Four Statement Jackets That Will Change Your Life Forever

Please meet the favorites: From the ultimate favorite to the last but not the least favorite

Unfortunately, I don’t believe any jacket will truly change a life, definitely not forever. I just wanted to use a clickbait title once. But: Jackets are definitely great: Besides shoes, they are powerful outfit changers. I have a lot of jackets, especially of the kind that you can wear in-between the seasons. They are able to transform a whole look into one or the other direction, in winter I wear them underneath big coats and down jackets to not look the same everyday.

I will introduce you to my four favorite jackets and share alternatives, from high-to low price ranges: Most of the things I buy are vintage, therefore not available to buy directly, but hopefully the look (and the alternatives) will inspire you.

A note and question: My substack usually tells me that my posts are too long for emails - I hope that’s ok for you! Please tell me if that’s annoying (but the recommended length is usually too short because of imagery).

1. My Absolute Favorite: The Great Shearling Jacket

I purchased this black Toteme shearling jacket from a photographer in the Netherlands via Instagram: I took a risk, as I could have gotten scammed, we didn’t know each other. But she was really sweet and the jacket more than perfect when I got it, it fit like a perfect, oversized glove.

It’s so great to wear: The leather is thick and beautiful, you can feel the quality throughout. It makes you feel that every penny spent was worth it. The shape makes it very easy to wear with a lot of different outfits, and it fits Uniqlo heat tech underneath: So as soon as we surpass 10 degrees, you’ll see me without the big coat!

Please meet my new jacket that I found via Instagram, paired with these lovely and very delicate Christopher Esber shoes that I will definitely not be wearing before May but I am still glad I bought them in January to be able to look at them every day. I have been wanting them for a long time, but gave them to myself as a Christmas gift after about four month of thinking about it. I had a successful first year as a freelancer and thought getting the shoes is a great sign to the universe that this year shall go accordingly and even better (please don’t see this strategy as an investment advice) My glasses are Peak by Phoebe Philo.

This is another jacket from Toteme, quite similar from the oversized fit and leather - size 38-42 still available here, 1.880EUR

Here is a more affordable version from COS, 450€, available here

Another rather pricey, but also very beautiful to look at piece by Loewe, from the new collection, price: 3.200€, find it here

2. My Other Favorite: The Saks Potts Jacket

Please meet my beloved Saks Potts, which I found on a vintage platform: I couldn’t believe my luck when it came up on my feed one day for a good prize. I had been hunting for this jacket for about five years, and since I acquired it, I wear it all the time. For this model you have to have a lucky day and be quick on one of the vintage platforms, there are not many available. I was trying to find some alternatives for you below - I went a bit off-track this model, as I really liked the current collection of Saks Potts and wanted to show you!

The baby blue works well with the white Prada nylon bag which has through different circumstances become less white. To distract, I added a cowbell souvenir from Basel. My clogs are Aeyde - ever since my friend O. introduced me to clogs, I have fallen for this kind of shoe. They are kind of ankle breakers, and surprisingly (!) they are not so good for snow or ice, but apart of that - great (also good fit with the cowbell I think)

This is mentioned friend O., wearing my Saks Potts underneath my coat in Paris - you can see, this is great for making a usually more boring outfit much more interesting with a fun jacket underneath.

Here I went to see what the Danish brand is doing now, as my jacket is from around 2019 and they stopped making that model. The current season is also pretty great! The pictured orange jacket is called SARAH and the color way is from last season, it is currently available in brown

I also got stuck with SP Leather Lauren, starring beautiful Anna Teget - and thought this was another great jacket I should share. It’s available now

3. My Further Favorite: The Fringe Jacket

I was looking for a great fringe jacket for a long time - I was always dreaming of the Khaite Jimmy jacket from Fall 2019, I am also loving the Bode one. I purchased my dark brown one in Amsterdam from a very touristy vintage shop. I'm considering to buy another one in cognac brown which I am currently sourcing. Here is a beautiful and affordable Maje version in red, and a Ganni in white (just not my size) both are great!

Khaite, Fall 2019 - Jimmy jacket: What makes this jacket special for me is the overall shape—quite boxy, with strong shoulder pads which creates a great silhouette.

This is Bode from current season. The collections of the brand are so beautiful and the pieces works of art, unfortunately prices are beyond.

Beautiful Laura Vidrequin Roso has this Bode jacket in babyblue and in cognac brown, I am pretty obsessed and maybe a tiny bit jealous

This is my beloved Fringe jacket in chocolate, paired with my trusted travel partner, a vintage Louis Vuitton (via Vestiaire), vintage Sergio Rossi heels (also Vestiaire). The jacket is everything you need as the key piece, the rest of the outfit can be simple.

4. My Almost Last But Not Least Favorite: The White Menswear Smoking Jacket

I inherited this beautiful white smoking blazer from my grandfather, who unfortunately passed away last year. The jacket always reminds me of him: I have now worn it at so many occasions. A white, menswear blazer is quite versatile and a great investment piece. You can either check in with your grandfather, father or any male or female with menswear in your proximity or alternatively is a Jacquemus jacket (womenswear, but on sale and with some details that look really fun!) My jacket has made numerous appearances especially during my sabbatical in Italy, a very easy-to-wear dining-by-myself outfit. It’s quite stiff and very formal, with a boxy shape. To dress it down, I usually combined it with classic, vintage Gucci loafers (similar ones here), tinted sunglasses by Oliver People (my model is a different season, similar here), a cute little, yellow Prada bag and some white silk shorts. I always felt it was the perfect Italian dinner outfit, easy, not trying too hard, but still chic.

On the left we can see a beautiful Italian entrance (the best) and on the right my white smoking jacket (from my grandfather)

5. Some Potential, Future Favorites: From My Wishlist On Vestiaire And Beyond To You

You will see that most of the pieces I own are vintage - I mostly buy vintage, because I love having things nobody else has. I also occasionally buy new pieces in shops or on platforms such as Mytheresa, Net-A-Porter etc., my go-to is the sale time; except of when I have something in mind I really want, then I also buy full-price, for example the Esber shoes.

Before I spend money, I usually store investment pieces in my mental or an actual wishlist on the buying platform for at least a week to see if I am still thinking about it. I gave myself about four months to decide on the Christopher Esber shoes, as they were expensive - but I decided these will add so much to my wardrobe that it will be worth spending the money. Especially because it’s dark and cold winter, and these are summer shoes, lots of time to look at them in the closet.

I generally believe statement jackets are generally a great piece to invest into: You can wear them often - I believe in outfit repeating. They can change up the whole look by combining it with different styles. If it’s a great stand out, you are probably able to sell it if you ever get bored! I gathered some great jackets for you, from some of my favorite brands as well as digged in my Vestiaire wishlist:

Estate Jacket, by Bode, 2.750 US Dollar. She is as beautiful as she is expensive - but a girl can dream, can she not? Would pair her with slim, black pants, for example from Highsport kick-flares made of French lycra - which sounds additionally chic, red socks and simple loafers if I were to own this beauty.

Vintage Emilio Pucci blazer, 315€ via Vestiaire. Could be very cute with a mini skirt or shorts for summer. I love vintage Pucci, the patter is such good vibes.

This Prada Re-Nylon blouson, 1.700€. On the pricey side, but looking great - I love the whole Prada nylon series, it has such an effortless cool. This one would be for the days where I want to be a bit more serious and dress in all-black, but don’t want to look boring.

I am seeing a lot of potential in this Armani Privé sequins jacket, 406,35€. I see Gucci Ancora vibes and combined right, this is going to look fantastic.

Here is a dream of vintage Hermès, 2.100€ - such a unique, beautiful vintage piece. I would pair it with a classic blue pair of 501 Levis - the jacket has main character energy and deserves to get the limelight.

I am currently really enjoying the NY-based brand AREA, the brand has a lot of sparkle and fun details in their collections which I like. I love this blazer from their collection, I would combine it with a pair of tighter pants, and maybe just black Havaianas. It’s on sale, and the prize is 910€. One day I will call something from their collection mine - eagerly observing Vestiaire drops.

A Prada vintage dream, very Sex & The City, 598,50€. I would pair it with a black mini skirt like this one from Leset, black socks and loafers.

I hope you enjoyed this excursion into statement jackets and respectively my Vestiaire wishlist that I usually don’t share with anyone. Happy to hear how you liked it, and if you want more of this!

LKD