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.
First and foremost the simple elegance of the blazer makes it a season must-have in women's designer wear. With clean lines it is a simple way to dress up your outfit, go prep with pinstripe subtly reflected in the lining of blazers by Rag & bone and Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania range. This season's trend of mixing up patterns is easy with Erdem and River Island's floral blazers, Paul & Joe's embrace of the polka dot or loud and lively colour blocking from the designs of Asos and Milly versus block brights from Antik Batik, Preen, Roksanda Ilincic and Theory. Donna Karan, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen keep it classy with the tighter, fitted blazer while Something Else offers the looser fit of a lightweight double breasted jacket in exuberant peach, alongside a crepe blazer created by Helmut Lang and Libertine-Libertine's Bird Jacket in cotton. Heavier fabrics are perfect for chillier days, try out the velvets from Etro and D&G, wools from Balmain & Stella McCartney, corduroy combines with blazer in Miu Miu's range or go for the comfort of a boyfriend fit in Parisian favourite Sessun's woollen Mrs Cold Coat in black.
Along with the sunny spells and sunburn, summer showers are an inevitability at this year's festivals, so stay dry with the sassy season brights of forward-thinking UK brand YMC yellow Gloverall jacket with a shawl collar line, Penfield's cloth overcoat, waxed to beat the weather and Barbour's wax jacket - the Flyweight Liberty Rose Beadnell. The Parka also packs a punch, a touch of feminine from Wrangler's canvas design, with a sleek design and floral lining, the ruching detail of Karen Millen's Parka - the Urban Luxe with hood or the shaggy loose-fit of the Upside Down Parka from Day Birger et Mikkelsen, mean that this season you'll be glad when it rains.
Go rock and roll chic with the biker jacket, available in with snake skin effect from Gucci's Python motocross, the classic worn leather look from Donna Karan's Casual Luxe, no sleeves blister jacket from Rick Owens or a large and loose aviator from Acne. Go bold with Versace's leather jacket, brushed with a metallic finish or the aviator jacket now in suede from Alexander Wang. For those not into rock then country offers an equally fitting alternative with the rebirth of denim for 2011, contemporary and classic clash in designs of Pepe, Hollister and Notify, along with Mulberry's denim trench with sheep-skin collar, Cheap Monday's distressed denim or the ever-favourite designs from heavyweight Levi. Also in vogue this season is the military-look with olive green Taste jackets from Danish label Libertine-Libertine, the belt-waist, epaulettes and military stripes of ALICE by Temperley's sand jacket or Current/Elliot's army creation, a loose-fitting batwing jacket with shorter sleeves and metal buttons.
For the daring few waistcoats are a perfect way of adding a layer while keeping cool, Paul Smith's Black range combines simple but effective tailoring or try Malene Birger's Didiane waistcoat in grey. The draped look is being embraced by The Row, Olsen twins label, that uses light, floaty lines in their super-sleek, long length silk-blend vest, Won Hundred's Hug and by the loose-fit jersey vest from Splendid. As autumn rolls around there are summer styles with a hint of warmth, the felt of the Harrington vest from Diane von Furstenberg and the fur lining of Vince, Calvin Klein and Reed Krakoff's gilets as well as the retro looking shearling, feather-cut gilet from MiH jeans. Capes are also a great method of keeping warm when the weather disappoints, perfect in the bold summer colours of Missoni's reversible cape in wool, the bold tartan of the Anglomania range by Vivienne Westwood or the daring patterns of the tulle cape from Anna Sui.
First and foremost the simple elegance of the blazer makes it a season must-have in women's designer wear. With clean lines it is a simple way to dress up your outfit, go prep with pinstripe subtly reflected in the lining of blazers by Rag & bone and Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania range. This season's trend of mixing up patterns is easy with Erdem and River Island's floral blazers, Paul & Joe's embrace of the polka dot or loud and lively colour blocking from the designs of Asos and Milly versus block brights from Antik Batik, Preen, Roksanda Ilincic and Theory. Donna Karan, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen keep it classy with the tighter, fitted blazer while Something Else offers the looser fit of a lightweight double breasted jacket in exuberant peach, alongside a crepe blazer created by Helmut Lang and Libertine-Libertine's Bird Jacket in cotton. Heavier fabrics are perfect for chillier days, try out the velvets from Etro and D&G, wools from Balmain & Stella McCartney, corduroy combines with blazer in Miu Miu's range or go for the comfort of a boyfriend fit in Parisian favourite Sessun's woollen Mrs Cold Coat in black.
Along with the sunny spells and sunburn, summer showers are an inevitability at this year's festivals, so stay dry with the sassy season brights of forward-thinking UK brand YMC yellow Gloverall jacket with a shawl collar line, Penfield's cloth overcoat, waxed to beat the weather and Barbour's wax jacket - the Flyweight Liberty Rose Beadnell. The Parka also packs a punch, a touch of feminine from Wrangler's canvas design, with a sleek design and floral lining, the ruching detail of Karen Millen's Parka - the Urban Luxe with hood or the shaggy loose-fit of the Upside Down Parka from Day Birger et Mikkelsen, mean that this season you'll be glad when it rains.
Go rock and roll chic with the biker jacket, available in with snake skin effect from Gucci's Python motocross, the classic worn leather look from Donna Karan's Casual Luxe, no sleeves blister jacket from Rick Owens or a large and loose aviator from Acne. Go bold with Versace's leather jacket, brushed with a metallic finish or the aviator jacket now in suede from Alexander Wang. For those not into rock then country offers an equally fitting alternative with the rebirth of denim for 2011, contemporary and classic clash in designs of Pepe, Hollister and Notify, along with Mulberry's denim trench with sheep-skin collar, Cheap Monday's distressed denim or the ever-favourite designs from heavyweight Levi. Also in vogue this season is the military-look with olive green Taste jackets from Danish label Libertine-Libertine, the belt-waist, epaulettes and military stripes of ALICE by Temperley's sand jacket or Current/Elliot's army creation, a loose-fitting batwing jacket with shorter sleeves and metal buttons.
For the daring few waistcoats are a perfect way of adding a layer while keeping cool, Paul Smith's Black range combines simple but effective tailoring or try Malene Birger's Didiane waistcoat in grey. The draped look is being embraced by The Row, Olsen twins label, that uses light, floaty lines in their super-sleek, long length silk-blend vest, Won Hundred's Hug and by the loose-fit jersey vest from Splendid. As autumn rolls around there are summer styles with a hint of warmth, the felt of the Harrington vest from Diane von Furstenberg and the fur lining of Vince, Calvin Klein and Reed Krakoff's gilets as well as the retro looking shearling, feather-cut gilet from MiH jeans. Capes are also a great method of keeping warm when the weather disappoints, perfect in the bold summer colours of Missoni's reversible cape in wool, the bold tartan of the Anglomania range by Vivienne Westwood or the daring patterns of the tulle cape from Anna Sui.
About the Author:
The British weather can be a bit inclement so stay dry with women's jackets or women's fashion. Click to Glass Boutique - the online designer fashion retailer to view more of this season's fashion jackets.