Nife Short Boxy Open-Front Jacket in Black or Navy Melange

A short boxy jacket you wear open

This short boxy jacket by Nife has no buttons and no zip. It hangs open over whatever you wear underneath and stops near the waist, 53 to 56 cm from shoulder to hem depending on the size.

The fabric is a melange, which means threads in more than one shade are mixed so the colour looks lively up close. You can choose black, which reads as a dark grey in the photos, or navy blue. Both have shoulder pads and a polyester lining.

At a glance

The piece: models 217572 and 218893 by Nife

Nife is a womenswear label we buy through a fashion wholesaler in Poland. Model 217572 is the black version and model 218893 is the navy blue one. The supplier describes both the same way: a women's jacket with a regular cut in a short, boxy form.

The design is spare. There is a round neckline without a collar or lapels, and two straight front edges that never meet. The maker calls it minimalist and we agree. What gives it character is the cloth, which the supplier describes as having a melange texture and an uneven colour.

A note on names. Our colour button for the black version says Heather Gray. The maker lists that colour as black, and in the photos it is a black-and-white mix that looks dark grey from a distance. It is the same jacket.

Who it's for

For you if a classic blazer feels too long or too formal. This one ends where high-waisted trousers begin, so it keeps your legs long and your waist in view.

It also suits you if you dress in layers. An open jacket shows the blouse or top underneath, which means that piece becomes part of the outfit. If you want a jacket you can close against the wind, look for one with buttons instead.

Closer look: what the maker's data and the photos show

• Short, boxy form with a regular cut (maker's data)
• No fastening (maker's data)
• Shoulder pads that give the shoulder a clearer line (maker's data)
• Lining of 100% polyester (maker's data)
• Round neckline without collar or lapels (photos)
• Long sleeves to the wrist (photos)
• Plain back with a centre seam (photos)
• Hem just below the waistband of high-waisted trousers on the model (photos)

The maker's data does not mention pockets and we can't see any in the photos. It also does not say where the jacket was made.

Fabric and feel: a melange cloth with a lining

The outer fabric is 70% polyester, 27% rayon and 3% spandex. In the photos it has a flecked, slightly rough surface, the kind of texture that hides small creases. The black version mixes black and white threads. The navy one mixes dark blue with lighter flecks.

Inside there is a lining of 100% polyester. The maker added it for comfort and for a clean finish, and a lined jacket slides on more easily over a long-sleeved blouse. The supplier gives no fabric weight, so we can't tell you how thick it is. Judging by the photos it is a jacket for indoors and for mild days, worn as a layer.

Fit and silhouette: straight from shoulder to waist

The maker calls the cut regular. The table below shows what that means in centimetres. Size 36 has a chest of 90 cm and a waist of 84 cm, and size 42 has 100 and 96 cm. The small difference between chest and waist is what makes it boxy: the jacket hardly tapers.

Length goes up by one centimetre per size, from 53 cm in size 36 to 56 cm in size 42. Both colours share the same table. Because the jacket stays open, the chest measurement matters less than usual. Look at the shoulders and the sleeve length of a jacket you own, and choose your normal size if you are in doubt.

Size chart (cm)

Source: the maker's size table. It does not say whether these are garment or body measurements, so compare them with a piece that fits you.

Styling: let the layer underneath show

In the photos the black version is worn with wide trousers in the same melange cloth and a burgundy blouse. The navy one is shown with a matching skirt and with dark trousers, over a blouse with ruffles. The trousers and skirt are not part of this product.

The burgundy blouse is a good hint. A melange in black and white takes almost any colour, so wear something underneath that you like to look at. For a quieter version, try a white T-shirt and straight jeans. The short length also works over a dress with a defined waist, where a longer blazer would cut the line in the wrong place.

Occasions

The supplier says it works in elegant and in casual outfits. We would put the office first: it has the neatness of a blazer without the stiffness of lapels. It is also a sensible choice for a presentation or a job interview, when you want your shoulders to look defined.

Outside work, think of a lunch, a parents' evening at school or a dinner where a coat stays on the hook and you still want a finished look at the table.

Care: follow the label

The maker's data we receive has no care instructions, so please go by the label sewn into the jacket. That matters more than usual here, because a jacket with shoulder pads and a lining can lose its shape in the wrong wash.

Between wears, hang it on a wide hanger so the shoulders keep their line.

The wow detail: a neckline with nothing on it

Most jackets announce themselves with lapels. This one has a plain round neckline and two clean edges, and that is exactly why it is easy to wear. A necklace, a bow blouse or a ruffled collar gets all the room. The jacket frames what you put under it and stays out of the way.

Fashion that gives back

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. The causes are matched to 11 of the 17 SDGs, the global goals set by the United Nations, and you decide where your share goes.

Our promise

Ships from the maker's wholesale partner in Poland, inside the EU, with tracking. The wholesaler lists up to 5 days to prepare an order; within the EU delivery usually takes 2–7 business days after dispatch. Delivery is free within the EU on orders from €69; below that it costs €4.95 in the Netherlands and €6.95 elsewhere in the EU.

You have 14 days after delivery to ask for a return, as long as the jacket is unworn and still has its tags. Our promise is plain: if what arrives does not match what this page says, send it back within 14 days and we refund you.

More jackets and coats are in our jackets and coats collection.