It may be 93 degrees outside, but if you’re a woman who works in an office, you’re likely still reaching for the hot coffee and wishing you’d stashed a fleece blanket under your desk.
The reason you’re so cold at work has to do with the fact that the ages-old formula used to set office thermostats was developed around the needs of a 40-year-old, 154-pound man. So it makes sense that once you arrive at work in your sleeveless summer dress–sensible for Washington’s extreme heat and humidity–you start to freeze.
While wearing pants is a good start to keep the chill at bay, your best bet for staying warm is layering your lightweight blouses with a jacket once you’ve settled in at your desk. Though the arctic air conditioning may have you dreaming of a puffy parka, here are 17 jackets that won’t look out of place with your work wardrobe–all under $100.
This classy crepe jacket is accented with zippers for some extra flair, $24.99 at H&M.
Made with cozy sweatshirt material but structured like a motorcycle jacket, $98 at J. Crew Factory.
This crepe blazer is drapey, easy, and will go with anything, $69.90 at Zara.
This updated tweed look takes an urban twist with its moto jacket cut, $39.90 at Forever 21.
The summery stripes on this knit one-button blazer keep it seasonal, $59 at Nordstrom.
Light and simple, shrug into this waterfall front blazer whenever you get chilled, $51 at ASOS.
More blanket than jacket, this jacquard cape scarf will keep you snug, $60 at Topshop.
This cozy mesh stitch open cardigan will warm you right up, $79.50 at Ann Taylor.
It’s never too soon to start breaking out the suede, and this perforated faux suede jacket will transition right into fall, $88 at Bloomingdale’s.
Look professional without defaulting to a basic blazer, $29.90 at Forever 21.
Make a statement (besides the obvious, “I’m cold.”) with this dark floral print duster, $85 at Topshop.
Cozy without looking too wintery, this wide-ruled knit blazer is your new work BFF, $98 at Anthropologie.
A slouchy boyfriend blazer in a bright color can dress up any outfit, $74 at Nordstrom.
This is practically a blanket. But you can call it a cape if it makes you feel better about wearing it at work, $76 at South Moon Under.
A little bit of edge with this classic cut makes the Stafford zipper jacket a great choice, $54 at Francesca’s.
This casual drapey cargo jacket is a perfect pick for the office–and happy hour after, $89.50 at LOFT.
If it looks like sweatshirt material and feels like sweatshirt material, but it’s cut like workwear, you need it at your side, $59.90 at Uniqlo.
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Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
