If the shearling coat is a sheep turned inside out, then the Teddy Jacket is just pure sheep. With the wool on the outside, this option from Zara won’t be as resistant to wet weather but, when the mercury drops to that level where every word is visible in your breath, this jacket will keep you warm and make you feel part of the flock. Rather than go oversized, I opted for a well-fitted Large; snug enough to cosy up into, with enough shape and structure to still look relatively smart. Oversized pockets and a statement lapel collar sit this somewhere between a coat and a blazer. Never underestimate the need to outer pockets on a coat; so much easier to get to your iPhone for those quick Insta Stories snaps.
With the Teddy Jacket being the statement piece, I kept the jumper underneath simple. The oatmeal colour on this knit from All Saints makes it a very handy piece to have in the wardrobe for pairing up with bolder colours and more complicated prints. Speaking of prints, these grey check trousers from Zara are great for transitioning from the more casual to more formal events. Dressed with the Teddy Jacket they are most definitely smart casual, but the could also be worn with a shinier pair of boots and a blazer or waistcoat for that more formal look. Incredibly, the also sit below my ankle which, as a rarity for me, means these can be worn with socks too.
I highly recommend investing in a Teddy Jacket as an AW17 piece; it stands out from the crowd and, perhaps more importantly, will genuinely keep you warm. For the next look, I’m thinking of channelling my inner Seventies style and pairing this with a roll neck sweater. Maybe not any flare jeans though…
