The “shacket”–a portmanteau of shirt and jacket–is less a hybrid of the two, and more a catchall term for buttoned garments that straddle the public and the private.
Just as pandemic blur erased the line between days and months, gone is the practical difference between a shirt and a jacket. If you never leave the house, eventually everything becomes innerwear. And who even has the mental bandwidth to draw that distinction anymore?
This style of jacket (or shirt, take your pick) is hardly new, but has renewed importance during a pandemic, when the essential component of fashion is comfort and versatility.
So that’s how the shacket captures the zeitgeist: it’s a piece that can be worn just as easily (and chicly) over a soft tank top on a warmish day, as it can be worn under a heavier coat on a cold day.
A shacket can do it all. And it can be many things: it’s an oversized flannel shirt, or a lighter jacket that front fastens with buttons. Whatever you call it, it’s the thing that you’ll reach to wear with your worn-in leggings or shredded joggers.
An aside: What to look for in a good shacket.
A versatile shacket is mid-weight, so the material should have structure, but it should also have some drape. The cut should be relaxed and fit somewhat oversized, but the sleeves and torso needn’t be too wide, to allow for the piece to be easily layered. You want to be able to pull up the sleeves, but not necessarily be able to roll the sleeves to your elbow.
Below are a few shackets for those of you in the market for one:
LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS
For no fuss, no muss vibes, pair your shacket with a hooded sweater, legging pants, and some comfy low-top sneakers.
And for a casual but still styled look, try it with a graphic tee, skinny jeans, and lace-up combat boots.
A BALANCED SILHOUETTE
A shacket is necessarily oversized, so balance out the bulk with close-fitting bottoms. Pair it with your favorite pair of leggings and a crop top to add an undone vibe, or dust off your legging jeans and tall boots to achieve a slightly more polished look.
Right: SA106 Oversized Cat Eye Sunglasses || Banana Republic Oversized Reversible Shirt Jacket in White (Size XXS) || Hermes Reversible Logo Belt (size 65) || J Brand 8112 Mid Rise Rail Jeans (size 24) || H&M Riding Boot (past season; similar here)
UNBUTTONED
One easy way to inject gamine insouciance into any basic outfit is to finish it with a shacket. Add a shacket to the humble white-tee-and-jeans base. Or top your favorite sweater dress with this perfect layering piece.
Center: SA106 Oversized Cat Eye Sunglasses || Banana Republic Oversized Reversible Shirt Jacket in White (Size XXS) || Zipia Lace Top (past season; similar here) || Chanel Cerf Tote (buy pre-owned here)|| YSL Skirt (past season; similar here) || Via Spiga Adrinna Mid Calf Boot (past season; similar here)
Right: SA106 Oversized Cat Eye Sunglasses || Banana Republic Oversized Reversible Shirt Jacket in White (Size XXS) || Banana Republic Flare-Sleeve Sweater Dress in Golden Toffee (size XSP) || Rebecca Minkoff Mini Affair Bag (reviewed here) || Via Spiga Adrinna Mid Calf Boot (past season; similar here)
How would you wear a shacket?
