Jakke debuts its Autumn/Winter 23 collection at London Fashion Week for the first time. The collection, which focuses on power dressing, includes tried-and-true Jakke outerwear staples as well as more sophisticated variants that extend into RTW and accessories.
Nina Hopkins, Design Director of Jakke, was inspired by power dressing this season after viewing the 1996 film, The Associate, in which Laurel, an educated investment banker, was struggling to thrive on Wall Street despite the promotion of an unqualified male colleague. She quits her job to establish her own business, only to discover that she is not taken seriously since she is a woman. To deceive her opponents, Laurel develops a phoney guy to handle her financial transactions.
Power dressing emerged in the 1980s, a decade that witnessed a significant increase in the number of women joining the workforce. Images of ladies in structured skirt suits accessorised with pearls or a silk scarf may spring to mind in professional and political settings. It’s time to reveal your genuine self and feel secure.
The AW23 Jakke collection features masculine-leaning styles influenced by the 1990s, as evident in the large jackets and button-front shirts. This season’s colour palette is more subdued, with the introduction of grey, chocolate, and burgundy, and the whimsical designs and vivid colours for which Jakke is known are more studied. The collection includes new skirts in midi and micro designs, as well as belted shirts that can be pulled down at the waist for a sexier look. Sheer knitted shirts for layering evoke ‘nakedness’ and encourage a presence that a woman’s body is her own and should not be overlooked. The distinctive outwear of sustainable fake fur coats and vegan leather jackets are updated with longer lengths, boxier and bigger fits, and the inclusion of faux wool tailored coats in the collection.
Nina says ”power dressing used to be about women wanting to be seen as equal to men. Thankfully, fashion has changed, and power dressing has evolved and as a result, the line between men’s and women’s clothes has never been blurrier than they are today.”
Jakke has expanded its accessory line this season. The tried-and-true fake fur bucket hat, faux fur mittens, and now enormous giant faux fur scarves that wrap around your neck and drape over your shoulder are all in style. As a result, the collection symbolises the Jakke woman: adaptable, confident, and conscious of their environmental effect.
Styling – Georgia Medley
Styling Assistants – Bridget Knowles, Coline Agold, Nathalie Owen
Casting – Emilie Astrom
Hair – Claire Grech
Make-Up – Jane Richardson
Set Dressing – Max Randall
FOH & backstage imagery – Jason Lloyd-Evans
Street Style Photographer – Nathan Ackie
Videographer – Connor MacLeod