How to Style a Jacket with a Dress

You've just thrown on a fabulous dress, and you're feeling ultra-confident. But not so fast! There's a chill in the air, which means you'll need to layer up with a jacket. Now comes the struggle of selecting a coat that won't clash with your dress and instead enhances the overall look. 

But this situation doesn't have to be so stress-inducing. With the right tips, co-ordinating your jacket to your dress can be a lot of fun. To help you out, we'll introduce some of our favourite jacket-and-dress combinations.

Want to brush up on your overall jacket expertise first? Have a read of our jackets and coats guide.

How to Style a Denim Jacket with a Dress

Denim jackets offer such a rustic style. We particularly love slightly distressed denim to create a look we call lived-in luxe, a slightly worn style with a cool-girl attitude.

The rougher texture of denim makes the perfect contrast to the flow of a maxi dress. This layering of different textures is also ideal for boho chic. We especially love how a lightweight denim jacket complements floral styles for a boho-inspired spring look. 

How to Style a Leather Jacket with a Dress

If you love that vintage rock-and-roll aesthetic, this is the dress-and-jacket combo for you. 

The trick is to choose a well-fitted leather jacket for a sleek silhouette. For example, biker jackets have a structured look that creates a beautiful contrast with the flowing skirts of midi and maxi dresses.

If you're aiming for a vibrant autumn look, opt for a midi dress in deep burgundy, electric blue, and autumn florals. Pick a jacket that complements the colour palette of the dress. Earthy hues, like brown and green, are fabulous choices for the season.

How to Style a Military Jacket with a Dress

A military jacket is a fitted style inspired by historical army uniform styles. It’s typically quite ornate and slightly cropped. 

Pair it with a midi dress for a polished look that’s perfect for drinks or dinner. A fitted dress with this tailored jacket type creates an ultra-sleek and sophisticated style when worn with heels.

How to Style a Tweed Jacket with a Dress

We love tweed at Joe Browns thanks to its country-chic, old-money-inspired heritage style. It’s also a style associated with a masculine aesthetic, meaning it contrasts beautifully with your dress for a chic look.

For a cosy autumnal look, tweed over a knitted dress offers such a classically British style. Want to create a vintage aesthetic? Lay a tweed blazer over a tea dress for a blend of forties-inspired fashions. 

How to Style a Longline Coat with a Dress

The number one rule when layering a trench coat over a dress is to ensure your coat is the same length or longer than your dress. This gives your look a single, sharp hemline for ultimate elegance. 

Trench coats pair stunningly with maxi dresses for a long-on-long look that’s always graceful. Or, for a chic and striking contrast, throw a trench coat over a mini dress for two drastically different hemlines that will always turn heads. This look is especially glam with boots. 

How to Style a Formal Blazer with a Dress

Velvet, velour and moleskin blazers are wonderful for occasions, as they offer such a luxurious texture. They pair gorgeously with sleeker, streamlined or figure-hugging dress styles. 

If you need a lighter layer for a spring or summer occasion, try a lightweight tailored boucle blazer in a colour that complements or coordinates with your dress. A slightly cropped blazer works beautifully with a summery maxi dress or an A-line retro-inspired midi dress.

The Formal Dress/Casual Jacket Combo

If the dress code isn’t too formal, one outfit that always looks effortlessly cool is a casual jacket over an occasion dress. Denim over a magnificent party dress creates a contrast of glamour and laid-back luxe that’s simply irresistible. Meanwhile, a leather jacket over a party dress adds edge to your occasionwear for a grunge-and-glam clash we love