Jacket In: Women's Outer Layering For Summer

By Debbie Sandhurst


In summer a jacket may seem superfluous to your outfit, but thanks to this season's great styles that are light, breezy and on trend, the jacket will become a crucial part of your wardrobe even in the warmer months.

Running at the forefront of the array of jackets available in women's designer fashion is the classic blazer. With clean lines and a smart finish, the blazer is a way of adding a touch of elegance to any look, pinstripe is particularly prominent with sophisticated designs from Rag & bone and the Anglomania range from Vivienne Westwood. Get creative with the patterns being used in designs this season such as flower patterns from Erdem and River Island, go dotty with Paul & Joe, make a statement with Asos and Milly's colour blocking or stay bold with the best in bright colours coming from Theory, Antik Batik, Preen and Roksanda Ilincic. For high-tailoring look to Alexander McQueen, Donna Karan or Marc by Marc Jacobs, or try a looser fit with jackets from Something Else with double breasted detail and available in bold, fresh colours like 'barely peach', the crepe blazer by Helmut Lang or the Bird Jacket, designed in cotton by Libertine-Libertine. As well as lighter fabrics, perfect for summer days, there are warmer options for the chillier nights, such as wools from Balmain & Stella McCartney in a range of colours, velvets from Etro and D&G, heavier corduroy by Miu Miu or from Paris, Sessun's oversized black Mrs Cold Coat.

Festival favourites that keep us waterproof while strumming the women's fashion chord have been exciting in bright hues with the yellow Gloverall waxed jacket with shawl neck collar by progressive London label YMC, American outdoor specialists Penfield with their waxed cloth, cord collar overcoat and Flyweight Liberty Rose Beadnell wax jacket from Barbour. In addition, look to the rejuvenated Parka designs that combine style and practicality from the likes of Wrangler's fitted canvas with drawstring hood and floral lining, Karen Millen's hooded and ruched Urban Luxe Parka and Day Birger et Mikkelsen's Upside Down Parka, all making sure you keep stylishly dry while the music keeps coming.

Unleash your inner rock chick with a small jacket that has made it big in women's designer fashion this summer; the biker jacket. Gucci go snake skin with their Python motocross, washed-leather proves popular with Donna Karan's Casual Luxe or the sleeveless blister washed Rick Owens and Acne's oversized aviator. Alternatively, mix it up with the metallic effect brushed-leather of Versace or Alexander Wang aviator jacket in suede. If rock's really not your style, then go country with denim's revival in contemporary styles that are sprucing up the classics from Notify, Hollister, Pepe, the shearling collared trench of Mulberry and distressed look from Cheap Monday and denim bastions Levi. While bringing back that military feel is the hooded Taste jacket in dark olive from Danish creators Libertine-Libertine, ALICE by Temperley's Sand jacket with tie waist, Sergeant stripes and epaulettes or Current/Elliot's batwing army jacket with brass buttons, loose-fit and three-quarter length sleeves.

For a little something different, go sleeveless with a tailored waistcoat from the Paul Smith Black range or the Didiane waistcoat from Malene Birger. Longer draped lines come from Won Hundred's Hug, Splendid's slub-jersey vest in neutrals, and the long and sleek Keller modal and silk-blend vest from fashionista Olsen twins label, The Row. Add a touch of natural warmth with the textured-felt Harrington vest of Diane von Furstenberg or the fur lined long shearling gilets from Vince, Reed Krakoff , Calvin Klein and the 70's inspired belted feather-cut shearling gilet from MiH Jeans. Staying sleeveless, cape's can be the perfect way to finish an outfit and beat the summer breeze, especially when teamed with summer trends of bright hues from the likes of Missoni's reversible wool-blend, the rectangle tartan colour-blocking from Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania range or high patterning from Anna Sui's beaded tulle cape.




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