We may not officially be in spring yet, but we’re fast approaching light jacket weather. Such shoulder seasons are an annual highlight for sartorial matters. No longer constrained by dressing for the weather, you can retire your heavy topcoats and puffers in favor of a much more diverse array of layering options. Chief among those options is the ever-versatile lightweight jacket.
It’s a broad category but a rich one. There are sporty bombers, retro Harringtons, rugged field and safari jackets. Different as all these styles may be, they share a few key common attributes: they can easily sit atop heavier sweaters or lighter tees, they can sub in for a blazer or be worn casually. They often offer protection from errant showers and gusty winds but, primarily, they perform the important job of pulling an outfit together. And what’s true for spring will also hold up come fall—in in-between weather, a light jacket will always have your back. From blousons to bombers, here are eight of the best to buy now.