Inspiration: Jackets

Many of you know I love love love all the Built by Wendy books, mostly because they're so design-based, allowing you to consider endless possibility of variation on basic patterns. I received Built by Wendy Dresses on the eve of Winter, and now, Built by Wendy Coats & Jackets, on the verge of Spring. Since my sewing seems to follow the needs of the season, I'm not sure how much I'll dip into this book immediately, but I wanted to share this book that I've been obsessively reading.

Like her other books, this comes with three basic patterns: Fitted jacket at the waist, basic jacket at the hip, and a straight coat to the knee. These three patterns are used in 23 variations total.

Here's a version of the fitted jacket:
What I love is the additional options for fabric and notions:
It's these sort of options that get my mind going. For example, I've been eying a colleague's jacket that I find really classy and I bet I could recreate it with navy blue ultrasuede and a black and white herringbone collar.

Another fitted jacket variation:
Classy, reminds me of a Stewart & Brown coat I just saw on eCouterre.

And another:
Sigh. I've been wanting a blue coat.

Here's a variation on the basic jacket:

And one on the the straight coat:

All this jacket dreaming has got me thinking about this brown vintage fabric I've had in my stash and haven't known what to do with:

Now armed with a basic pattern, I'm thinking: A basic jacket with a hood lined with this flannel, big patch pockets, and closed with toggles. Oh, my classic collegiate leanings come forth. Could be great for spring!

You know, I've never been a jacket person. Cardigans have always served this function for me, as they're stretchy and portable. But I love how a coat during the colder months can really give me a tailored look no matter what I'm wearing beneath, and so my mind is veering toward jackets during the warmer months. The opening to the book really resonated with me:

Some people say the most important building blocks of a woman's wardrobe are a little black dress and a great white shirt. While I certainly couldn't live without either of those, I think the real key to always looking stylish is the right mix of great coats and jackets. After all, unless it's the hottest part of summer, you usually need something to cover you up, and you only look as good as your outermost layer. There's arguably no other garment in which function and fashion play such equally crucial roles.

What do you think? Is our outermost layer the key to pulling a look together? Are you a jacket person? What jackets do you find most useful?