How to dress like a grown up with Shane Watson: The spring jackets that you’ll wear all summer

The trouble with the idea of a spring jacket is it sounds a bit… unnecessary. Nicola Peltz Beckham might need a spring jacket to go with her spring floral hotpants, but most of us can probably do without.

Why does spring deserve its own separate jacket, anyway, when it’s three months of the year and the weather could be wintry (in which case a coat will do) or summery, in which case a cardi will be just fine?

Well, you want a spring jacket precisely because we’re between weathers (and how) and there will come a point when you find yourself beetroot-faced in your fleece-lined coat or shivering in your shirt sleeves. 

And remember: spring is the season of layers and finding just the right thing – not too heavy, not too light – to go on top. 

A spring jacket is also, bear in mind, a jacket that works for summer (when there isn’t a heatwave) and early autumn, too.

No one is advocating buying a jacket you’ll wear only for a few weeks. We’re talking about one that works hard from now until October, with any luck. Here are the contenders.

The spring blazer

Perhaps you noticed what Sanna Marin, the now former prime minister of Finland, was wearing when the election results came in this month? If not, it was a sharp, tailored blazer in soft pink over a white shirt with black trousers.

The coloured, but not too bright, blazer is probably the most useful spring jacket of the lot and this one is a good example. It adds freshness to those classic office staples – a white shirt and dark trousers – and, because it’s pale, you can pair it with white, cream, pale grey or darker shades of a similar colour as it warms up.

For a pink jacket like Marin’s try Zara (£79.99, zara.com); pink and dusty blue are your best bet for colours that will blend in with anything and look right in warm weather.

That said a grey single-breasted jacket is the hot tip for autumn, so why not go early with a pale grey blazer (£35.99, zara.com). This can be your go-to, to sling on over everything from a dress to jeans from now until autumn, when the grey trouser suit is staging a big comeback.

And remember: spring is the season of layers and finding just the right thing – not too heavy, not too light – to go on top. Pictured: Kate, Princess of Wales

Otherwise, a light plaid blazer covers all bases. Take a cue from Victoria Beckham at Paris Fashion Week in a shoulder-draped, plaid double-breasted jacket. For something similar try The Kooples’ Prince of Wales check jacket (£195, thekooples.com). Note: don’t be tempted by linen — it creases.

The elevated shacket

Not as light as a shirt, not as structured as a jacket, the shacket is intended to be worn mainly in spring and the smarter and more jackety, the more wear you’ll get out of it.

Cos has just such a shacket in soft, doubleface beige wool with tortoiseshell effect buttons that looks like a short designer camel coat (£135, cos.com). Wear it on cooler days with a pale sweater, and on warm days, sleeves pushed up, over a white or striped shirt.

A spring jacket is also, bear in mind, a jacket that works for summer (when there isn’t a heatwave) and early autumn, too. Pictured: Katie Holmes

The little black jacket

It doesn’t have to be black but if you’re going for the collarless, boxy, tweed, four-pocket jacket look, then you may as well go for the classic (£69.99, shop.mango.com).

This one has raw edges and good gobstopper silver buttons. The best way to wear it is dressing up a round-neck sweater and smart jeans or wide trousers. With skirts and dresses, these boxy jackets can look frumpy.

The light leather jacket

Thanks to Prada, the beaten-up, oversize leather biker jacket is top of every fashionista’s wish list. Per Una’s version in gingery suede (£199, marksandspencer.com) is the mother of your daughter’s version. Sling it over a dress when the wind gets up.

The spring pea coat

I’m a sucker for a pea coat, which is midway between a coat and a jacket, because its sailory swagger makes it endlessly versatile and it never goes out of style.

They come in different weights and shorter lengths, so a pea coat specially tailored for spring is not just wishful thinking. La Redoute’s version has gold buttons and is hip-grazing (£108.50) or try it in khaki (£77.50, laredoute. co.uk).