Why A Hero Jacket Is A Style Essential This Season
The right outerwear transforms any look, adding instant polish, versatility and a modern edge to your wardrobe
The oversized blazer
Every wardrobe needs a blazer, whether it’s to complete your office look or add polish to an off-duty outfit. This season, the blazer comes in relaxed, extended lengths that offer effortless drape. Victoria Beckham’s single-breasted style in a stone-hued gray balances fluid proportions with sharp shoulders – the addition of an elegant tie belt makes it a classic you’ll turn to for years to come. Wear it cinched for shape, or loose to channel a menswear mood that will look great thrown on over jeans and a white tee. Gucci and Anine Bing offer more structured styles that are crafted from wool and pair perfectly with tailored pants. Anine Bing’s oversized version comes in a plum color that lends an after-dark feel, while Gucci’s belted blazer fastens just under the lapel for a classic 1960s look that will never get old – layer it over a turtleneck for an easy office-ready look.
The tweed jacket
A tweed jacket brings a pretty, vintage-inspired element to your look. Valentino Garavani’s chic houndstooth style has a playful ’60s feel and comes in a statement monochrome to liven up the dreariest of winter days. Veronica Beard’s stripy silhouette, on the other hand, is a contemporary choice in hues of chocolate brown, cream and pale blue, with a metallic yarn and orb-like gold-tone buttons that make it the perfect day-to-night jacket. Minimal dressers will find a new favorite in Isabel Marant’s collarless style. With a V neckline, it’s a fresh take on the signature silhouette that ordinarily buttons above the clavicle – as a result, it feels relaxed and elegant with wide-leg pants and ballet flats.
The leather jacket
A leather jacket is an investment piece that will serve you well for years to come. Biker styles are, of course, a classic, and Tom Ford’s cropped version with zip trims is a refined take on the typically rebellious style. Slip it on over midi dresses or relaxed, high-waisted pants to mix up the proportions, or, for night-time, pair it with an A-line mini skirt and a fine-knit sweater for a slick ’70s vibe. Oversized shapes tend to feel a touch more casual, and Victoria Beckham’s cool take on the chore jacket is ultra-luxe while still being utilitarian enough to wear on repeat. Seeking a statement piece? Look to Chloé’s belted, fringed jacket, which will bring a Western spin to day-to-night outfits, no matter where you’re heading.
The suede jacket
Timeless, with a retro appeal, there’s something eternally cool about a suede jacket. Relaxed yet refined, it can bring an air of Parisian Left Bank bohemia to outfits, depending on what it’s styled with. Brunello Cucinelli’s sumptuous button-up style riffs on a classic workers’ jacket, giving it an everyday wearability while still being undeniably elevated – pair it with everything from your go-to jeans to leather pants. Bally and Blazé Milano reinvent the flight jacket with differing proportions – Bally’s is a neater fit that will add polish when paired with flowing midi dresses and boots, while Blazé Milano’s relaxed take can be shrugged on over everything from shirting to super-soft cashmere sweaters.
The bomber jacket
This season’s bomber jackets subvert the norm by playing with proportion and detailing that bring an entirely new dimension to this sporty staple. Japanese brand Sacai fuses timeless style with streetwear cool, and its oversized bomber comes with contrast edging and a statement pleat up the back that not only loosens up the silhouette, but gives it an urban, architectural mood, too. With chunky-zip details, it’s perfect paired with stompy boots and tartan skirts, as well as with relaxed-cut stonewashed jeans. Agolde’s collaboration with Shoreditch Ski Club offers a cropped, cinched style with voluminous sleeves – it feels fresh in a pale gold-green hue. Looking for a more classic silhouette? Anine Bing’s is a timeless choice rendered anew in deep burgundy, with subtle ruching up the sleeves.
The denim jacket
The enduring cool of a denim jacket makes it an effortless off-duty ally with an unmatched ability to dress down smarter, more polished looks. Acne Studios’ distressed denim jacket in a mid-blue hue is just the ticket for endless versatility – it’s slightly oversized, meaning it can be layered over knitwear on cooler days. For something a little out of the ordinary, Loewe’s jacket in a rich indigo hue combines this season’s must-wear denim wash with fashion-forward design detailing in the form of a supersize embossed leather patch. Similarly, Stella McCartney’s contrast jacket gives the impression of two stitched together for a more directional choice.
The safari jacket
The great outdoors has greatly influenced fashion in recent years, and the safari jacket has come to the fore as a silhouette that feels just as appropriate in the city as on the African plains. This season’s offering blends the functionality and feel of a wax jacket with sleekly tailored shapes that make this hard-working hero one you’ll wear again and again. Saint Laurent’s cropped design in an earthy tobacco-colored cotton riffs on the house’s iconic early version with its front patch pockets. But, cut to a neat, cropped silhouette and featuring a chunky belt around the waist, it has a more feminine feel that can be dressed up with a pencil skirt or down with wide-leg denim. Toteme and Stella McCartney both offer must-have jackets that are relaxed and refined – Toteme’s A-line shape is an elegant choice, while the elbow patches and corduroy collar add authentic bucolic details. Stella McCartney’s washed cotton-canvas version feels suitably worn-in, but with a smartly tailored shape.
The models featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown