Summer toppers - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Summer toppers

tanstaafl

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, I’m assessing my wardrobe for spring and summer. I’m wondering what others wear for toppers in warmer weather, particularly for business casual offices. My blazers and cardigans are too warm, sand I don’t know what to wear instead.

What do you wear as a topper in warmer weather? Do you have lighter weight toppers or do you wear something else entirely for a third piece?

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Ledonna N.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can show you what I wear from my wardrobe - and I'm dressy - even when I wear flats and denim jackets. I look dressier then most of my business casual clients, actually.

From my wardrobe:

LIGHT blazers
LIGHT indoor coats
Spring Tweed
LIGHT motos
Lace bomber

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Textured Fringe Blazer

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Short Blazer With Zip

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Tweed jacket with zippers

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29

Bergdorf Goodman

J Brand Jeans Classic Light-Wash Jean Jacket

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27

BILLY T Embroidered Denim Jacket

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26

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Helene Berman Rever Lapel Coat

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JAileen

Veteran

Angie covered it very well, of course. I have fewer because my climate flips from cold to hot seemingly overnight. My toppers are for wind and AC. I have three utility jackets, two jean jackets, and two tweed jackets.

Anonymous

I am more casual than you, but one thing I would recommend are merino or silk-blend elbow sleeve knit tops from Banana Republic, a scarf, and an undershirt. This is what I wear in the summer, without a topper to stay warm inside but still look summery while outdoors.

I also wear jean jackets but I know that is out for you.

The Cat

Veteran

If I need a topper at the office in summer, I'll wear a long or short button-front shirt/blouse as a jacket, or a thin cotton cardigan, a linen blazer, or a thin floral bomber jacket.

tanstaafl

Angie - I’d love to find a spring tweed blazer. I’ve been looking for one, as well as a white blazer, for a while now. I have yet to find either in my price range that I like, but I keep looking. When you say “light”, do you mean color, weight, or both?

JAileen - I know what you mean about the weather switching quickly. I feel like we get what feels like one week of beautiful spring weather before the oppressive heat starts. But the AC makes me chilly indoors.

Smittie - yes, jean jackets are out for me. I have been adding more lightweight scarves this year, so I’ll see how they work in summer.

The Cat - I hadn’t considered wearing a shirt as a jacket. Do you have any pictures or links to illustrate?

While browsing Poshmark I saw several short sleeve blazers, but I’m not sure how I feel about them. What do you all think?

Colette

Veteran

Check Ann Taylor for tweed blazers, they are having a 50% off sale.

Anonymous

I actually only wear blazers in warm weather ( spring to fall ) and often throw it over my shoulders if I get too warm . I like linen blends best . I have a few very lightweight bombers that do the trick too . I’m not a huge fan of cardigans , but do like a white linen knit in a relaxed shape for summer too .

Anonymous

If you are saying blazers and cardis are too warm perhaps :
1- layering with a heavier weight shirt over a Tee or tank. During summer I will do this layering while out kayaking or hiking. Sometimes I leave the top layer unbuttoned but use a long washable scarf as belt for style and to have on hand to use for my head, for added warmth or if need be to wipe my brow if it's too warm.
2-The other thing you can do is use a wide scarf over your shoulders but ends tied behind your back making a shrug look.
I always froze at work- hate AC!Wore my blazers and cardis all the time- until leaving work- then you would walk outside at drop from the heat. ugh.

Bijou

Veteran

I have light weight toppers with bracelet sleeves (cooler than a full length sleeve) and I have two cape jackets that have open arms.

Campbell Italian linen blazer in Ratti painted pineapple

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Kate Spade New York textured tweed jacket

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I mean lighter weight.

The Cat

Veteran

tanstaafl, sorry, but I am not at home, and it's still winter here in Scandinavia, so I can't show you pictures of my summer toppers now. Maybe later ...

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I got a couple of great summer weight blazers from KMart/Sears a couple of years ago, one salmon, one navy. I believe this was it:

http://www.kmart.com/simply-st.....&prdN

It didn't look as good when I weighed more, and ordered true to size. Now that I've lost weight, it looks better.

DonnaF

Veteran

How about linen cardigans? Or vests? I have a regular utility vest and a white eyelet utility vest. In addition to the ruffled moto vest below, I have a more normally styled moto vest. The VC drape front cardigan has 3/4 length mesh sleeves so is not that warm.

Leith Ruffle Faux Leather Vest

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Kenneth Cole New York 'Daisy' Vest (Regular & Petite)

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Vince Camuto Drape Front Cardigan (Plus Size)

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tanstaafl

Colette - I’ll check out AT, but I haven’t liked their tweed blazers so far. I prefer a blazer with a lower stance and fitted shape, and AT blazers tend to be more boxy on me.

Lisa p - linen sounds nice and cooler for summer.

Efpgen - I might just need to carry my blazer or cardigan and put it on at work.

Bijou - bracelet or three quarter sleeves sound like a good option.

Carol - I wouldn’t have thought to check Kmart. There isn’t one nearby.

DonnaF - Vests sound interesting, but I’m not sure how to style them for work wear. Maybe more menswear inspired vests would work with my style.

MsMaven

Veteran

Timely post! I'm looking for some light summer toppers to wear with casual sleeveless, both to hide my arms (no matter how much i work out, age has its way) and for cooler evenings, and occasionally sun protection.

I don't need blazers, but I am going to look at other suggestions posted here. Thanks.s

madeline

Veteran

I like open weave cardigans, I have one linen jacket unlined EF brand I think.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

You can order online from KMart. I guess it depends what country you live in.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I have a very casual lifestyle so I find that denim jackets get a lot of wear.I have one mid denim,one dark and a white one.I also wear an olive and a tan utility jacket .I have 2 slightly smarter and more fitted white cotton jackets and a light grey jersey blazer and a linen Navy one.For more unstructured toppers I have a faux tweed cardigan in a white/blue mix and 2 cocoon cardigans one in white and one in red.

Anonymous

This is a hard, hard question that I have struggled with for some time.

The third piece as either blazers or cardigans does not work for me. They are just too hot to wear during the Spring/Summer months. I hear about arctic air conditioning, but have yet to encounter it in real life. Hence, I have given up all together trying to make blazers and cardigans work as a third piece.

I found that wearing a statement necklace works as my third piece. I tried scarfs, but I prefer my neck to be uncovered during the Spring/Summer months.

Joy

Veteran

My favorite warm weather toppers are unlined kimono style or bomber jackets in silk, linen, or rayon. I find polyester and cotton too warm.
Or long vests/ sleeveless jackets or coats.

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Eileen Fisher Shawl Collar Long Vest (Regular & Petite)

$328.00 $163.90

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Halogen Twill Blazer-Style Vest (Regular & Petite)

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tulle

Veteran

Unlined jackets in linen, silk or cotton work well for me, especially in cropped lengths, when I want a polished look. (Right now I have a loose-fitting navy cotton jacket by J. Crew, a collarless, frayed-edge white denim one from Ralph Lauren, and a thin lavender silk with mandarin collar that is vintage Eileen Fisher.) Avoiding linings, especially acetate linings, is important if you don't want to boil in heat and humidity. If you are lucky enough to spot a Summer jacket with a cotton batiste lining, snap it up; they are wonderfully breathable. Thin handkerchief linen shirts in interesting shapes (band-collared, pleated, ruffled, statement-sleeved, etc) can be great as jackets over tank tops on really hot days. (Eileen Fisher's elegant linen shirts often work this way.) I also like cropped cotton cardigans with 3/4 sleeves in pretty colors (J. Crew and Gap usually carry some) to wear over sundresses. They get pretty raggedy by the end of the Summer, so I buy a few each year. Finally, a loose-but-structured statement blouse in a great pattern or interesting texture can often stand alone with a nice skirt or pants, ditto a pretty Summer dress with sleeves--it may be all you need.

Sal

Veteran

I used to wear cardigans but this summer I wore a kimono, a cream open soft jacket, an olive cotton jacket - but mostly it went from long sleeve sweater weather to hot sleeveless weather overnight.

I think lightweight jackets in a light neutral, a dark neutral and a colour are important in an office. They come on and off during the day don't they depending on the weather and activities.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

tank tops dresses tunics the shear the better and scarfs. sounds boring but I buy what I love.