Skip to Content

StarFREE! Wardrobe Checklist Download + Weekly Newsletter DOWNLOAD

The Versatile Field Jacket

Mondays are our Sundays, so they are busy, but I spend more time preparing for the week and cleaning up after the weekend than chained to my desk in my office.

I wore this for school pick up, a quick mental health stop by Homegoods, and then an early dinner with my gang at our favorite local restaurant.

Yesterday was beautiful but crisp and chilly.

As I dressed, I grabbed this olive green jacket and remembered its usefulness.

They are sometimes called “Field Jackets,” or “Utility Jackets”; either way, they are that perfect third layer that pulls your look together.

And they are just as, if not more, versatile than a denim jacket, especially if you are like me and live in jeans.

So I wanted to round up a few affordable options that can easily slip into what you already have in your wardrobe.

Jacket: $108, | Tee: $40 | Jeans : AG Phoebe High Rise Straight Leg Jeans (Sold Out) | Bag: $208| Sunglasses: $65 | Earrings: $65 Sneakers: Veronica Beard similar here

Whenever I share a picture of me in an outfit with a jacket, I get the craziest comments. lol.

So let me say before they start, no, I did not take it off.

I sat in car line, we stopped at some stores, then met the rest of my family for dinner.

And yes, I wore the jacket in the restaurant because I am always chilly.

If I have a day like yesterday where I am in and out of places, I will pick a jacket that elevates my outfit.

We talked about this in the winter, the idea of an “outfit coat.”

It complements a style trick called “the third piece rule” which just means you add a final finishing piece to an otherwise basic combination.

So if you’re wearing a top and bottom, your third piece could be a blazer, a sweater, a scarf, even a belt can count depending on the outfit.

A field coat is a great choice for the cool spring and fall weather.

And it works really well with jeans, white bottoms, a casual spring dress, even shorts!

Above I’m wearing this Utility Jacket by Gap available in sizes regular, tall and petite, in XXS -XXL.

Regularly priced at $108 it’s now marked down 40% Off + Extra 20% Off With Codes GAPVIP & PERK.

I like that it has hidden buttons and a drawstring at the waist.

I’m wearing the large but should have went with the medium, I have a lot of room in the shoulders so consider that when ordering.

Also available in black.

I’m wearing it with a soft and simple tee from Faherty.

I bought this a while ago from the Faherty site, but found it currently on sale at Nordstrom Rack.

My jeans are also sold out so I’m looking for a new recommendation.

These are the AG Sophia Straight Leg.

I picked them up at Nordstrom, you can see their selection here, note they run very small.

I’m still getting use to this straight leg trend.

Something to note is the length of the straight leg makes a difference. You don’t want these to break on top of your shoe, rather, have it skim your ankle.

Here I wore a fun sneaker, we featured these from Veronica Beard when they were on sale last year, so keep wearing them if you scooped them up.

For my bag, I love the Lo & Sons Pearl Crossbody, it’s great for everyday use or if you are traveling.

And you can’t really see them but I’m wearing the Julie Vos SoHo Demi X Stud Earrings for $65.

Other jacket options to consider:

J.Crew Factory has a dark green with gold buttons for $76.00 in regular and petite from XXS – 3X.

Talbots has a “cropped” option that is a little boxy in all sizes including petite, plus and plus petite on sale for $110.


The Versatile Field Jacket
15 Shares

Related Posts

 Join Megan Kristel for a comprehensive, 3 hour long, LIVE Virtual Workshop sharing personal style and shopping tips for women over 40 on March 31, 2023.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Megan Kristel

Megan Kristel is an entrepreneur, working mom, and former personal stylist. Tired of the one-dimensional portrayal of women online, she founded The Well Dressed Life as a resource for other professional women.

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address below to sign up for our newsletter and get your free copy of our Wardrobe Essentials Checklist sent to your inbox.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Melissa

Sunday 30th of April 2023

Megan, I love the field jacket idea. Do you have any pointers to other options that are soft and drawstring waist, in other colors? I'd love to see a whole post on casual third pieces for spring! Thanks.

Laura

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Meg, I love you! Don’t ever lose your gift: I have so many things you’ve recommended, and each time I use them, I think “thanks, Meg!”.

Two things I could use your help with: 1. Some kind of casual sweatshirt dress (like the “house dress” in from back in the day. 2. Summer cowlneck toppers, for those of us who spend summer in Maine, or another cold climate?

Again, love you; you’re the best…

Darlene Bergantzel

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

I love my green utility jacket. It’s the jacket I reach for most often for all but the coldest days and nights. I bought mine years ago from Talbots. It’s a bit more sage than olive green, which suits my coloring better.

Kim

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

I am not a fan of ankle length pants regardless of style or cut. They remind me too much of "high-waters", the pants you outgrew as a kid but couldn't replace right away. I prefer my pants to skim the top of my shoes, and I hem them based on the type of shoes I wear with them most often (flats or heels).

Anne

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Just bought the Gap jacket and sized down one. It will be a nice alternative to a denim jacket - and I do live in jeans on the weekends!

Anita

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

I love my LLBeanFlex Utility Jacket in Navy and my Madewell Northover Jacket in Olive. Affordable and well made, true to size. Always get compliments on them. Thanks for your recommendations and advice. Your posts are so helpful.

Susan

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Thank you for always showing a variety of options. The Gap jacket was a hard pass for me but the J. Crew option is just my style. Absolutely gorgeous!

Monica Young

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Thank you for the field jacket recommendation! This is something I have been wanting and I love the versatility of the olive color. I bought an XL and XXL because I wasn't sure of the size even though "TrueFit" recommended XL. I will see when I have them and can try on