STYLE

Want to Level Up Your Style Over 40…? Try a Cargo Jacket!

One of the major fashion trends this season is “utility.” I shared several examples of this trend in this post. One versatile and super cool piece that you can invest in to level up your fall outfits…the cargo or military-inspired jacket!

Sale Alert

Before I dive into some simple tips to help you perfectly style your cargo jacket this fall I wanted to share an amazing sale that is happening at Bloomingdale’s!! See all the sale details below.

Early Cyber Event!
$25 off $100
Ends 10/14

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties in Telluride, Colorado

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties in Telluride, Colorado

Rag & Bone Cargo Jacket

Most cargo jackets are olive green which is a surprisingly versatile and neutral color. You’ll easily be able to incorporate it into your wardrobe. The looser fitting jacket I’m wearing above by Rag & Bone… will work really well for layering over sweaters. The length is also great if you plan to wear skinny jeans and leggings. It will cover your hips, butt, and thighs.

The jacket is also 100% cotton so it’s breathable and lightweight which is ideal for those of you who might run hot (or have hot flashes). The cuffs and waistband are adjustable so you can give yourself more shape and create a waist (giving your jacket a little more feminity)!

This is an investment piece that you’ll wear for years to come, but if you are on a tighter budget, I also wanted to share a really great option for less here. 

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties in Telluride, Colorado

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties in Telluride, Colorado

TIP #1 | A Looser Fitting Cargo Jacket Will Be Easier to Layer

The beauty of a lightweight cargo is you can easily layer it over sweaters. In the look above, I’m wearing the jacket over a cashmere puff-shoulder turtleneck. I’ve raved about Aqua’s cashmere sweaters from Bloomingdale’s for years now…(read more in this post.) They make modern, high-quality cashmere sweaters at great prices (for cashmere)! AND, they are on sale right now!! 30% off!! The puff shoulder detail on this turtleneck is the perfect feminine touch. I like adding a feminine piece with the cargo jacket as it is quite masculine.

It’s REALLY cold here in Telluride in the mornings now so I love throwing this jacket on over the sweater. As the day heats up, I take my jacket off and cool down. Both layers are chic and light.

Shop fall jackets here.

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties in Telluride, Colorado

TIP #2 | Wear Your Cargo Jacket with Slim Fitting Leggings Or Jeans

When you are wearing an over-sized, looser-fitting jacket, you should always try to offset the volume by wearing something more streamlined and fitted on the bottom… like skinny jeans or leggings.

The jeans I’m wearing are the Nico High Rise Slim Jeans by Agolde. They’re super high rise (11.25”) which is a must for me! The blackish gray wash is really cool and perfect for fall and winter! I love to wear a wash like this when wearing mostly black to create some contrast. You can create the same contrast with coated jeans like these. Darker jeans like gray and black will also make you look slimmer!

These Agolde jeans have a 27” inseam so they fit me more like normal length jeans. Yay for cropped and ankle-length jeans!

Shop all gray and black jeans here.

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties in Telluride, Colorado

TIP #3 | Look Taller & Slimmer with Dark Boots

Look taller and slimmer when wearing a pair of heels or booties in a similar color to your jeans. Black works best with both dark blue, gray, and black. I paired the outfit with edgy, black Alexander Wang booties that have a cool cutout on the heel. The chunky heel makes these really comfy and easy to walk in. I wear these boots all the time!

You may remember these boots from this post where I shared how to style your jeans with your ankle boots. It’s a MUST-READ!!

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black muscle tee tank by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, Vote mask, and Alexander Wang cutout booties from Bloomingdale's in Telluride, ColoradoHow To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a black muscle tee tank by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, Vote mask, and Alexander Wang cutout booties from Bloomingdale's in Telluride, Colorado

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black muscle tee tank by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, and Alexander Wang cutout booties from Bloomingdale's in Telluride, Colorado

TIP #4 | Choose Layers Carefully Based on Climate

For those of you in warmer climates… Texas, Florida, Southern California, Nevada, Arizona…. you need to be really strategic about your layering. It easily can be in the ’40s in the morning and then 75, or even hotter during the day! In that situation, ditch the cashmere and opt instead for a layer that is light and breezy. Above I’m wearing a modern, sleeveless t-shirt. You may have seen this style of sleeveless tee floating around with the shoulder pads to create sharper shoulders. They are really “in” right now.

Shoulder pads and puff shoulders are SO great for someone with my rectangular body shape because the width across the top makes my waist look smaller. The pads help create that coveted hourglass body shape.

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, Vote mask, and Alexander Wang cutout booties from Bloomingdale's in Telluride, Colorado How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black turtleneck puff sleeve cashmere sweater by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, Vote mask, and Alexander Wang cutout booties from Bloomingdale's in Telluride, Colorado

Important Message

This is NOT political, I promise. Feel free to proceed. I just wanted to share this really important message with you…

Please VOTE.

This vote mask, created by Bloomingdale’s, and award-winning filmmaker, director, and producer, Allen Hughes… comes in a set of two for $18. $10 goes to the non-partisan nonprofit “When We All Vote” encouraging everyone to vote. I love this initiative and think that it’s incredibly poignant.

How To Wear A Cargo Jacket, Erin Busbee of Busbee Style wearing a green cargo jacket by rag & bone, black muscle tee tank by Aqua, gray wash Nico slim fit jeans by Agolde, QUAY sunglasses, Vote mask, and Alexander Wang cutout booties from Bloomingdale's in Telluride, Colorado

TIP #5 | Other Ways To Wear A Cargo Jacket

There are tons of ways to wear a cargo jacket! And it ultimately depends on your personal style. I tend to gravitate toward the more modern, edgy style. But even if your style is super feminine, you can still wear a cargo jacket. Here are a few tips…

Wear A Cargo Jacket With…

  • Feminine pieces – It can be really chic to mix feminine and masculine styles. For example, throw a cargo jacket over a floral dress or lace top like I did in this post for a feminine edgy look.
  • Basic pieces – A cool cargo jacket over a basic white tee and jeans is simple and instantly elevates an outfit.
  • Edgy pieces – If you want to go for a super edgy vibe, pair the jacket with pieces like ripped jeans or combat boots.

How do you wear your cargo jacket? Do you own a cargo jacket or want to try one out? Please share in the comments below!

Huge thank you to Bloomingdale’s for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive some awesome freebies.

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