Jacket or shacket? How to tell the difference and care for it
- Farthings
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
We often get asked: Is it a jacket or is it a shacket? And does it matter?
It’s a fair question. That stretch of the year between June to September and early November always invites wardrobe decisions. The mornings are cool, the afternoons warmer, and we’re reaching for something light but presentable. And that’s where the shacket — the word and the item — seems to appear.
The word is relatively new. A blend of “shirt” and “jacket,” it started appearing more regularly about a decade ago, nudged forward by Scandinavian fashion, relaxed tailoring, and that growing desire for clothes that felt both soft and structured. But the idea behind it goes back much further.
For years, garments like French chore coats and military overshirts have been a quiet presence in seasonal wardrobes — particularly for people who prefer their outer layers unfussy. In the 1950s, cotton drill coats and heavy poplin shirts offered the same logic: easy to throw on, easy to layer, protective but not cumbersome. In many ways, the modern shacket is just a polished version of something our grandfathers would have worn to work.
So how can you tell the difference?
Usually, a jacket is lined. It’s heavier, stiffer, and more likely to include canvas or interfacing that gives it structure. Jackets stand up on their own. They’re built to be outerwear.
A shacket, on the other hand, behaves more like a shirt — albeit a thicker one. They tend to be unlined, slightly oversized, and often made in brushed cotton, wool blends, or soft synthetic fabrics. The giveaway is in how it moves: if you can roll the sleeves, layer it easily over a knit, and it still drapes well — it’s most likely a shacket.
Of course, many garments blur the line between casual and formal attire. We’ve seen high-street pieces that look like jackets but wear like jumpers. That’s fine. The point isn’t to categorise — it’s to understand how the piece is meant to behave, so you can care for it properly.
That brings us to cleaning.
Shackets are often overlooked when it comes to professional care. They don’t feel delicate, but they’re also not quite tough enough for regular machine washing — especially if they’re made from brushed fibres or loose weaves. We’ve seen lovely ones come in made from fine tartan wool, heavyweight denim, even soft cashmere blends. Each one needs its own approach.
At Farthings, we look first at the structure — is it lined, fused, shaped? Then we check the trim: leather patches, wooden buttons, drawstrings. From there, we decide how to treat the garment. Sometimes it behaves like a coat. Other times, it’s closer to knitwear. Either way, we always finish by hand to preserve the shape and surface.
A flattened shacket is a sad thing — and surprisingly easy to avoid with proper press and handling.
If you’ve got one in your wardrobe this season — or if you’re not sure whether it’s a jacket or a shacket — you’re very welcome to bring it in. We’ll take a look, test the fabric, and give it the treatment it needs. No pressure. Just proper care.
What we’ve learned from years of handling these pieces is simple: it’s not about the label. It’s about how you wear it, how it sits, and how you feel when it’s freshly cleaned and ready for the season.
We’ll keep it that way.
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🗺️ Get directions to our Trumpington Branch
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