If you were in any doubt about which layers to add to your wardrobe, wonder no further. I’m spilling the beans on four of the most versatile casual layers. When you have versatile clothes, you don’t need a lot of clothes to get dressed easily!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
1. Denim Jacket
Seriously, do you have a denim jacket yet? If not, or if you need to refresh yours, this is your sign! I recently shared 19 outfits with a denim jacket, along with four easy outfit formulas you can use to style it again and again. I also made my case for why you need a denim jacket, so if you’re still not convinced, head over to that blog post ASAP!
A denim jacket is your go-to piece for any outfit that doesn’t involve blue jeans. Black jeans? Yup. A skirt or dress? Yup and yup. Olive green chinos? Yup. Soft, flowy pants that you’d love to wear in the summer? Yup. It goes with it all.
My current favorite denim jacket is this one from Lauren Conrad. It’s sturdy but stretchy, and it’s slightly oversized, which works well with my relaxed style. In particular, I love how the blue is a bit more saturated and better aligned with my best colors. It’s also pretty affordable! Find it in a couple of washes HERE. I wear size S.
Shop the Outfits:
White Top: Amazon (wearing size S)
Black Jeans: Kohl’s (wearing size 6)
Black Dress: Amazon (wearing size S)
Striped Tee: Old Navy (wearing size S)
Olive Pants: (similar)
Denim Jacket: Kohl’s (wearing size S)
Shop Denim Jackets
There are plenty of other denim jackets out there that are sturdy but stretchy. Try one of these:
2. Crop Utility Jacket
A utility jacket is a wardrobe essential that goes with nearly everything. Olive green is a classic option, but don’t forget it can come in your best colors too — navy, grey, or black are great alternatives!
As denim trends have shifted toward wide-leg silhouettes, shorter jackets have become key for balancing proportions. If your old utility jacket isn’t working with your current jeans, it might be time for an update! I’ve rounded up several for you below!
The utility jacket that I own and wear is no longer available. However, the one I’m wearing above is available. It’s SUPER lightweight and perfect to swap in as your go-to utility jacket during warmer months. The crop cut works easily with wide leg jeans and gives you a modern look. Find it HERE.
This jacket is also a great option! It’s not as lightweight as the olive one; it’s more of a medium weight. But, it’s still a good option for warmer weather. It’s structured and makes your outfits look polished, but it’s fairly soft and comfortable to wear. Find it, HERE. I’m wearing size S, which is quite roomy, and I would recommend sizing down even more!
Looking for more sizing variety? There’s a similar jacket HERE that comes in straight, petite, plus, and tall sizing.
Shop the Outfits:
Striped Top: Kohl’s (similar)
Olive Green Utility Jacket: Kohl’s (wearing size S)
Cropped Jeans: Kohl‘s (wearing size 6)
White Utility Jacket: Nordstrom (wearing size S)
Wide Leg Jeans: Nordstrom (wearing size 6)
Shop Utility Jackets
3. Crop Jacket
Your jacket doesn’t have to be a utility jacket. Try a cropped jacket of any sort! I especially love bomber jackets for their relaxed, cool vibe — but there are lots of styles to play with here.
I personally wear a light grey bomber jacket and a cropped white jacket the most. These lighter colors are a refreshing contrast to my denim and olive jackets and help round out my wardrobe for different color schemes. Mine is sold out (from Kohl’s a couple of years ago), but THIS one from Nordstrom is lightweight and comes in multiple colors.
Shop the Outfit:
White Top: Amazon (wearing size S)
Cropped Jeans: Kohl’s (wearing size 6)
Bomber Jacket: Kohl’s (similar)
Shop More Crop Jackets
4. Cardigan
We obviously can’t forget cardigans! Especially shorter ones — they look fresher and work better with wide-leg pants.
My go-to options are sadly no longer available, except for this one from Amazon. It’s really soft, warm but not heavy, and comes in several colors. I wear size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: (similar)
Cardigan Sweater: Amazon (wearing size S)
Cropped Jeans: Kohl’s (wearing size 6)
Shop More Cardigans
The right layers make your wardrobe work harder so you don’t have to. Whether it’s a good denim jacket, a crop jacket, or a soft cardigan, these pieces allow you to grab-and-go, literally throwing them on to endless outfits as the perfect completer, so you can look stylish with less effort.
Which layers are your favorites?
Also, if this kind of outfit-building and wardrobe strategy lights you up, you’re gonna love what’s coming soon… 👀 Capsule Wardrobe Week is just around the corner! It’s a fun, live event where I’ll help you build a versatile mix-and-match wardrobe in just 5 days. Registration opens next week, so keep an eye out next week — I don’t want you to miss it!
Free Starter Kit Wardrobe Checklist!
A Starter Kit Wardrobe is a small collection of items that kick-starts your wardrobe. Once you assemble this small-but-mighty core collection, you’ll be able to build on to it and create a mix-and-match wardrobe suited to your style. This small core will anchor your entire wardrobe moving forward, enabling you to build a cohesive wardrobe that is easier to use.
With this FREE Starter Kit Wardrobe Checklist, you can get started right away.
In the guide, you’ll find easy-to-follow checklists for casual, work, and athleisure. The checklists are super simple — and that’s the point!
These checklists make the wardrobe building process simpler so that you know what to focus on and can overcome the overwhelm immediately, get unstuck, and finally move forward towards having a wardrobe you love. Get the FREE Checklist HERE!
