Warm weather has struck North Carolina and with it I tuck away my beloved wool blazers to opt for lighter fare. Out comes the lighter colors, one of my go to pieces being this khaki cotton blazer.

Spring is a great time to bring pieces in to your outfits that are not only lighter in color but also lighter in fabric. Some of my favorite pieces are deconstructed blazers, cotton-linen blends, or other lightweight cotton options. Even wool comes in a summer weight when you are talking about suiting. A khaki jacket can be the spring piece that you break out when you want to elevate your outfit without darkening the tones.

Here is how I styled the Khaki Jacket:

Blazer – Found on Consignment
Pants – 484 Chinos from J.Crew
Shirt – Mine Clothing Found on Consignment
Pocket Square – J. Crew
Belt – Ralph Lauren
Shoes – Rockport

I went for a classic blue stripe button down, a piece which will do any spring outfit justice. Instead of opting for a tie, I chose a floral pocket square. This decorates the top half of the outfit without turning my neck into a sweat band. There are great summer tie options, but for this elevated casual look I decided the pocket square was enough.

Tassel loafers are a great pick for this spring and summer. Instead of wearing boat shoes, aim for a more refined loafer which will really heighten the outfit. These shoes go just as well with shorts as they do pants, as long as they are styled right! The light leather color was the perfect tone for me and really finished out the look.

I used the blazer as the light contrast from the bottom. Remember, that contrast is an easy way to create an outfit. Light top – Dark Bottoms.
Dark Top – Light Bottoms.

I am really into pairing similar colors right now instead of working with contrasts, but that’s a topic for another day!

Check out some of the options and pick yourself up this great warm weather piece.