I was initially reluctant to jump on the plaid shacket bandwagon. I mean, I live in CA. It is sunny & 70 most days (not!), and right now, I am not going anywhere. The truth is, I have been wearing shackets for years. It is common for me to wear a plaid shirt as a jacket over my favorite tee (you can do that too). I also have several non-plaid shackets I wear on repeat, including a fabulous corduroy one from & Other Stories.
By now, I am sure you have heard the term ‘shacket’. But just in case, here is a definition. A shacket is a hybrid shirt-style jacket often plaid of varying weight but heavier than your average flannel shirt.
The Perfect Shacket
As I mentioned, I am not going anywhere, and the more shackets crossed my feed while mindlessly scrolling, the more intrigued I became. But could I find a shacket that works for me? My requirements include a plaid that works with other items in my wardrobe, a weight that isn’t too heavy for our mild winters, and it must be reasonably priced. I feel like even if you live in a cold climate a lighter weight shacket is better because you can wear it under your winter coat. Am I wrong about that?
For this post, I ordered two shackets to try: the BB Dakota Plaid Jacket and Madewell’s Walton Shirt Jacket. I love the simple blue & white plaid of the Madewell jacket but it has a quilted lining and would be too warm for most days in San Diego. The BB Dakota jacket also has a blue and white plaid with tan accents. This jacket is unlined and more along the lines of what I wanted.
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Styling a Plaid Shacket
Outfit #1: Shacket + Bright Top + Skinny Jeans
A shacket is a casual piece and works best with other casual items. I added a bright top for a pop of color. The shirt I am wearing is the Free People Natasha Ruffle Sleeve Top. I added a photo of the ruffle detail below because it is just so. darn. good.
Right now, I am wearing this outfit with my Paul Green boots but for spring I will swap the boots for sneakers. I am loving the look of the Retro Reeboks.
Outfit #2: Shacket + Tee + Tan Jeans + Clog Booties
This outfit sold me on the BB Dakota Shacket. It is perfect for spring. Spring is a fickle bee-ach. It is not uncommon to start out cold, hit a high in the mid-seventies but be back to low sixties by 2 p.m. Layering is key in spring. I usually start all of my spring outfits with some sort of tee. I have every color & cut imaginable of the Madewell Whisper Cotton Tee. It is a lightweight cotton that doesn’t cling.
Even with the best intentions, I rarely wear white/ecru denim during the cold of winter. So when March rolls around, I feel the need to break out a pair of light-colored denim. Mine are from Mother Denim last season but the rag & bone Cate are similar. Monochromatic looks are still popular this year I like paring two similar colors together like white & ecru instead of all white. Plus, a pair of ecru denim jeans feels fresh and unexpected.
Related: The One Item Update for Summer 2020
To clog or not to clog? That is the question. I love clogs. My family does not like the noise they make while walking. Mine are by Patricia Nash. I prefer a clog with a lower wedge like these from No.6 or these Swedish Hasbeens from Anthropologie. Despite the noise, clogs are incredibly comfortable and only get more so over time. In spring and summer, I wear the J.Crew Leather Clogs.
Outfit #3: Shacket + Hooded Sweater + Straight Leg Jeans + Lug Sole Boots
This outfit is my all-day, every-day kinda outfit. Pretty much anything I can add lug sole boots to is currently my favorite. I’m wearing the Vagabond Cosmo 2.0 Lug Sole Boots. These boots have a 7.5 in. shaft which is longer than most Chelsea boots meaning even with cropped jeans you won’t be showing ankle skin. As a tall girl, I have always felt the area between the end of your booties and the beginning of your jeans to be a little awkward. It is so easy to look misproportioned. The taller shaft removes that worry and I am all for it!
Under my shacket, I am wearing the Banana Republic Sweater Hoodie which is part of a matching set. This sweater adds warmth without bulk. It is soft and stretchy and machine washable. The pants for the set are the Sweater Jogger and both items are on sale right now.
Are you skipping the skinny jeans? I’m not. I wear what I like and some days it is skinny jeans and some days it is something else. Let Gen Z worry about what is in and out. Wear what you love and makes you feel good. If you are looking for a good alternative to skinny jeans, my jeans are Citizen of Humanity Emory Mid Rise. I’ve linked a very similar wash without the cuts at the ankles which I actually like better.
Outfit #4: Shacket + Sweatshirt + Joggers + High Tops
This is another outfit combination that I could live in. Let’s be real sweats and joggers are all I have been living in for the last year. First, I much mention the joggers. They are the Vouri Pocket Performance Joggers. Last March, I was sucked in by the hype and ordered my first pair. The second I put them on I went back and ordered two more.
Later in the year, Vouri introduced long lengths (which I am wearing in this pic), so I ordered more in longs. I now have quite the collection. I love these joggers. They are that good. Personally, I find them not warm enough for the coldest days of the year but are perfect for spring and I wear them all through summer.
Now for my shoes. They are my latest obsession. OBSESSION! They make every outfit instantly cool. They are the Zadig & Voltaire Flash High Tops and they are by far my favorite kicks right now. I’m working on a post on how to style high tops featuring these badass sneakers. They are pricey but not nearly as expensive as Golden Goose High Tops and I dare say way cooler.
Outfit #5: Shacket + Turtleneck + Bootcut Jeans + Heeled Boots
As I mentioned a shacket is inherently casual. Think raiding your dad’s closet casual or borrowing your boyfriend’s jacket casual. If you want to dress it up a bit, try adding a pair of flared pants either jeans or trousers. The look is a slightly elevated casual. You know what I mean? Like headed to a PTA meeting casual.
My turtleneck is the J.Crew Relaxed Cashmere Turtleneck. I am a huge fan of J.Crew cashmere. The quality for the price is the best around especially if you can catch items on sale. My jeans are the AG Angel Bootcut Jeans.
Top 10 Best Shackets Available Now
I know why I waited on jumping on the shacket bandwagon, but I wish I hadn’t. They make any outfit instantly trendy. Add one to your favorite outfit for a modern look. There is still enough cold weather left to enjoy one. I dare say that many trends from this fall will be back for next as most of us had very little chance to wear them.
A few items transcend trends, and a shacket may be one of them. When we finally lean in on the trend, we don’t want to let go. I’m all in on lug sole boots, and shackets may end up being the same. Did you jump on this trend? What is your favorite way to wear a shacket? I’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment below.
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