How to Wear: Jackets

Jackets are the cornerstone of any accomplished wardrobe. They not only perform in the power suit arena but they are a perfect statement piece as well. The provide polish to any look be it jeans or office attire.

How to shop for your jacket:

1) Fit: The most important aspect of jacket shopping is the fit. The body should skim but not hug. It should lay flat and not gather in the back. If the waist falls right it should be completely flat and not pucker. It should also nip in just a bit at the waist to show your figure. Your a woman and there is no need to try to be otherwise. The shoulders should be feminine and slim. The sleeves may be capped, 3/4, bracelet or just over the wrist bones. Length should be tailored to make you look tall and thin. This will be different for each woman.

2) Avoid: Short sleeves with no embellishment. It makes you look like someone lost in the rat race not living life! Shoulder pads should be artistic not footballish, but use them if you need them. Cropped jackets should not hit you wear you are widest or you will look like a large square. Longer or shorter is the way to go. Double breasted jackets can only be worn open by David Letterman...no one else. If you work in an environment where jackets are a must be careful with embellishment. It can limit the wear-ability of the jacket. You will quickly grow tired of it. Add your own scarves, jewelry and brooches to stand out.

3) Tricks: If you always wear your jacket open, then move down a size so it still nips in at the waist but watch the shoulders, arms and back, they should still fit smoothly. Reuse your long 80's jackets by pairing them with distressed jeans and pushing up the sleeves. This look has a great retro feel. Embellishments which function for a long time are details like ruching, accent stitching, belts, cuffed sleeves, unique collars and lapels, unusual fabrics.

Jackets easily go from casual to work to evening. They can be cropped, short, mid length or long. They can make a fun statement and they can be the workhorse of your wardrobe. Nothing looks more striking than a tuxedo jacket with distressed jeans, a smoking jacket with cigarette pants or a floor length duster and wide leg trousers in place of your LBD.

Femme opens up local closets and selects the best jackets in DFW to share with you. From Chico's for fun to Banana and Taylor for work, from Worth and Carlise for power dressing to Kay Unger and Blumarine for statement making, Femme features it all! So stop by this weekend and find a pick me up for the week ahead!