KEY POINTS:
If you need to look smart for work you will have to look hard to find a tailored jacket in the spring designer collections.
With the exception of World, virtually every designer has gone mad for dresses and relaxed separates. It could be a knee-jerk reaction to last summer, when the consistently high temperatures made jackets redundant, or simply the continuing drift towards a more relaxed style of dressing. Either way, it has put a bullet into conventional suit styles. The sprinkling of jackets that are around are cropped (see Zambesi number 4 and Catalyst, number 3), sporty (see Kate Sylvester, number 2) or lightly structured and cut with a slight swing (such as at Helen Cherry). They look great with jeans as well as a smart dress or skirt, so they are a versatile buy.
But if you are looking for something that is really up-to-the-minute, the look that was big on the catwalks of Europe for summer 08 was the sleeveless jacket (see Yves St Laurent 5). Track down Carlson's sleeveless black tuxedo, or Alexandra Owen's cropped white bolero jacket - this has button-off sleeves which make it into a cropped waistcoat.
If you don't want to invest in a jacket, teaming a waistcoat with tailored pants is a great way to look co-ordinated without emptying the wallet. Just make sure that the blouse or shirt you wear underneath is lightweight, in keeping with spring's romantic mood.
1. Helen Cherry fine wool waistcoat ($329), pants ($349) and silk chiffon ruffle-necked blouse ($389). Marc Jacobs cream patent leather shoes with gilt striped heels ($849) from Workshop.
2. Kate Sylvester bronze jacket ($495), full skirt with elastic waistband ($375) and silk top ($295). Mi Piaci patent leather sandals with gilt buckles ($220).
3. Catalyst cotton jacket ($399). Beth Ellery jersey and cotton T-shirt dress with drawstring waist ($265). Kathryn Wilson orange and turquoise leather peep-toe court shoes ($249). Resin bangle ($29) from Shellshock.
4. Zambesi piped brocade jacket ($760) and matching pants ($575). Alexandra Owen silk camisole top ($250). Rodo black patent leather bag with optional metal handles ($895) from Ashley Ardrey. David Elman patent leather shoes ($275). Cynch Belts cream leather belt with black resin buckle ($120).
5. Yves St Laurent showed a sleeveless white jacket for spring/summer 2008 at Paris Fashion Week.
Stockists
ASHLEY ARDREY (09) 309 1955
ALEXANDRA OWEN (04) 387 7907
BETH ELLERY (09) 366 1664
CATALYST (09) 837 1001
CYNCH BELTS (09) 307 1160
DAVID ELMAN (09) 520 3850
HELEN CHERRY AND WORKSHOP (09) 303 3735
KATE SYLVESTER (09) 307 3282
KATHRYN WILSON (09)
MI PIACI (09) 520 6559
SHELLSHOCK (09) 360 0324
ZAMBESI (09) 303 1701
