Primark’s £20 zip-through shacket is the in-between layer every mum needs in September
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. There’s a fortnight every September when nobody knows what to wear. . . .
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. There’s a fortnight every September when nobody knows what to wear. You leave the house shivering at 8am and you’re carrying your coat by lunchtime. A shacket solves that. If you haven’t come across the word, it’s simply a cross between a shirt and a jacket, so it’s heavier than a shirt but lighter than a coat. That’s precisely the gap most of us are trying to fill. Primark’s version costs £20 and comes in khaki. It’s the sort of thing you grab on the way out without thinking, which is really the highest praise any garment can get. Why the zip front mattersMost shackets do up with buttons, which look lovely and are useless in a hurry. This one has a full zip, so you can seal it up when the wind picks up at the school gates and yank it open the second the sun appears. There’s a collar, too, which gives it a bit more structure than a floppy overshirt. As a result, it looks tidy enough for a work-from-home day or a coffee run, not just the park. © PrimarkCollared Zip Through Shacket, Primark, £20The shacket has a zip-through front, a collar, side pockets and a ruched hem. It comes in khaki and costs £20, with free Click and Collect from your nearest store. Pockets that earn their placeSide pockets sound like a small thing. They are not a small thing. Anyone who has ever walked to school clutching a phone, a snack, a bobble and somebody’s lost glove will tell you that. © PrimarkMeanwhile, the ruched hem stops the whole thing hanging like a sack. It draws it in slightly at the bottom, which keeps the shape flattering without making it tight anywhere it shouldn’t be. What to wear it withKhaki is quietly brilliant because it goes with almost everything. Jeans and trainers is the obvious combination, and it works. Over leggings with boots is the low-effort version for nursery drop-off. For something a bit smarter, layer it over a knit and swap the trainers for loafers. If you’re building up your new-season basics,Primark’s £16 wool blend jumpersits underneath it perfectly. Getting hold of onePrimark doesn’t deliver to your door, but Click and Collect lets you order online and pick up in store for free, with a £10 minimum spend. You can also check stock at your local branch first, which saves dragging a reluctant toddler around for nothing. After all, the in-between weather is only going to get more in-between from here. Having one reliable layer by the door takes a small decision off your plate every single morning. And if you’re still hunting for a knit to go under it,M&S’ £24 collared jumperis another safe bet. A layer that works harder than it costsThe best £20 you spend on clothes is rarely the exciting purchase. It’s the thing you reach for four times a week without noticing, then miss terribly when it’s in the wash. That’s the job this shacket is built for. School run, supermarket, soft play, dog walk. It handles all of them, and it doesn’t mind being shoved in the bottom of the buggy basket either. 5 questions about Primark’s zip-through shacket1. What exactly is a shacket?It’s a shirt-jacket hybrid. Heavier and roomier than a shirt, lighter than a coat, and designed to be worn as an outer layer in mild weather. 2. How much does it cost?It’s £20, both online and in store. 3. What colour does it come in?Khaki, which is a soft green-brown that works with denim, black and neutrals alike. 4. Can I have it delivered at home?No. Primark doesn’t offer home delivery, but Click and Collect is free from any store, excluding Northern Ireland, with a £10 minimum spend. 5. Is it warm enough for winter?Not on its own once the frost arrives. Think of it as an autumn and spring layer, or wear it over a jumper to stretch it a few weeks further.