As someone who’s accustomed to shopping J.Crew on sale, I (justifiably) hesitated in placing an order last spring when the Louisa Lady Jacket in Maritime Tweed first appeared online, only to watch my size sell out in about a week. While a friend eventually helped me track down the jacket in stores, the item arrived with damage, and my search for a replacement never came to fruition. But I was comforted by the fact that J.Crew “recycles” styles that sell well.
I am happy to see a similar lady jacket in the pre-fall line-up named the Frances Lady Jacket, in the same “Maritime Tweed” as last spring’s offering, with patch pockets and a longer length.
MATERIAL
The sturdy tweed–55% wool/45% polyester–is midweight, necessary in providing the piece with structure, and can be worn comfortably during transitions to fall or spring. The collarless design adds a touch of insouciance to offset the “vintage-inspired” piping and also effortlessly complements base layers with different necklines: a ruffled turtleneck for cooler days, or a round neck tee on warmer ones.
DETAILS
The Frances is fully lined in a silky 100% polyester material, which is expected for a $298 jacket. What’s less expected are the two inside pockets: a jetted pocket with a striped frame on one side, and a small coin pocket on the other. Neither will hold much, but I appreciated the surprise since they weren’t mentioned on the product page.
SIZING
The Frances Jacket, which is only available in “regular sizes,” has a “classic” fit with a boxier shape, so is cut loosely through the waist. Take your normal size in J.Crew for this jacket, unless you have a more petite frame, in which case you may want to try the next size down.
In size 00, the jacket measures 17″ from underarm to underarm, 20.75″ in body length, with 21″ sleeve lengths.
For those who found the Louisa Jacket (see on me here) too cropped in length, Frances might be a better option for you, as it’s cut about 2 inches longer than the Louisa but maintains the same measurements everywhere else.
Can’t get enough of lady jackets? Here are a few more options to consider:
