JACKETS I WAISTCOATS

Women's jackets and waistcoats

A jacket or waistcoat can finish a blouse-and-trouser combination. Designs such as Harlow and Otto jackets, alongside Ariella and Lowri waistcoats, offer different starting points for layering in the Dahlia Bianca collection.

Consider the sleeves and neckline of the layer underneath. Compare jacket length with the rise of your trousers to judge the proportions. Fit, fabric and fastening information can be found on each product page.

Building layers with jackets and waistcoats

A jacket creates a frame from shoulder to sleeve, while a waistcoat leaves the sleeves underneath visible. Use that distinction when planning an outfit: a waistcoat offers another way to show a shirt cuff or the shape of a blouse sleeve. Compare jacket length with the rise of the bottom piece. Designs ending at the waist or below the hip create different balances over the same trousers.

Jacket combinations for work and weekends

A jacket worn with trousers and a shirt creates a more defined outfit. At the weekend, try the same layer with a T-shirt and denim. With a printed jacket, choosing one of its colours for the garment underneath can connect the pieces. The office edit offers further combinations to consider alongside the clothes already in your wardrobe.

How should jacket shoulders and a waistcoat fastening sit?

Allow the room intended by the cut. Consider shoulder placement, tension when raising an arm and the way the front closes together. Leave space for the shirt beneath a waistcoat; a size assessed over a thin top can feel different with a thicker layer. Read the fabric information for weight and stretch rather than assuming every jacket in the collection suits the same weather.

Completing a printed jacket with simpler pieces

With printed jackets such as Harlow, consider the area occupied by the pattern as well as its colours. A single-colour top underneath can define the jacket's line. A quieter bottom lets the print lead from shoulder to hem. Consider a skirt as well as trousers: covering or revealing the skirt's waistline creates different proportions. Where the two garments end is central to the combination.

Choosing a jacket and waistcoat for different roles

Rather than treating a jacket and waistcoat only as substitutes, decide what each would do in your wardrobe. A waistcoat reveals the shirt's sleeves and cuffs; a jacket frames shoulder and arm together. If the thickness of the layers beneath will change, consider the measurements with those layers in mind. Compare T-shirts for a simpler everyday pairing and let the relationship of cut and colour shape the result.