fans of those functional wardrobe workhorses but that doesn't mean that there isn't some extra room on our coat hangers for Arket’s latest additions to the outerwear vertical.
And even though the new season on the runways dictates a high-octane directive for our autumn/winter wardrobes (featuring tinsel trims, sequins on steroids and studs on virtually everything), we still need the everyday wearable staples like this jacket, which can easily be flung on any outfit - even on those that are rendered in a glitzy fabric - without dressing them down. What's more, the street style set has long adapted to the Carhartt-inspired mood in outerwear, especially since Prada released a designer iteration earlier this year, spotted on many street stylers. So, if you’re in the market for the perfect transitional jacket (and have already ticked the trench coat box), might we suggest you turn your head to Arket for a jacket that gets our vote?
Julia Harvey, Shopping Editor
'I prefer an oversized fit in outerwear - especially useful in winter when you're trying to squish on as many layer as possible - I'm usually a 10/12 but tried on a size UK10 as this style fits perfectly oversized. Other details to note; a practical two-way zipper so you can unzip the bottom for extra wiggle room around hips and extra roomy patch pockets (a trademark of the chore jacket) so you can go bag-free.'
Henrik Lischke, Senior Fashion Features Editor
‘Whisper it - but I buy 90% of all my outerwear in the women’s department and Arket has become my go-to for coats and jackets with runway appeal at a way lower price point. I’m 6.2 tall and the only problem I encounter when it comes to shopping women’s outerwear (not that it matters in any way), is that the sleeves are often too short for me. That’s not the case here. I went for a UK16 and there was plenty of room underneath for a jumper and several other layers, which is crucial for any transitional jacket. And fit aside, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the jacket given the price point. The linen canvas shell was thick and kept its shape, which gives it that fresh-off-the-runway look, instead of making it look like something that you've found it in your dad’s wardrobe.’
Shop: Arket’s Workwear Jacket
arketwww.arket.com