When it is hot outside I really feel a bit sorry for men and women who have to wear suits and blazers. Even the quick commute from car or subway to the office or a quick trip to lunch in a suit or jacket looks like a steam bath. I wrote a post a few weeks ago on how to make black suits look more summery, and today I am taking it a step further by suggesting short sleeve jackets. They're hard to come by, but if you can find one they can be quite useful on hot days. Plus, you can take many of them into fall with just a few tweaks. Let's take a look.
Short Sleeve Jackets For Just Enough Coverage
Short Sleeve Jacket #1
This first short sleeve jacket from Banana Republic will probably not work once the weather is super cold, but it's a great wear-now piece for later summer and early autumn. Depending on where you live, cold weather may not hit for a while. If you prefer a suited look, you can purchase the pants. However, I quite like the jacket as a separate piece and styled it above using a pair of basic black pants from Elie Tahari. Underneath the jacket I added this silk front t-shirt from Reiss and accessorized the outfit using these blue suede pumps from Charles by Charles David, a taupe bag from Tory Burch, beaded necklace from Sole Society and gold stud earrings from Madewell.
Short Sleeve Jacket #2
This next short sleeve jacket from Lafayette 148 is a great transitional piece because it can be worn on warmer days for lightweight coverage but also layered over a long sleeve slim knit or dress when it gets cold. In the look above, I styled this jacket with a bright pink sheath dress from Elie Tahari. What is important to keep in mind with a swing style jacket like this one is to keep what you wear with it slimmer because the waistline is hidden in boxy jackets. Styling it with a sheath dress creates more of a retro silhouette that is actually quite timeless. Finishing the outfit, I added these versatile and comfortable pumps in navy from Cole Haan, a gold bangle from Ann Taylor, blush tote from Ivanka Trump and colorful stud earrings from Nanette Lepore.
Short Sleeve Jacket #3
Some short sleeve jackets, despite their short sleeves, aren't for super hot weather. This style from Ted Baker isn't one of them. Yet, don't discount its versatility. You can wear it in the later summer, early fall with short sleeve and sleeveless tops and dresses, and then in the colder months with long sleeves underneath it. I styled this jacket with a sleeveless blouse from Lafayette 148 and pencil skirt from J. Crew. Finishing the outfit, I added these leopard pumps from Ivanka Trump, Brahmin bag, gold necklace from Julie Vos and petal drops earrings from LOFT.
Transitional fashion can feel very tricky for many, however, simple additions, like short sleeve jackets, can help bridge the gap from summer to fall.
