What is it that cements a trend’s place in our collective sartorial consciousness?
To answer that question, special attention has to be paid to women’s jackets, and - more specifically - the classic military jacket. A stalwart of timeless fashion, its popularity might rise and fall but it never strays far from the metaphorical surface of the pool of fashion inspirations, waiting to be dipped into and reimagined by designers. Year after year, the style appears in fresh guises, new collections and Fashion Week front rows, proving its staying power.
It’s the nostalgic comfort we find in familiar silhouettes that grants a piece longevity, and what piece could be more nostalgic than one that can trace its history back to the early 19th Century? Napoleon Bonaparte might have made his mark on Europe for reasons other than his dress sense, but his army’s legacy also lives on in military-inspired pieces - even the classic tailored suits we sport over two centuries later have his army to thank for their inception. And while suiting has been part of our sartorial language for centuries, the military-style jacket featuring neat lines of polished buttons started to command real attention in the ‘60s with help from a certain Sergeant Pepper.
These styles were characterised by defined lines and regimented buttons, but today’s military jackets adopt a more cropped silhouette that finds the balance between a relaxed and a more refined, traditional cut. In neutral shades and tones, they easily ground your look and, when crafted from a quality fabric shaped to an uncomplicated cut, the result stands the test of time. When it comes to finding your own iteration, longevity is key.
The beauty of women’s military jackets in particular is that they instantly elevate your look on chillier summer days and milder autumnal ones. Finding the middle ground between summer’s lighter layers and winter’s down-filled coats, they’re the perfect autumn fashion solution and your answer to trans-seasonal dressing. Read on to see how we’re styling military jackets to play a part in both your on- and off-duty wardrobes.
Keep It Casual
Going against the trend of green military jackets while adopting a shorter, cropped silhouette, this iteration of our Cropped Military Jacket is crafted from cotton twill in off-white. Adding a feminine softness to the usually crisp, neatly defined style, it’s fitted with angled side pockets and deep cuffs that can be turned up to accommodate different arm lengths or to create a more casual finish. The result ensures the style complements both elevated and everyday looks alike without appearing out of place in either ensemble.
With a more relaxed drape, our Fluid Military Summer Shacket in a lightweight cotton-tencel blend heroes a classic khaki shade but is elevated with a series of gold-toned buttons to effortlessly find a high-low aesthetic. Our Military Button Breton Jacket, on the other hand, finds the same balance with a knitted yarn and bold Breton stripe.
Turn to a simple T-shirt now, and introduce a longline tailored shirt into the mix later, leaving it open over a cami or buttoned to the top for a neat finish. Pair the finished look with light-wash jeans or cropped cargo trousers and Chelsea boots.
Perfectly Polished
A polished look isn’t always synonymous with neat tailoring or suiting; for a more elevated approach, turn to pieces crafted from luxury fabrics that aren’t necessarily formalwear exclusives. Think blushing tailoring, printed skirts and reinvented tees.
Our answer to achieving a polished look without appearing overly formal is finding classic pieces crafted from quality fabrics that are free from fussy detailing or embellishments. Elevate a classic cotton tee by styling our Cropped Military Jacket and a pair of tailored trousers, or emphasise the green detailing in a bold pattern with our khaki shacket styled with a floral-print skirt to build an ensemble with a polished finish. For a summer-leaning approach, try lightweight trousers in a traditional pattern and tailored yarn that falls to ankle length teamed with a simple T-shirt or a lightweight cotton dress.
Dressed Up
Finding a place in polished and more casual ensembles, everything from mini to maxi dresses effortlessly slot in alongside military-inspired jackets for elevated daytime looks and evening-appropriate ones.
The beauty of this combination is that it balances the traditional femininity of a dress with the masculinity of the jacket to create a cohesive whole - as the saying goes, “opposites attract” and this is even more poignant when combining the soft cotton-twill tailoring of our off-white military jacket with the fluidity of an ankle-skimming dress or textured shirred style.
For a casual daytime look, bring simply cut dresses to the fore. Pick and choose between cotton T-shirt styles and tiered sleeveless ones in either statement prints or soft neutrals to create the same masculine-feminine contrast with a softer result. Turn back the lapels on our Cropped Military Jacket and secure them on either side of the open front. When it comes to building an evening-appropriate look, emphasise the drape of this Twisted Strap Fit + Flare Midi Dress with our neatly constructed cropped tweed jacket in the same bold aqua shade.