This Chanel suit has been copied by high street shops. These are the best to buy

The Mango suit Lisa Armstrong is wearing, featuring a cropped blazer, echoes the designs in Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel collection

Sometimes, for all the criticisms thrown at fast fashion, the high street is still amazing. This Mango suit for instance (cropped blazer, currently £59.99 down from £89.99, and trousers, currently £35.99 down from £49.99), is a dead ringer (almost) for that Chanel one, which opened the spring-summer show last September.

Mango’s not the only one to pick up on it. Cos, Arket and & Other Stories all have interpretations. Zara’s trouser suit has a longer, slightly closer fitting jacket, which might be more flattering for pear shapes. Meanwhile, cropped, collarless jackets are everywhere.

If you like your clothes with more bells and whistles (literally or metaphorically) this might look a bit underwhelming. But here’s why it’s not.

Let’s start with the geometry. Jackets, for much of the past decade, have been blazers or “classic” lady-like Chanel tweed. This one’s different. Collarless, flat to the body and designed to be worn closed, it’s quite a departure, both in tone and cut.

Its cropped length accentuates a small waist, but also helps create the illusion of one where there isn’t – all without clinging. Boxy, it skims busts and torsos. Ultra-smart, it can also be dressed down with denim. It’s neither twee, nor completely severe.

It presents a clear, strong silhouette through the shoulders, down to the waist, without being overdramatic, and works with straight or wider trousers (they have to be full length, no ankle skimmers). It might be inexpensive, but it’s certainly not throw-away.

Tailoring with strong silhouettes opened the spring 2026 catwalk at Chanel - Getty

For Chanel, this suit is positively radical: an alternative to the pastel tweed skirt suits for which it is so famous. Mademoiselle, herself something of a form-follows-function disciple, would probably have approved. It’s pared back, but if you layered on the pearls, bracelets or brooches; they’d work. Other tips: a slim, polished belt; crisp shirt with the cuffs rolled back.

It’s already making waves. Michelle Obama was the first to endorse it last November at an event in New York to promote her new book, entitled, fittingly, The Look. Dua Lipa and Jacob Elordi have also worn versions. Message: this is cross-generational and, unlike most of Chanel’s offer, not drenched in feminine codes that have become almost parodic.

Michelle Obama wearing the Chanel suit at her book launch, Nov 5 2025 - Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

The Mango design is probably the most faithful “tribute”. It lacks the gold buttons, the weight, the subtle check, the silk lining and the gilt chain that tracks the internal hem to make the original hang perfectly, and the trousers are flatter at the front. But if it were indistinguishable, Chanel’s lawyers would be on the case.

As it is, I gather Chanel is quietly delighted with all the copies. They indicate Chanel is back driving the fashion conversation. Their suit is not available to buy until March, but it is likely to have a price tag in the thousands.

The hardest part was finding cheap earring dupes. These, from Atelier 73, are decent, but I’m in love with Chanel’s. Maybe that’s the new maths: high-street suit + high-end small accessory.

Get the look

Above, Lisa wears: Cropped blazer, £59.99 and trousers, £35.99, Mango; Cotton poplin scarf, £55, Soeur; Patent leather shoes, £470, Aeyde; Gold plated and leather earrings, £45, L’Atelier 73; Belt, £19.99, H&M; Leather bag, £425, Stow London.

Photography: Sarah Brick; Hair and makeup: Oonagh Connor at Joy Goodman; Styling: Sophie Tobin; Stylist assistant: Chelsea Clay

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