We’re officially entering light jacket season—you know, that tricky time of year when it’s basically winter in the morning, but by lunchtime you’re sweating in a vest top. The transition into autumn is a notoriously awkward one, sartorially speaking, which is exactly where the humble “light jacket” proves its worth. Last year, the chore jacket reigned supreme—think classic Carhartt silhouettes and workwear-inspired shapes—but this season, Uniqlo’s Zip-Up Jacket delivers a more refined, elevated take on the trend.
Cut with a boxy, cropped silhouette and finished with utilitarian patch pockets, the jacket riffs off the classic worker style but updates it for now. The corduroy collar detail lends a soft contrast that makes it feel more elevated than its price tag suggests, while the muted palette (soft beige, khaki, natural) slot seamlessly into any capsule wardrobe. For August layering, wear it open over a white tank, tailored shorts and chunky sandals. When autumn really sets in, it plays perfectly over a striped knit and slouchy wide-leg jeans—or even over a slip dress and knee-high boots for a high-low styling twist.
Marilyn wearing a similar now sold-out version of Uniqlo’s cropped jacket
It’s the kind of piece that earns its place in your weekly rotation fast. Think of it as the jacket equivalent of your favourite straight-leg jeans: timeless, easy, and always just right. Whether you’re running errands or heading out for an impromptu dinner, it adds that little bit of polish that says you made an effort—even if you didn’t. No wonder it’s quietly becoming one of Uniqlo’s most-wanted buys of the season. Keep scrolling to shop.