I love the finish and structure a blazer adds to a look. They work magic, defining your shoulders and, if you’re doing it right, your waist–all the while adding a bit of polish. As temperatures rise, they unfortunately also add unwanted warmth. Cue one of my favorite pieces coming on strong for summer 2015: the sleeveless jacket. All of the chic. None of the heat.
“Isn’t this just a vest?,” you might ask. Kinda. The key differences you’re looking for in on-trend pieces are length–it should hang below the hip. And tailoring– you want defined shoulders and menswear-inspired details like lapels and suit-style pockets. Use Olivia Palermo’s style at right as inspiration and get the most from yours by layering it over both long and short styles, day and night.
Stylist Tip: Single-breasted styles with clean pockets work for every figure. Flap pockets will balance bigger-on-top body types. Avoid them if you carry more weight in your lower half.