How to Wear a Jacket

What inhabits half of my closet space?
What do I wear nearly every day, even in the sweltering-hot summer in this slice of the South?
What makes me feel “put together” and classy and yet comfortable all at the same time?

The answer?

Jackets. Wraps. Shrugs. Sweaters. Winter jackets that keep me warm during the {few} months it gets cold around here. Bright pink and purple wraps I toss over tee shirts to instantly “dress up” a look. Shrugs both long and short. Sweaters both lacy and snug.

Why I Love Them…and Why You Should, too

1. They go with a dressy or casual outfit. On a sunny November day at the pier, my friend snapped this picture of me wearing one of my favorite jackets… over a dress. The other day I donned a button-up, formal jacket over jeans to go to the bookstore. Dresses, jeans, skirts, slacks, capris. Jackets go with all; they are one of the most versatile accessories in my closet.

2. They make an outfit dressy or casual. That dress I wore to the pier is my “little black dress,” a knee-length chemise number I got from a thrift store. The three-quarter-length sleeve gray jacket lends a casual look. But the orange-and-black, slightly Asian-looking jacket I wore with jeans to go book-hunting gave a classy air to blue jeans. Jackets can either “dress up” and “dress down” an outfit, depending on your mood (or where you’re going).

3. They can be lightweight or heavy. I once heard a guy say girls have a singular talent: we can be cold in the summer. If you’ve ever been in a chilly classroom, church, or store, you know even in July it’s possible to shiver! Wraps, shrugs, and sweaters can be that touch of fabric that warms cold shoulders, but is still light enough to wear once you return to the hot sunshine. (Some of my wraps are lightweight enough that even when I don’t want to wear them when its warm, they can be balled up and stuffed in my purse. Shhh, don’t tell.)

4. They can be that pull-together piece. One of the reasons I love jackets is that they make me look like I’ve put effort into what I’m wearing. Even if my alarm betrayed me, I overslept, and I have no idea what I want to wear, I can toss on something and a jacket and look like I planned my outfit. Presto! Instant style.

How to Make Them Work for You

There are two kinds of jackets I look for (and I most often look for them at thrift stores, where they are hidden treasures you have to keep an eye out for!). The loud jacket (like the Asian-inspired one I own) and the simple jacket (like the gray one pictured). 

1. For a classier, formal look…

Colors and patterns go well with jeans and solid-color skirts, etc that you’re trying to “dress up.” For example, the pink-and-black polka-dotted jacket I have would go well paired with jeans. Of course, solid color jackets will look dressy, too, when they’re paired with a dressy skirt or slacks and blouse. (You just have to try harder with those. Think my orange-and-black jacket paired with my pictured “black dress.”)

2. For a more casual look…

Soft, solid colors go well with dressier outfits you’re trying to “dress down.” I wear that gray jacket with jeans all the time. Colorful jackets, too, can make for a casual outfit; you just have to make sure the other pieces you’re wearing are casual-toned, too. (Think any delightful pattern paired with a solid-colored shirt and cotton tee.)

Do you enjoy jackets–or do you think you might after reading this?

We’d love to hear about your favorite jacket(s) and how you make it work for you. Comment below or use the #adornabelle to tag us on instagram with a picture of your outfit!

About Rachelle Rea

Rachelle is an author and editor who would much rather shop for books than for clothes (this must be why malls were invented). Her favorite accessories are a smile and a scarf. Her debut novel releases next year.

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