I love a jacket. Almost more than any other garment, it can transform an outfit. A denim jacket instantly makes a get-up more casual; a blazer, more smart. It can add a practical layer to an otherwise quixotic look or a hint of frivolity to a serious ensemble.
The other thing I love about jackets is that – unless it’s a tailored one you want to fit just-so on the shoulder – you can often be a touch more footloose and fancy-free with fit than you can with other garments. This makes shopping for them a more fun affair than, say, hunting for trousers. It also makes them easier to source secondhand or online.
I’ve tried to include something for everyone in this guide, and searched far and wide in the process: trying on, touching and turning inside out a range of lovely – and some not-so-lovely – jackets. Yet the funnest thing is that an array of jackets can be right for any one person. So, here’s a host that will make you feel smart, studious or ready for a picnic; I hope you discover something that fits the jacket-shaped hole in your wardrobe.
Stylish spring jackets for women
Best denim jacket
Bahareh utility denim jacket
Denim jackets and spring go together like salt and vinegar crisps and chocolate. Most people likely have a classic denim jacket by now. So perhaps this season it’s time to add a more unexpected iteration to your roster, whether via cut, colour or an unexpected detail. That doesn’t have to mean rewriting the rulebook: take this collarless but otherwise simple denim jacket from Aligne, a female-led, London-based brand that makes timeless clothes that also somehow feel right for the moment.
Best on-trend jacket
A-line funnel-neck jacket
£145 at & Other Stories
£145 at Asos
If you want a jacket that will instantly signal that you know your Jil Sander from your Jacquemus, opt for a funnel neck. Call it the Phoebe Philo effect, call it what you like, but this one from & Other Stories is bang on trend, and comes in beige, dark blue and khaki green. The buckle at the neck adds a utilitarian twist, and the oversize fit will allow you to wear a layer – or two – underneath on those spring days that look hot but still feel cold.
Best chore jacket
Chore jacket
French mechanics and Harry Styles don’t lie: the chore jacket is wildly and widely popular with good reason. It’s an easy style to wear across multiple outfits, plus the number and depth of pockets are a dream. This one from Community Clothing, cut and sewn in Lancashire out of cotton twill, comes in classic light blue, tan, cream, a very pleasing bottle green and several other colours. Finisterre’s take on the chore also makes a convincing case. All that being said, the best chore jackets don’t just look like the kind of thing Picasso might have worn, but also look old enough that Picasso could have worn them – good news for the planet, as well as your pocket. Etsy, eBay and Depop are full of them – simply search for “chore jacket”. However, if you’d prefer yours to look a little less lived-in, narrow your search by “condition” and opt for those a little less Picasso; fraying and paint-splattered. Find one that’s right for you – whether that’s the classic cobalt blue above, an understated duck brown, herringbone or linen.
Best light-but-warm jacket
Lapwing insulated jacket
If you’re looking for something cosy but also light and squidgy enough to pack down into a bag when the sun comes out, the Lapwing jacket is just that. Made from recycled materials, it’s insulated but down-free, and also feels lovely to the touch. The dark ochre is particularly nice, and the olive is undemanding.
Best barn jacket
OG Detroit jacket
The barn jacket has taken fashion firmly by the hand. It was great for autumn, and it’s perfect for spring. The workwear brand Carhartt is the look’s equivalent of a mother ship, making jackets that will last for years, though the high street is also rich with options: you could try Everlane, or even Whistles. To my eye, though, this is a jacket that’s best made by a workwear brand, durable enough to last for years and which will only get better with age. Better yet, get one with a bit of patina by buying secondhand – search “barn jacket” on eBay, Depop or Vinted; narrow your search to the likes of Carhartt, LL Bean or Woolrich for something fairly classic; and sift by size/condition.
Best lightweight parka
Stormwear cotton-rich canvas hooded parka
The summer of Oasis is nearly upon us – you could call this our Definitely Maybe spring – and parkas are big news again. This M&S iteration has been receiving a lot of love, and rightfully so. It might not scream “mad fer it”, but it’s practical – water-repellent and hooded – as well as a cut above; the ties at the waist make a usually shapeless garment a little more shapely.
Best jacket for the weekend
Repurposed Ikat Kantha jacket
I have known this to be worn as a “house jacket” but, for my two cents, it’s so special that it deserves to be seen. One-of-a-kind, it’s stitched in India in collaboration with two Fairtrade organisations and made out of repurposed cotton saris. The only hitch is that it’s so spectacular you may want to keep the rest of your outfit subdued. It is reversible, though.
Best classic jacket
Boucle jacket
I take plagiarism seriously, but I am nicking this suggestion from my colleague Jess Cartner-Morley, who shouted out the classic Coco Chanel-inspired little boxy jacket in a recent column. As Jess put it: “This is the jacket equivalent of a classic bob haircut: chic, effortless polish, vaguely French.” It’s a boon to any wardrobe and perfect for this time of year.
Best quilted jacket
Monroe check quilted jacket
Barbour makes good-quality clothes and, while it may be more famous for its wax jackets, this quilted gingham one is worth a look. It might be quilted, but it’s not overly substantial. Beautifully cut and A-line in silhouette, it will fit layers neatly underneath it without feeling claustrophobic. The deep front pockets are a dream – ideal for dog poo bags, snacks or even a thin book.
Best light rain jacket
Rain jacket
The proof’s in the name: this jacket from wet-weather Scandinavian brand Rains is unfussy in style and unfussy in substance, too. Windproof, lightweight and washable, it is also a practical choice and comes in a range of colours – the green is fun, the butter-yellow “gleam” is of-the-moment and the sand will suit the season while going with anything.
Best work jacket AKA blazer
Cotton-linen blazer
Blazers are arguably the most boring type of jacket. Yet they’re also useful, smart and, done right, chic. This is a blazer done right. Made from a blend of cotton and linen, the burgundy colour is more interesting than navy but still wearable, while the cut elevates it beyond the everyday. I take it back: blazers are great.
Best shacket
Fjord flannel shirt
£66 at Patagonia
£71.50 at Cotswold Outdoor
I’m reluctant even to type the word “shacket”, but a shirt/jacket is a staple few wardrobes should be without. Since Kate Moss walked the Bottega Veneta catwalk in a plaid shirt in 2022, it also has high fashion’s seal of approval. This one from Patagonia is organic cotton brushed flannel and should keep out a chill on a spring day. You can always size up if you want to wear it over a heavier layer. You can also try other outdoorsy brands, such as Cotopaxi, Passenger and Ayacucho. Finisterre does a respectable one too – particularly pleasing in sage green.
However, the best, and most Kurt Cobain-coded, are plaid rather than plain. I swear by Pendleton wool shirts, and secondhand websites are brimming with them, such as this design on Depop. Secondhand sites are well stocked beyond Pendleton, too. Be warned, though, that while there are a lot of high-street overshirts in good nick secondhand, most will be heavy on polyester. Heritage brands, such as Woolrich and Pendleton, are likely to offer better-quality fabrics. If you’re after something a little lighter, narrow your search to cotton or flannel. And don’t be afraid to ask sellers about moth holes – these woolly overshirts are a particularly tempting snack.
Best very light jacket
Hemp-blend shirt-jacket
This jacket from purveyors of Japanese snacks and very nice bedsheets, Muji, is perfect for days when a T-shirt is too little but much more is too much. It’s cleanly cut and made from a breathable mixture of hemp and cotton. The ivory-striped one is stylish if a little see-through; the black one is classic and just as good for the office as for a brunch or even a wedding.
Best all-rounder
Organic workwear jacket
Classed as a chore, this jacket from Colourful Standard is available in 23 shades and will leave the purists curling their toes. Yet, with so many pretty colours to choose from, perhaps you’re too preoccupied with the electric ultraviolet one to mind. Excellently made, in Portugal from organic cotton, this is a versatile beast.
