'A winter coat can be a diva, but a spring jacket needs to be a team player. This is not the moment to experiment'
You know that saying, "Ne'er cast a clout till May be out"? I love that. I love that we have a proverb about vests. Proverbs about vests are the sort of thing that makes this country great. And it is excellent advice. You can't trust the weather at this time of year.
Rather than be grumpy about this, I suggest we look on the bright side. Instead of waiting for summer to arrive, and ripping out photos of sandals and sundresses, we should celebrate spring. After all, we don't necessarily get a summer, but spring turns up every year without fail.
A spring wardrobe starts with a jacket, of course. The key elements here are versatility and fit. A winter coat can be a diva, but a spring jacket needs to be a team player. This is not the moment to experiment with a peplum if the rest of your wardrobe is straight-up-and-down, or the right time to indulge a yen for neon florals if everything else you own is navy. Instead, look for a jacket that complements and pulls together whatever your default look is. If you're all about trousers and shirts, find a blazer; if you're usually found in jeans and something pretty in cashmere, a fluffy or furry gilet might work best.
Pick a jacket that is a note or two sharper, on the scale from casual to formal, than most of your clothes. Jackets work better when they are ratcheting up the style level than when they are bringing it down a notch. Consider: a tuxedo jacket over jeans and a T-shirt is a classic, but a denim jacket over a cocktail dress really isn't (unless you are Nigella Lawson).
As for fit, pay attention to how much room for manoeuvre there is underneath, because you'll want to be wearing this over a varying number of layers, depending on the weather. But avoid oversized: the best spring jackets can work with a rainproof layer over the top, so your bejacketed silhouette needs to remain relatively sleek. If you're wearing a blazer, you can add a light trench; if you're in a baseball jacket over sportswear, you could sling on a hooded parka. You are prepared for all scenarios. And no, you won't be cold without your proper coat. Not so long as you were concentrating on the bit about vests.
• Jess wears blazer, £100, shirt, £20, tailored dungarees, £100, and sandals, £55, all topshop.com.
Styling: Lucy Trott at Carol Hayes Management. Makeup: Dani Richardson using Sisley Cosmetics.