Your workhorse Spring/Summer cotton/linen sport jacket

Ground Zero on a Reevolving thread; never have I been prouder... To answer, pale cream linen jacket. Goes well with just about any summer look, except if you have similar-coloured (but not exact enough to be a suit) linen trousers on. I like this kind of jacket enough to have got one bespoke. It's just a very versatile foundation piece. The most flexible summer item is probably a linen suit rather than just a jacket though, as you can then use the jacket and trousers separately. But I just wanted the jacket in that colour. I'm not as much of a fan of cotton suits of jackets. I used to have an off-white cotton suit and it always wore warmer than I expected. I also used to have a pale beige cotton jacket and didn't like the way it crumpled. I mean, linen crumples, but in an attractive way. Cotton crumples in a less pleasing manner.

Honestly I hate the look of lighter colored suits like khaki and cream. I have a red seersucker jacket that I wear very infrequently because it is so light and difficult to pair with trousers, shirts, and ties. For me, I'd like to get a mid grey and a navy linen suit for the hotter temperatures.

If you don't like cream or khaki, get whichever of navy or tobacco suits your skintone best.


Not the best outfits I've ever put together, but the ones I found when quickly scanning my 2010 daily pics folder that best demonstrate the versatility of the jacket:

Don't forget that my jacket is fairly structured which makes it look a bit more formal; a softer and less structured jacket in the same colour will look less formal. So don't rule it out just yet. I just try on an item and see which looks better, or if ordering, place my hand against the swatch and see if I like the result. If I had to generalise, I think navy comes in enough variety of shades to find one that suits almost any complexion apart from a very dark black, and tobacco is also broad enough to find a shade to suit almost every complexion apart from my own (which is why I only have it for linen trousers, rather than a whole suit). YMMV.

I just got a khaki jacket at the thrift, and I love it, but there are limitations. I'm fair, gray-haired, with pale blue eyes, so as much as I'd like to go for a Casablanca look, I just look like Casper. W.O.E. could rock this look; me, not so much. Be advised. For me, a blue gingham or cambric shirt or my navy turtle is the deal. Also, these summer cotton/linen jackets tend to be almost or completely unstructured, so get back in the gym. On a pear-shaped person, it's not a flattering silhouette.

I think you're overthinking this a bit Rev. A light jacket is great in the summer and won't look to stiff and formal if it's unstructured cotton or linen. Also I don't buy too much into this Flusser skin tone approach. If you offset a khaki/tan/beige jacket with a French blue shirt or a bold gingham you will be fine even for a pasty white Englishman!

I went Polo w/patch pockets. I have 2 blues (one dark navy & one that looks like denim). Looking for a tan/beige/white one but needing dual vents is making that quest all but impossible.

Here is a cropped pic (sorry all I have) of a twill, cotton jacket. Unlined with patch pockets that I find I wear a lot with jeans and a nice blue, white or pink shirt. This one is Borrelli but I think there are many options out there, even J Crew.

I also have this linen one by Luciano Barbera also with patch pockets. Cream linen is wonderful for an occasion like a wedding or a party but is seems a tad precious for everyday wear so it just doesn't get a lot of use. I will get a tan or brown(ish) linen suit next time.

Love the patch pocket..

Great idea...