Finished: Chanel-Style Boxy Jacket with Fringe

Kristen from Mood modeling the Chanel-style jacket I recently made for my daughter.

A Chanel-style, boxy jacket is one of those classic pieces that works well on just about everyone. I decided it was time to make one for my daughter, who is about to graduate from college and needs clothes that can go on job interviews.

For fabric, I chose a lightweight Italian black tweed that has little metallic flecks. Here are several excellent options for tweeds and bouclés at MoodFabrics.com.

I lined it with black silk charmeuse from my stash. Note: When you find black or off-white silk charmeuse at a price you like, buy several yards. It’s one of those fabrics you can always use.

For the pattern, I used Kwik-Sew 3258. This is a good option if you’re going for a less fitted, more boxy look—no princess seams, just bust darts. I converted the two-piece sleeves to bracelet-length and I trimmed off the neckline by about 1/2-inch. And I added four patch pockets, a quintessential Chanel touch.

The front closes with a plastic Riri zipper from Pacific Trims on W. 38th Street close to Mood NYC. Zipper teeth are exposed.

This eyelash black-and-silver metallic fringe I found at Mood NYC really makes the jacket, don’t you think? I machine-stitched it in place before I attached the lining.

No Chanel-style jacket would be ready without the chain at the hem. It really works to weight down the jacket hem.

If a Chanel-style jacket is in your future, plan on spending beaucoup time searching for the right trim, of which you’ll need about five yards. I like these trims above for black bouclé or tweed jackets. (Email [email protected] for details.)

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Have you moved on to spring sewing yet? I am so sick of winter that I swear I’m going to start sewing beachwear now, just in the hopes it might bring the warm weather sooner. What are you sewing?!