Picture this: It’s a Saturday afternoon in the middle of July, and you’re getting ready to meet friends for sunset drinks. You’ve just put on that new summer outfit you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to wear. You’re about to head out the door and are thinking, “I could probably use something to layer on top. Maybe the restaurant’s AC will be blasting, or perhaps the temperature will dip once the sun goes down. Either way, a lightweight summer jacket suddenly feels like an essential part of the outfit.

While jackets aren’t usually top of mind during the summer months, they deserve more attention than they get. We spend plenty of time fixated on finding the chicest dresses, elevated flip-flops, and pretty skirts, but warm weather isn’t always as predictable as we’d like.