Inspired by the Nehru: Meet the Soho Coat

The Nehru jacket, with its instantly recognisable short mandarin collar, has always been associated with menswear. It is a variation of the Jodhpuri, which is in itself an evolution from the Angarkha, a type of three-quarter length wrap commonly worn in India. The jacket of course gets its name from Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first independent Prime Minister, but it's something of a red herring. Nehru the man never wore Nehru the jacket. He always favoured the longer and more traditional version called an 'achkan'. Ostensibly the same other than the length, Western culture preferred the short version and so pinned the style on Nehru. The name stuck. The jacket began to be marketed as the Nehru jacket in Europe and America in the mid 1960s, with its popularity catalysed by the likes of the Beatles who took to wearing it during their respective 'looking East' period. 

So what has all this to do with womenswear? Well, many menswear silhouettes have inspired womenswear garments and the Nehru is one such case. Our Soho coat references the iconic short stand collar, while conforming to a length that is probably closer to the longer achkan garment that predated the more modern Nehru jacket. 

Finishing at the knee, the Soho coat features gorgeous slimline silhouette which is accentuated by the short stand collar and the unique button configuration down the front. This season, we have created it in a number of different iterations, most noticeably this vibrant floral version in 100% ecological linen.

Staying on the vibrant tone, we've also crafted a version of the Soho coat in a beautiful peony hue, cut from a crease-resistant linen. This iteration has a subtle decorative embroidered motif that rises from the delicate hem. As you can see, the Nehru collar, when unbuttoned, elegantly frames the neck.

Our Herringbone linen style in sky blue features a delicate geometric bow pattern throughout, while our Reflection grey Vienne silk version is a more pared-back minimalist option that is perfect for accessorising with brighter pops of colour.

Whichever colour or fabric you prefer, the Soho coat is a wonderful option for smart summer engagements when you want a chic, svelte, and flattering silhouette.