Layering: The Power of The Jacket

The piece de resistance to your outfit

I have had some extra free time lately (at home recovering from ankle surgery) and have been wistfully thinking of all of the fun outfits I’ll be able to wear in the world once I’m back in a more mobile stage of life. Taking mental stock of that great white skirt I want to wear with chunky sweaters and remembering a Sonia Rykiel mini dress I haven’t worn in a while- all things to not forget when I can once again get dressed freely without a medical boot and scooter in my way.

While looking around my closet and thinking about the things I love and what I’m drawn to, I had a come to reality moment when looking at my jacket collection. (At this point it is in fact a proper collection!) It’s the piece of clothing I am most drawn to when shopping and can’t help myself from impulsively swiping up a good vintage blazer or cool little quilted number. It got me thinking about the versatility of “The Jacket” and why I have always been able to justify another one in my closet: they can really be the piece de resistance for a good outfit! I also feel that jackets can bring your personality forward in an outfit.

When you need something to relay a little more personality in your look- a jacket is there to layer on and act as a palette cleanser to the rest of your look, whether it be something maximal that needs something simple or vice versa. A jacket is so often (weather permitting) that necessary third piece to really finish an outfit.

(Note: A jacket is defined as being shorter than a coat, something that typically ends at hip length and is not as insulated as a coat)

Blazer as a top:

With a little belting magic a blazer can transition right into a top. Love it with these wide ivory will pants and kitten heels. I think long flare jeans with some heeled boots would be a good option too.

Off the bat I have been feeling really inspired to create this silhouette from an old picture I have saved on Pinterest ( From Vogue 1971). Belting a jacket with your own leather belt feels like a fresh way to style it, it mixes up the original silhouette and can give a nice tailored look on top when you have fuller pants or a skirt.

The more "causal" version, if you will. A little cropped out of frame are some leopard print flats, but a lug sole loafer would also be great with this for daytime or at work!

Blazers are still here and frankly always will be, in my wardrobe. They’re classic and currently I’m really loving how they look with light wash jeans (kind of a nod to 90’s style). For intrigue, try putting a little cardigan underneath, something more fitted and a little shorter in length. I think this gives such a great textural contrast, something fuzzy and soft against something a little smoother and more structured. Heres another great reference photo for layering jackets and cardigans

I’m really into this color combination, the green and brown both have a kind of warm undertone and look a little funky together (which I love) and then throw in the navy blazer for something solid and dark to level it out. Also I have been really into layering cardigans under blazers and jackets!

Something Vintage:

A really fabulous vintage bed jacket I found at a pop-up! I think you could find some similar ones on Etsy (Search Vintage Bed Jackets)! Its also shockingly warm so definitely winter approved with a little layering.

There’s something whimsical about wearing this bed jacket out and about. The silky fabric can make great sense in an evening type of setting (see above), but I really love it in a less obvious setting. We can often label our pieces into categories: dressy, casual, day, work, evening, etc. , but where outfit magic can happen is when we stop thinking of everything in such defined categories. This vintage jacket was once meant to only be worn at home, in the evening, with pajamas (a waste of a great jacket if you ask me). In the context of my wardrobe, I had at first thought of it as more of an evening jacket, but it really shines the most with a pair of jeans or pants. I think its the perfect dressier opposite to the T-shirt, jeans, and bandana seen below! A dressier fabric with something a little more utility (i.e. denim) creates such a perfect contrast. (Click for Vintage Bed Jackets on Etsy)

Seen here with a gray tee, sun-washed wide leg jeans, and a bandana. Oh plus pearl earrings! This is what I'm talking about when I say juxtaposition- the plain t shirt and the bandana go with each other, and they are sandwiched with the silky bed jacket and pearls, perfect oppositions to each other!

And speaking of great collarless jackets:

I really love this bright red with an earthy green, you wouldn't guess it but they work. The pants work as the "utility" piece in this outfit, pearl necklace, lady jacket, penny loafers and then boom-army green twill pants, the perfect masculine opposition to all of the more classically feminine pieces!

The important thing about a more structured jacket like this is that it shouldn’t take itself too seriously. Kind of love it with the crunchier fabric of the below culottes… (yes culottes! This in fact has two pant legs, but the appearance of a skirt, I love them)

Red + khaki = chefs kiss! Also love ~normalizing~ these funky culotte things with a more classic looking jacket and Mary Janes- they feel balanced this way!

Jackets are also a perfect opposition to lighter weight pieces, another great of example of trying to not put all of our clothes into defined categories, but this time by season! Now that we are entering spring, throwing on a jacket with a light weight skirt or dress can ground the look and provide a cool juxtaposition. Personally I gravitate towards throwing on a suede jacket, sometimes corduroy. They’re both soft materials so they feel easy enough to layer with something lighter weight. Major inspiration for me has come from the Prada F/W ‘23 runway- so many great styling ideas with a big brown jacket! Take a note from Miuccia and have a little fun mixing things up.

I love the pop of butter yellow and its kind of a nice light contrast to the brown and black! A red shoe or a silk print scarf would be other great options to throw in that little pop of color against all of the neutrals.

Are you feeling the suede jacket? There are some really fantastic options on Etsy! Like this double breasted chocolate brown one , also really love this caramel colored one , and then this trench version with a belt is very chic!

While we’re talking about brown jackets..

See below with a sweater for a more realistic option with this weather..

The white dress is such a blank canvas, try a bright color like the above, or go classic with a cropped gray sweater (I love gray and brown together).

Alright now take your jackets out of your closet and start wearing them! Cheers!

Xx, 

Taylor