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That fleeces are cozy and functional will come as no surprise to the dog walkers among us. But fashionable? Not a word comes to mind when I think of the one my father has used for the last 20-odd years.
Yet somehow, this humble jacket has made it from the dog walk to the runway. Yes, fleeces are having a fashion moment.
At London Fashion Week in recent days, Burberry and Chloe were among those who sent a wool-clad model down the catwalk.
Actress Florence Pugh even wore one with open-toed boots, a miniskirt, and oversized sunglasses at the recent Paris Haute Couture Week, a move that undoubtedly raised some perfectly plucked eyebrows, even if the oversized white fleece size in question cost £890. Number from the French brand Patou, owned by fashion powerhouse LVMH.
She’s not the only A-list fan; Sienna Miller, Taylor Swift and model Kaia Gerber have all been seen wearing fleeces in recent weeks. And now the trend is coming to the High Street, with John Lewis reporting that searches for oversized fleeces have increased 15-fold year on year.
Actress Florence Pugh even wore a fleece from French brand Patou with open boots, a miniskirt, and oversized sunglasses at the recent Paris Haute Couture Week.
Chloe’s autumn/winter 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week featured a model wearing a cream fleece paired with a brown leather midi and knee-high boots.
Meanwhile, M&S’s colorful Borg Printed Fleece cropped jacket (£45) has been flying off the shelves since its launch last month.
Fashion people prefer to call it “borg,” perhaps realizing that for many of us it’s a big leap to separate the word “fleece” from the image of a pair of dad sneakers and an invigorating walk.
But while the growing popularity of the so-called “calm outdoors” trend (think wealth’s stealthy love of tasteful neutrals meet the outdoors) means more and more of us are keen to accessorize our clothes. sporty with a fleece lining, Florence and company prove that a fleece is not necessary to wear.
Chloe’s voluminous cream fleece (a stunning £3,680) was gathered at the waist and worn with a caramel leather skirt, proving you don’t need to throw on a camel coat to look stylish and warm.
Sweaty Betty has plenty of neutral options in soft tones starting at £45, while Baukjen’s white fleece with black pocket is £139.
Meanwhile, North Face’s Cragmont style, £62, which comes in several colours, offers a sleeker jacket style with padding and buttons.
Burberry’s autumn/winter 2024 show at London Fashion Week featured an olive green fleece with three leather and silver buckles.
The Burberry show also included a fleece-lined coat with the British brand’s signature check.
Admittedly, polyester fleece is not the most eco-friendly option.
However, there are recycled options – like an £89.99 animal-print Adidas number that Taylor Swift wore in New York last month – so you can rest easy with a clear conscience.
NOW SHOP THE TREND…
LR: Goodmove, £45, marksandspencer.com; Passenger Half Zip, £69.95, johnlewis.com
LR: Borg fleece, £104, boden.co.uk; Colorblock jumper, £118, freepeople.com