I’ve had to swear myself off LSJ’s (LSJ = light spring jacket) after getting rid of all the ones I bought last year, and one this year even. I’m just not a “jacket” person as much as I try (I prefer cardigans). But here are some that have caught my eye recently, one or two I might have bought if I hadn’t banned myself from trying them anymore LOL
Mara Hoffman Temple Jacket | $575
ORGANIC COTTON AND reversible!!! SO GOOD. Sorry I’m “yelling” but I keep adding and taking this out of my cart. I am really drawn to the colors (I know!!), and of course, I also love that it’s reversible to black 😉
Eileen Fisher tencel/linen shirt jacket | $328
I like this one a lot – and appreciate that it comes in petite lengths, also that it can be buttoned up and worn as a dress…
Caron Callahan Krasner Jacket | $353 (20% off with code TAKE20)
simple, no nonsense jacket. I like this better than a traditional “denim” jacket TBH
Everlane modern utility jacket (cotton) | $78
this looks very good…if a little stiff…
Writer Trench Coat by La Garconne Moderne (cotton/nylon) | $800
swoon….this entire outfit is my dream look.
Nehera classic linen jacket | $596
summer suit anyone??
And of course Garmentory (get a $20 account credit when you sign up for one using my referral link) has the motherlode of LSJ’s:
Grei crossover jacket (tencel) | $395
Of course, I love this color right now and that this has a tie-waist
Bllumade shirt jacket (linen) | $260
excellent double-duty piece (wear it as a shirt, or a jacket)
7115 by Szeki kimono jacket (cotton/linen) | $238
just gorgeous…
Elizabeth Suzann Clyde jacket (linen) | $245
Of course I am drawn to this jacket too…who has one?
Ozma smock jacket (linen) | NWT small for $200 at Slowre
I love this so much, but it’s not for me…
Which is your favorite? are you in the “give me all the LSJ’s camp”? or more of a cardigan girl??
I have a few spring jackets, but I rarely wear them, or I only reach for one specific one. I think I do more cardigans than jackets, but I have fewer cardigans than I do jackets – go figure. The Bllumade shirt jacket is so pretty. I love the color. I also like the Nehera one.
in my head, i like the more structured look of a jacket, but when i go to wear structured things, i just can’t…
Love the Hoffman, EF and the La Garconne! Especially the latter. That is exactly what I always look for except in petite in a softer fabric (nearly impossible to find, I am coming to terms with I may need to find a pattern and have it made as my own sewing skills are not quite up to the task).
I’m assuming LSJ means long sleeve jacket?
BTW G, I wanted to mention again in case you did not see my earlier comment on the laundry post. For front loading HE washers, check under the rubber piece around the opening. Hair, dirt, etc can collect there. Wiping it down should help with the odor issue.
lsj=light spring jacket 🙂
will clarify that in the post…
yes, i saw your comment, just not being great at responding to everything lately!! i will definitely start doing that after every weekend.
LSJ = light spring jacket.
And no, I don’t wear them. Cardigans all the way. Or sometimes just a scarf. They’re one thing I love on others but not me. I used to wear blazers too but not anymore.
I get that way too, and I can’t figure out why! I love the look of some jackets, even blazers and suits, but when I put them on, I just feel WRONG. Like it’s too stiff and grown up? What does it even mean…
I tried to buy a jacket for a conference I have coming up in Salt Lake City but couldn’t find anything that felt right. So I’m just going to layer lots of knits. lol
right? I don’t know why!! it’s frustrating, because i love the look, and i even like it on me most of the time, but a jacket hardly ever “feels” right.
yes, to “stiff & grown up” lol – maybe that’s it…
That Mara Hoffman Jacket is the best. I absolutely love it! Too bad I can’t justify it, the past few years it seems like we’ve gone from winter to hot as fuck with barely a week or two in between. But I’m swooning over the idea of it.
I live in blazers & jackets. I recently got the Only Child Cardiff Trench in Camel in the Cotton Canvas. I love it so. It is a bit stiff, but I love the stucture and it softens with wear. It is the perfect pop of color for me. She also came out with a linen version which might be more casual and less “adult”. I also have the Tradlands Chore Coat in black that I wear a few times a week. It is that perfect bridge between casual and dressy for me. I also wear a EF linen kimono jacket quite often.
I love cardigans and sweaters too, but sometimes feel frumpy in them. I funk them up a bit with button up shirts and layers to make them look a bit more styled, which I don’t have to do when I throw on a blazer or jacket.
i immediately thought of you when i saw the mara hoffman jacket 🙂
i almost just said fuck it and ordered it today, but i know it would be too big all around for me and i wouldn’t be comfortable in it…
You know me so well 🙂 I am so “wears all prints and colors all the time” on the Talia moderationism scale! Haha!
NYC weather is so bad, I fluctuate between big ass winter coat and no coat at all. And if I’m indoors and need a layer, I’d be more likely to wear a cardigan. If the weather was slightly cool outside, which it never is, I’d probably wear a LSJ more often. Maybe when I move back to the west coast, LSJ’s will become more relevant. Love that denim jacket. Not a huge fan of the everlane jacket. I got the email ad with it today and was not a fan of how it looks on the model.
Having split the last few years between New York and Tucson, I’m a fan of the LSJ (which does double duty as a “winter” jacket in Tucson). For windy, drizzly days I have a Filson waxed canvas field coat that is a dream come true in regards to utility. I’m a sucker for those roomy pockets! When the sun really starts to shine, I have a softly structured linen coat I found second-hand years ago. It’s reminiscent of the ES Clyde: no closure, loose-fitting, though it’s without pockets. I’ve been mulling over ordering the Clyde and would love to hear other’s thoughts if anyone has one!
I also have one trusty cardigan I throw on over tanks if I’m anticipating it being cold indoors or in need of something a little more formal. It’s a draped cashmere one from Calypso St. Barth, and though it was the ultimate whim buy for me, it’s turned out well! I like that it’s still architecturally interesting without any harsh lines.
Like you, I’m attracted to a lot of hard structure and stiff forms, though they never feel quite right on and I end up never wearing them. I had to finally embrace the fact that I might be more of a “hippy” than I thought, and enjoy lots of knit layers 🙂
I’ll agree with that! My southern California life is way more conducive to the LSJ than my east coast life ever was. It’s never cold enough here for a real coat, but I often throw a sweater-blazer or denim jacket of some sort over whatever I’m wearing. Although I do also wear a ton of longer cardigans too.
I’m obsessed with LSJ’s, can’t seem to stop buying them and I’m in a part of the world where they actually would serve well for quite a few months of the year! Unfortunately I’m not so good about wearing them out. Although my Elizabeth Suzann Harper jacket in navy linen recently arrived and it is definitely my favourite LSJ!
I think the key is balancing the structured item with something more casual/comfortable – for me anyway. I can wear structured items, but I always need to make sure I’m not too aware of it and being “stiff” because I’m wearing it.
Grechen do you think you’ll be reviewing the new Everlane utility jacket? I’m all for LSJ because I like a little structure. More EF, ES, Caron Callahan. Not so much the atelier Delphine haori style. I agree with on commenter that cardigans make me look frumpy. And I don’t want one that’s in between a short coat and a trench.
I wear both, all year, often at the same time too! The weather here ranges from high 80s to minus 45. And once I actually lived through a 30 degree temp change in a few hours. Love me a cardigan, love me a little jacket. The cardigan provides warmth, and can be stuffed in a purse or tote, and the jacket cuts the wind or, in warmer weather, protects from the sun (I hate sunscreen) or air conditioning, when even a light sweater would be too hot.
Try a knit blazer! I’ve had a couple in the past – they work better for me than a “suit” style blazer…..
I meant I *want one* that’s between a short coat and long trench
I meant I *want one* that’s between a short coat and long trench
The Elizabeth Suzann linen Clyde Jacket is literally the most versatile, cozy, comfortable jacket I own. A truly perfect LSJ. I’ve owned it for about a year now (purchased at launch) and I still wear it more than any other piece of clothing in my closet. Buttery soft, roomy enough to layer, and breezy cool when it’s warm– it’s honestly amazing.
oh, you’re bad, making me tempted again 🙂 what color do you have? how do you find the sizing?
Haha– I know how you feel!! But in all honestly, out of the several ES pieces I own, this has by far been the best investment. I have the linen navy in a size small. I think the navy is the perfect color (though the linen flax and clay cotton canvas fill me with longing). With the navy I find that it works with both light and dark color schemes, as well as casual and dressed up outfits. I have washed it normally and liberally, and as a result have noticed some fading around the seams, but it still looks great. Because the jacket is roomy, I would recommend sizing on the smaller side of whatever range you normally fall in. I am 5’9″ and normally wear a medium, OS in ES. I have long arms and it falls about 1.5″ above my wrists. This has not been a problem in cooler weather, especially because of the shawl collar (it also looks great layers with lighter sweaters and log sleeves). I have a friend who wears an OS+ in ES, she has tried it on and it looks great on both of us, though she ended up ordering a Large in the canvas. I think because the linen has more drape, the sizing is pretty flexible.
If you’re even thinking about this jacket, try it. It is literally the perfect transitional weather piece– I can’t recommend it enough.
I also have the Clyde jacket in navy linen! It is my favorite thing I own! I love love love a good jacket, though. I always wear the sleeves rolled up 3/4 length. Speaking of summer suits. I’m thinking of doing my own summer suit with matching Florence shorts?
Thank you ladies for confirming that the Clyde jacket is amazing! Now only to narrow down the color I want!