Best Ways to Style a Utility Jacket
By now, you know I am obsessed with the Utility trend. Don’t call it a trend because honestly, it never really seems to go out of style. I am still wearing cargo pants I bought years ago though some I did get rid of because they had shockingly low rises. How did I ever wear them? And though the low rise trend is returning, you won’t catch me and my almost 50 year old body in anything considered low rise, but I digress….
Yes, I am obsessed with utility jackets. Dare I say, that if you are going to only add one item to your closet this spring it should be the best quality utility jacket you can buy? It will definitely be your most versatile piece of the season. There are countless ways to wear this one item. Honestly, I usually just keep mine in the car and throw it on over, any and every outfit, as needed for warmth in air-conditioned buildings or on cools summer nights.
This jacket is also the capstone of many outfits I wear throughout the year. Wear it over a sweater for a little added interest without the bulk in the winter. A utility jacket was one, of only two jackets, I took on our European vacation last summer. The other being my trusty Madewell Denim Jacket which you know is a must have for any closet. But actually, I think a good utility jacket is as versatile as a good denim jacket.
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Styling a Utility Jacket
Boho Vibe
First up, I paired my Madewell Surplus Jacket with a bohemian style floral blouse. The blouse has complimentary muted colors in blue, pink and green. For a day look I paired it with comfortable tan booties. For an evening out with friends, I switched shoes adding a pop of color. The pink shoes bring out the subtle pink in the top I am really in to the baggy jeans look this season so I wore them with my Citizen of Humanity Corey Slouchy Slim Jeans. You could just as easily wear this outfit with your favorite skinny jeans. For the summer I am really loving these.
Kinda Preppy
I often just rely on a trusty all black outfit especially for travel. I added the jacket over a black tee and some old, J Brand Houlihan Cargo jeans (rise is perfect). To tie in the jacket, I added the brown Gucci belt to soften the look of the all black. I paired with my new favorite sneakers from Golden Goose. This outfit is perfect for a day on the field or court watching your kid’s sports. Another great way to wear this jacket with black jeans is to add a denim or chambray top.
Next, I wore my Rails Selena Chambray Top which is the perfect weight for spring and summer but for colder days I add my Madewell Classic Ex-Boyfriend Denim Shirt or my current favorite the J.Crew Button-front Denim Popover top which is currently on sale! Add your favorite loafers (mine are Gucci) and you are set for a day of shopping.
Comfort is King
Here are two ways, I wear my utility jacket for cooler days which seem to becoming the norm in CA for spring. Every year, I take a break from pedicures for a couple months after Xmas holiday and before Spring break. I think it is good to let your nails recover. Who knows if I am right about that, but it is just what I do. Usually somewhere in March, the weather warms up and I decide I want to wear sandals and I go get a pedicure.
This year, not so much. I really haven’t wanted to go without sock yet this year. So we are dreaming of warmer weather here in SoCal but it is yet to be our reality. Sneakers are the perfect option for days you don’t want to wear sandals. Actually, sneakers are perfect any time of year. I love collecting all types of sneakers and these from Golden Goose are some of my new favorites.
Add Warmth
To keep me warm, I added an American Giant hoodie under my jacket and wore it with my AG skinny jeans which I recommended above and my Golden Goose sneakers. Next, I wore my Utility Jacket with my Everlane, The Soft Cotton Square Crew Sweater. Are you guys familiar with Everlane? Everlane is amazing! They offer highest quality basics at a reasonable price sourced from ethical factories and are completely transparent about everything they do. In one of my first posts here at StyleDahlia, (I cringe a bit at the photos. I guess it shows my growth already), I showed you how to style their Everlane Trench Coat which I believe is the best trench coat for the money. I added my rag & bone Skinny Jeans and my sparkly camo Golden Goose sneakers from last season.
Spring Flare
Summer will eventually arrive and I will still be wearing my Madewell Utility Jacket non-stop. It looks great with the Urban Outfitters butterfly tee and Mango navy plaid light-weight pants. The butterflies have navy and green in them so it ties the whole look together. I plan to wear with sandals but could easily be worn with my favorite M.Gemi Cerchio Slip-on sneakers which I have in almost every color.
You can definitely wear a khaki jacket with white denim. It is a super fresh way to style your favorite white jeans. My white jeans are Seven for All Mankind from a couple years ago but these are similar and are on sale now at Bloomingdale’s. The top is the All Saints Pina Stripe Tee for a toe dip into the tie dye trend. If you want to jump right into the tie dye trend you can see my recommendations here. I added the J.Crew Poppy Two Strap Ballet Flat to anchor the white jeans and prevent the outfit from looking top heavy.
Summer Topper
I love this breezy silk top from Anthropologie. It is sleeveless and perfect for the hot summer. You can wear this top now with ripped jeans and in the summer with my favorite denim shorts from AG which are currently on sale at Nordstrom for 33% off. I am wearing with my beloved M.Gemi Cerchio sneakers. Honestly, I love these sneakers so much. I can’t say enough good things about them. I have a normal to wide foot with high instep and the are so comfortable. My BFF has a super narrow foot and she loves them too.
You can also easily top any summer dress with a utility jacket. I picked this dress up from Anine Bing on sale and I absolutely love it. The straps tie so they are adjustable and the skirt is in no way see through which is hard to find these days. BTW – Anine Bing has a couple fabulous utility jackets. It is tempting to add one to my collection. The Cole Haan sandals, I picked up in Venice last year because they are so comfortable. Now, they fit right in with the whole “sport sandal” trend. You could easily dress this look up with Sam Edelman Heels or a cool pair of snake print sandals.
One For Me
Most often, I see a striped top paired with a utility jacket. For a little something different, I added this All Saints Oversized Tee. It has a great oversized, slouchy quality that makes it look effortlessly cool. Adding my Frye Veronica Short booties, I bought years ago and still wear all the time, makes this outfit pretty much my warm winter uniform. The Frye boots are on sale at Nordstrom right now. It is a great time to pick them up 40% off. Classic Frye boots never go out of style and I reach for mine again and again because they are just so comfortable.
One Not For Me
Lastly, I chose this Cupcakes and Cashmere Utility Jacket for an elevated look. This outfit would be great for work. Here’s the thing, I am not a fan of how this jacket wrinkles. I love the details including the brass snaps on the pleated arms but I couldn’t get over how quickly this jacket wrinkled. I took this pictures almost immediately after steaming it and it still looks sloppy to me. Of course, this may not bother you. It is likely part of the styling but the reality is I am someone who rarely, if ever, wears linen because of the wrinkles. I love it when it looks crisp but once it has a crease, I feel frumpy. It is probably just me and if you are fine with linen, this jacket might be a great option for you.
The great thing about the Cupcakes and Cashmere jacket is you can wear it zipped close as a top or left open as a jacket. It is super versatile that way. The pants are The Cameron Slim Cropped by J.Crew and I purchased in a tall.
I hope I convinced you that a utility jacket is completely versatile for all women. Because the trend is so big right now, there are a ton of fabulous jackets on the market. See my top picks and my tips for buying the right one for you, here. Below are a couple shots of me wearing my jacket for travel and everyday.
My Utility Jackets in Action
