I Have Designer Taste on a H&M Budget—This £55 Jacket Made Me Do a Double Take

From crisp morning walks with a pumpkin spice latte in hand to watching the colourful leaves fall on the streets of London, there are so many reasons why autumn is my favourite season. However, planning the outfits I’m going to wear is by far the most exciting part, and although I welcome chillier weather (no one enjoys overheating on the tube), the inevitable UK rainy days still get me stuck on what to wear. I find that classic raincoats cover up too much of the outfit I want to show off, and whilst blazers look very chic, past experience has taught me that they’re a terrible choice in the rain.

Luckily, H&M’s new autumn collection alerted me to a timeless jacket that perfectly merges utility with style. Enter the Waxed Twill Jacket (£55), bringing the sophistication of a boxy blazer with the waterproof finish we need for the unpredictable weather to come.

The waxed jacket is nothing new, with heritage brands like Barbour credited for making the style so popular. However, unlike in the past, when the piece was heavily associated with royal fashion, celebs and fashion people alike have brought it into the mainstream for autumn 2024, and it makes any outfit look way more expensive.

Dua Lipa was spotted earlier this season wearing a country waxed jacket with shorts and a baseball cap, proving that the style is the key to giving an outfit the "old money" vibes we've come to know and love. Since then, we’ve seen several luxury brands such as Toteme release their own versions, but with H&M’s rich-looking iteration coming in at under £60, I’ll be investing in this affordable buy to wear come rain or shine.

H&M's waxed jacket is made of 100% cotton, so it's not only water-repellant and wind-proof but breathable too, so you won't feel damp after it rains. It's currently only available in one colourway, but the deep khaki shade and contrast black collar make it versatile enough to go with almost any other shade in your wardrobe. And as someone who has far too many black coats, I'm very happy to have this softer alternative in my wardrobe to wear with the brown, cream and grey tones I'll be living in this autumn.

The styling possibilities for this luxe-looking jacket are endless. I'll be throwing this on with everything from tailored trousers and a button-down for the office, to knitted midi dresses on casual days out. I'm even planning to wear it with a roll-neck jumper, miniskirt and heeled boots for dinners out this season.

Keep scrolling to shop the H&M waxed jacket and more excellent waterproof finds.

Shop the H&M Waxed Jacket:

H&M

Waxed Twill Jacket

£55

Anti-trend and high-quality, this will stay in your wardrobe for many years to come.

Shop Other Waxed Jackets:

Toteme

Country Jacket Forest

£670

Toteme excels at impossibly chic outerwear.

BARBOUR

Allerstone Waxed Cotton Jacket

£300

Barbour is the place to go for classic waxed jackets.

ALIGNE

Betty Relaxed Quilted Coat

£189

Aligne's version is reversible!

Whistles

Fern Waxed Jacket

£189£151

This more structured iteration will be so easy to dress up or down for autumn.

ZARA

Waxed Quilted Jacket With Corduroy Collar

£60

The corduroy collar really sets this one apart.

Barbour

Hartwick Wax Jacket

£329

Barbour also has a number of longer wax styles for chillier, wetter days.

Free People

We the Free Cori Waxed Jacket

£268

This comes in four versatile colourways.

Mint Velvet

Brown Distressed Wax Cotton Blend Jacket

£185

I love Mint Velvet's distressed take.

weekday

Waxed Oxford Jacket

£119

How chic is this chocolate-brown shade?