Mid-Season Summer sales have come to an end and Fall collections are on the way. Can you believe it! The seasonal switcheroo seems to happen a little earlier each year, but I’m not complaining. It will be Autumn weather in my neck of the woods before you know it. 

Here are six big jacket trends for Fall and Winter 2013. Each trend is very broad and can be interpreted through many different styles, fabrications and colours, both in tailored and oversized fits. Despite this variety, the overriding silhouette will make the jacket distinguishable as “a moto”, “blazer” or “bomber”. 

Bomber: We saw bombers fringe trending last year and now they’re mainstream. They are boxy, sporty, and fabulous with dresses, skirts and tapered trousers.

Moto: This is an iconic classic — especially in a tailored fit — that can be paired with just about anything. Cutting edge motos are very oversized, and literally look four sizes too big. I doubt these fashion forward versions will go mainstream, but you can’t go wrong with the iconic classic.

Blazer: A clean-cut modern classic that is updated every few years. Trendy blazers have a low stance with one or two buttons, and a narrow revere collar. Or they are double-breasted with a low stance. They are “multi media” and might have leather, lace, or colour blocked insets. 

Tuxedo: Another modern classic we borrowed from the boys. They’re popping up in all sorts of patterns, lengths and colours, which make them all the more fun and different. 

Military: It’s an officer’s military jacket complete with shiny buttons and the odd epaulette. This flavour of military jacket wafts in an out of fashion, and each time it does, there’s something a little new about the look. This season we’ll see cropped and boxy military jackets alongside the longer tailored versions. 

Avant-garde: A non-classic style that is arty, sometimes asymmetrical, architectural and boxy, usually quite dramatic, and full of interesting design elements that make it unique. Avant-garde styles have a long expiry date because they are pretty trend-immune, but don’t look classic either. 

Round Shoulder: The round shoulder jacket is all over current catwalk shows, both in tailored and oversized silhouettes. Its balloon shape over the shoulder and sleeve creates a very round effect, which is how it gets its name. They are like the jacket version of a cocoon coat. The bomber jacket in a rigid fabrication creates a similar “round shoulder effect”, and that could be your way of sporting the trend. I expect the oversized versions to stay fringe, because it’s easy to feel swallowed up in the style. But the tailored versions look very wearable, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they fly out of stores. 

You’ll also find jackets that are hybrids of these trends, like a moto with military flare, a blazer with avant-garde detailing, or a round shoulder jacket with a tuxedo collar. You’ll see familiar styles in unexpected fabrications. Like a tweed moto, leather blazer, or sporty bomber in suiting fabric. 

I love Fall fashion so I’m excited to see it in stores. At the same time I’m really enjoying my Summer clothes because we’re finally having wonderfully warm Summer days in Seattle. I am sans jacket for most of the day and it’s blissful.