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The appeal of the ladylike jacket lies in the message it conveys. It’s all in the name, who doesn’t want to look like a lady sometimes? It’s all the Jackie O energy a girl could ever want. So yes, we can take the lady jacket quite literally, and wear ours in bouclé paired with pencil skirts and heels, and perhaps even pearls. Or, we can turn the idea on its head, styling lady jackets with baggy denim and a moto boot, for instance.
You can opt for a jacket fashioned out of denim itself. You can translate the sentiment to glam places with a bit of embellishment or a metallic element. We’re personally loving a Mandarin collar to lend the whole look even more elegance. Chloé designer Chemena Kamali is exploring the cut in corduroy, while Altuzarra did one up in leather, and a shrunken lady blazer by Versace is giving all of the Slim Keith inspiration you could ever dream of.
Vogue’s Favorite Ladylike Jackets:
- The Classic Shape: Nili Lotan Paola cotton-blend tweed jacket, $1,150
- The Cropped Cut: J.Crew tweed lady jacket, $220
- The Collarless Take: Aligne Daphne waisted blazer, $245
- The Mandarin Collar: Liberowe Raja velvet-trimmed wool jacket, $1,750
- The Fresh Denim Jacket: Madewell cocoon-sleeve denim lady jacket, $128
- The Shrunken Blazer: The Row Fletcher wool blazer, $3,450
On the high street, Mango, H&M and Zara are offering styles that will remain in rotation for years to come. So whether you’re looking to channel a ’60s icon or simply want to swap your oversized blazer for something more demure, shop ladylike jackets—from collarless to high shine—that will feel like a breath of fresh air in your spring wardrobe.
Classic
While the ladylike jacket is inherently classic, designers have taken some liberties with the concept. We appreciate a creative translation, but sometimes it’s best to get back to what made us fall in love in the first place. Enter: forever lady jackets that will remain in your arsenal for years and years to come. The trick? Fewer bells and whistles and an attention to precise tailoring.
Cropped
A little crop goes a long way. Hitting just above the hip makes these jackets a perfect companion for high-waisted trousers and denim to cut a truly flattering silhouette.
Collarless
Although a collarless shape seems like a prerequisite for a ladylike jacket, it’s truly only one fabulous option. And it leaves space to style yours with pearls, a diamond collar, pendant, or sparkly brooch. In other words, take this whole ladylike idea from head-to-toe.
Mandarin Collar
The Mandarin collar is a hallmark of military jackets, but it’s also just a very chic option in the lady jacket universe. It lends an air of sophistication while also relaying that you are, in fact, someone to be reckoned with.
Collared
The collared ladylike jacket feels like a full sentence. It offers punctuation. It’s both extremely smart and wildly sophisticated. Style yours with a turtleneck and fitted trousers with knee-high boots for a vaguely equestrian vibe.
Denim
While the ladylike jacket is inherently a bit dressed up, fashioning it out of jean material provides a more casual statement. Maintaining a boxy silhouette, but done up in denim, these jackets create the perfect opportunity for an inspired Texas tuxedo.
Shrunken Blazer
The shrunken ladylike blazer stands as the ideal counterpart to so many seasons of the oversized, bold-shouldered jacket. Embrace a more fitted silhouette. We love the idea of wearing it with long full skirts or no-stretch denim.
Metallic Thread
The ladylike jacket is primed to be integrated into your evening wardrobe—just add a little shine to it. Whether through a gem or metal buttons, a metallic thread, or pearl embellishment, your jacket quite simply becomes the jewelry.
Oversized
While a few year ago we may have eschewed oversized silhouettes, the truth is, there are those among us who are staunchly dedicated to the “go big or go home” sentiment. Luckily, designers are prepared with ladylike jackets with a roomier fit—ideal for pairing with some stirrup leggings and a heel or ballerina.
