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I’ve been obsessed lately with Emily Blunt’s bright-red jacket from Wild Mountain Thyme. It looks perfect for unpredictable, chilly spring weather. I’ve been trying to track it down to no avail. Could you please help, or would you have suggestions for dupes?
The key to tackling unpredictable, chilly spring weather is to layer up. You can easily remove coats or sweaters if it becomes too warm, but when you’re not sure how nippy the wind will be or if it might suddenly start misting, you’ll be thankful you bundled up. To layer properly, of course, you need a good jacket — and there’s perhaps no better one (at least in my own recent memory) than the jaunty red jacket worn by Blunt in Wild Mountain Thyme.
To help track it down, I reached out to Kasia Walicka-Maimone, who was the costume designer for Blunt’s character. Unfortunately, she told me the jacket was vintage, and she doesn’t remember the brand. Although that means you won’t be able to get the exact jacket Blunt wore, Walicka-Maimone told me she believes it was made of wool, so I started there. Because it doesn’t seem as if the red color is as important to you as the style, I threw in a few coats in other colors, too. Below, you’ll find ten options similar to the jacket Blunt wears in the movie — some vintage, some new; some affordable, some rather budget breaking. And if you need additional pieces of clothing to help you properly layer, check out our roundups for sweaters and long sleeves (or short sleeves), too.
If you’d prefer something new
In my hours-long internet sweep, this is the absolute closest thing I could find to Blunt’s jacket — however, it will cost you. This fancy option from AMI Paris is 100 percent virgin wool, so it will be warm yet easy to layer under, like Blunt’s, and it even has the same pocket detailing. But if you’re looking for something a bit easier on the budget — and who could blame you? — I found lots of other options below.
This doesn’t have the same punchy color that Blunt’s has — this red, called “hickory heather,” is much more subdued. It’s also a peacoat style and quite a bit longer than Blunt’s. But I think it’s a great option for unpredictable weather because it’s made from extra-soft Italian lambswool with a Thinsulate liner to add a layer of warmth without bulk.
This single-breasted wool-blend Sam Edelman coat is much longer than Blunt’s, but it’s still a good option. It comes in a similarly vibrant shade of red, and although the black statement buttons do change the look, you could always swap them for matching tomato-colored ones. (This one’s deeply discounted — a bonus — but that means sizes are flying off the shelves.)
If you’d like something vintage
Because the one you were originally drawn to is vintage, I thought it might be good to give you a handful of those options, too (A note: Since I don’t know what size you are, I selected a range of sizes.) This bright-red wool option from Etsy has a similar pocket detail to the one Blunt wears in the movie. It looks as if it might be a smidge longer than hers, which hits right at the hip, but this slouchy, oversize cut makes for a good layering piece.
Here we have a similar shape to the one in the movie, except this jacket has peacoat-style buttons, rather than a straight row of snaps. It’s mostly wool with a small percentage of polyester, so it should be warm enough for your needs. It also has interesting details like a pleated back for comfort when layering and ruched pockets.
This one’s also double breasted, but it’s similar in spirit to Blunt’s. The seller promises it’s made from “excellent wool,” which indicates to me that it will be warm. It’s pleasantly boxy so you can fit a nice sweater underneath it, and it looks as though it will hit at the hip, like Blunt’s. However, if pockets are essential for you, keep scrolling — this one doesn’t appear to have any.
This admittedly looks like a flannel, but it’s actually a hunting jacket made for layering. There are no pictures of it on a model, so it’s tough to say where it will hit on the hip; the seller does offer measurements, though, so you’ll know before you buy. It’s 100 percent wool with a soft cotton lining, so it will be great for unpredictable weather. And since it appears to be a men’s jacket (though the seller doesn’t indicate that), it has lots of pockets — six, to be exact — which is a nice-to-have feature.
If the red color isn’t that important to you
If you’re willing to let go of the red color, you might like this COS option. The shape and style look similar to Blunt’s, but it’s a bit more sophisticated thanks to the tailoring and the sage-green color. It’s a wool blend, so it will be warm but not too warm. You can easily layer sweaters underneath, and it’ll take you through the rainy, cold weeks we’re about to endure.
If you ask me (which, to be fair, you did), this is a steal. I know Blunt’s coat isn’t sherpa, so it may not be exactly what you had in mind. But it fits similarly to her jacket and looks like the kind you can easily throw on over whatever you’re wearing when you’re not sure how cold it will be — and still be perfectly comfortable all day.
I also feel good about this Pendleton coat as a strong contender for you. It’s not red, but it does have an element of red in its cheery striped pattern. It’s a peacoat style, too, which is also a bit different, but hear me out: The wider shape will be great for layering, and it hits right at the same spot Blunt’s does. It’s made from 100 percent virgin wool, and it’s lined so it will be cozy if you’re heading out into the Irish countryside (or, you know, just a windy day). Best of all, it’s deeply discounted right now.
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