When it comes to layers, I’m a bit of a hoarder. I have cardigans in pretty much every colour and more than my fair share of coats, because of course my brain allows for the necessity in the differences between, for example, a lightweight trench and a faux-fur trimmed glamorous, thick coat. Saying that, it occurred to me recently that I only have one casual jacket and it’s a cropped faux leather piece. That works a lot of the time when only a jacket is called for, but for some outfits it doesn’t quite hit the mark I’m aiming for, or sometimes England’s penchant for humidity means it’s still a bit much. Thus, I was delighted to discover the Ravenwood jacket by Hell Bunny. As a cropped piece and more lightweight than leather, it will work perfectly for many a casual outfit. I loved it so much I couldn’t decide between the black and the brown. Well, lucky me, today I get to show you both!

Jackets: Brown and Black Ravenwood jackets gifted by Hell Bunny
Leopard dress: Old Leopard Scarlette dress by Alexandra King for Deadly is the Female
Black dress: Dominique 50s dress previously gifted by Hell Bunny
Sunglasses: Both old

The Ravenwood jacket is actually a piece from a matching set of pieces, which includes the Ravenwood trousers and the Ravenwood flared skirt. All 3 items are available in this gorgeous ginger brown shade, which I’m slightly obsessed with because it falls in beautifully with my love for rust tones. The black is only available in the jacket, but the skirt and trousers are additionally available in a stunning teal blue. 

The shape of this jacket won’t be new to you if you’re a big Hell Bunny fan as it was released for last year’s AW21 line in the Wither yellow plaid fabric. At the time I loved the shape of the jacket but knew the fabric wouldn’t go with many items in my wardrobe, so I was excited to see the style return for this year’s Autumn/Winter range in these plain colourways. 

A relaxed fit, it’s a cropped jacket with a V-neck pointed collar and open tab pockets on the chest. It closes with a placket of buttons down the centre front, ending in double buttons on the waistband’s pointed tab. The full length sleeves fasten with buttoned cuffs. There’s some light gathering into the waistband of this jacket which gives it the easy-going, slightly roomy fit. The fabric has a little stretch, too, so it’s a comfortable piece that is effortless to layer under. It’s a great everyday piece that makes for a perfect wardrobe staple, especially if, like me, it fills a gap in your coat collection. 

I’m wearing both jackets in my usual Hell Bunny 2XL and there’s plenty of room all over, even through the upper sleeves and shoulders, which are areas some brands don’t allow adequate room for in their plus size pieces. If you’re between sizes for Hell Bunny and you want a more snug fit I’d suggest you size down, but if you want a roomier fit you can size up. My jackets flat measure 40 inches across the waist band with 2 inches of stretch, while the bust flat measures 48 inches with stretch to 52. The high shoulder point to the bottom of the waistband is 19 inches, while there are 17.5 inches in circumference around the bicep. It’s machine washable.

The Ravenwood jacket comes in brown and black in sizes XS-4XL. Hell Bunny ship worldwide and have additional in-store and online stockists all over the globe.