If you’re scoffing at the title of this article, you’re not alone. I know some people (including a few clients) who aren’t into layers – especially in spring and summer. After all, why do you need layers when it’s warm out? And you’re already hot (without wearing a jacket)?

But here’s the deal – yes, it’s warm out. It may even be super hot already (depending on where you live). But when it’s hot, there’s typically blasting air conditioning that makes it almost frigid inside. Or you may have warm days, but cool nights. Or you may live somewhere that it doesn’t get all that hot, but you still want to enjoy spring and summer style.

So, I wanted to share a key layer that I’ve recommended to clients for years. And the best part is that it works over so many outfits – and it already may be familiar to you. It’s a white denim jacket.

I love a white denim jacket for many reasons. First, it has the versatility of a regular denim jacket (read this for why I love denim jackets in general). Second, white goes with basically everything (so you’ll be grabbing a white denim jacket often). And third, the fact that it’s white elevates it beyond blue denim jackets (especially faded blue and distressed ones). So, it’s the perfect works-with-almost-everything, goes-almost-everywhere layer.

And the best part is that it’s on trend right now – but I don’t mean that you need one solely because it’s on trend. That just means that there are many options in stores and online (seriously, Google ‘women’s white denim jacket’ and see what comes up). So, you can choose white or off-white or ecru. And you can check out different fits that work for you. (And if you don’t like denim jackets, here’s my other favorite white layer for spring and summer.)

As a little inspiration, check out over a dozen outfits I created for clients with white denim jackets. And then see how many different outfits you can create with a white denim jacket, with what’s already in your closet.

Are you inspired to try a white denim jacket? Comment to let me know how you’ll wear it!

And if you’re looking for more style inspiration, click here to sign up for Style Mail – my twice monthly email with the advice and wardrobe strategies I share with my clients. Style Mail is a great place to start if you’re not feeling great in clothes (but you’re not sure what to do about it). And when you sign up, you also get my free list of style basics that you may be missing – based on what many of my clients were missing before we started working together.