Can you help me with a stylish "layer" for cooler evenings on a European city break?

[fuuuuckthis]

Going for a couple of nights, day time temp will be 18 hopefully but could be cooler and evenings will drop right down (going early April).going with new-ish partner and want to look half decent! I'm thinking dresses will be my friend as I can wear with trainers during day then dress up a bit with jewellery and different shoes at night...but dont want to spoil this by having to stick a jumper on top!
Am early 50s, size 10, pretty short, fairly "young" style...my dresses are t-shirty / long mainly from h&m , uniqlo etc.
Don't want to fall into mum uniform with trainers and denim jacket ..unless maybe with a lighter, more up to date styled one? Help!

Last year I got an oversized denim jacket from Next it was the Mylene Klass version. I really like it as a light holiday jacket and looks great just sat over the shoulders rather than arms in sleeves too. Goes with everything

I don’t think I’d wear denim in Italy unless I was out in a rural area. If I had something smartish in my wardrobe already I’d probably take that and then add some more casual elements rather than springing for something new. I would also think of layering under the dresses. So these pictures are slightly imperfect examples of what I mean but they happen to be images I’ve saved for myself so do the job
you could layer the dresses over a thin merino sweater with skinny sleeves or a sheer top. I have a sheer leopard print top I layer under short sleeves
You could layer the dresses over trousers or jeans. I just wore a long crinkle dress from Arket over some navy trousers from Uniqlo for a London day out this week because the temperature had dropped.
Sweater worn as scarf… this is an Amy Smilovic ( Tibi ) styling tip too. Wear it over the jacket, around the waist, under the jacket and with the arms wrapped around the neck so it just looks like a scarf rather than a jumper. Italians have great knitwear. This is a cooler option than taking a pashmina imo
wear a utility jacket under a smarter blazer / jacket. Uniqlo do puffer gilets that will sit under blazers
General layering with a short scarf and a decent size bag so any element can be put away if you’re too warm. It doesn’t want me to attach pictures but I’ll see if I can add them.

Im 55 for reference

I have a few ponchos from Jigsaw. They are absolutely brilliant and go with everything. I even wore one over my wedding dress when it got chilly in the evening. All of mine are from eBay.

https://ebay.us/m/Uh3c9o

How about this pale turquoise bomber from H&M? Someone posted it on S&B the other day and I keep thinking about it.

I have this jacket and it works very well, especially with wide leg trousers,

https://www.reiss.com/style/st096304/t83907

have a look on vinted as they do come up, this one is an 8 though.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8352186662-reiss-ladies-black-leather-jacket-with-matt-black-hardware?referrer=catalog

this one is more biker,but could work.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7958843587-reiss-leather-jacket?referrer=catalog

and this is really nice

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/3507427160-reiss-leather-jacket?referrer=catalog

18 degrees is not really summer jacket weather and if it gets much cooler in the evenings I think you're being very optimistic. Just take what you normally wear in spring or autumn.

I wear a denim jacket in the summer but that's for temperatures around 20 and above.

Hi @minnowonthesay where is the bubble denim jacket from in the picture you posted? It’s so nice!

It’s Boohoo @CrispySquid
https://www.boohoo.com/product/boohoo-funnel-neck-denim-bomber-jacket_hzz46269?colour=mid+blue

Oh my goodness this thread is going to cost me a fortune😅
So many beautiful choices thank you all.
I'm glad it's giving other people ideas too.
I actually want every single jacket linked to.

One thing I am noticing is that everything is being styled with very cool trousers...am I going to look mumsy in dresses? (They are not mumsy looking I dont think). I struggle with finding decent trousers at my short and stumpy height.

@Gwenhwyfari think of 18 as being toasty! But you're right, the evenings will be v cool won't they.

Coombe Lane Jacket - Seasalt Cornwall

My friend was wearing an M&S bomber jacket and it was lovely. I assumed designer.
She's 50, and trendy

Women’s Coats & Jackets at M&S

If you want to look stylish I was always told to layer from beneath so a camisole/vest under the dress rather than a cardigan/blazer over the top. This was also reiterated I think by a TV style
guru but can’t remember who.

I have just got back from Marrakech where it got cooler in the evenings, & I took my cashmere poncho from the a white Company. - perfect!

What is your budget, OP? (Unless I've missed it.) You've mentioned it a few times so if I suggest anything I don't want to exceed it. And you say your new partner has a good eye for clothes. Do you know where he buys his from, as this could guide you?

So you like denim, you like chore jackets, you like quilted, you like bombers? There are loads of quilted indigo denim jackets out there. Though IMO the bomber style will date far more quickly, so I would avoid it. Maybe a kind of chore-meets-quilted indigo denim jacket? (I nick my partner's chore jackets from Folk Clothing ... I may even have bought them for him with that in mind!!)

You might still get a breezy day or showers, as well as it being cooler at night. So I'd also avoid a thin linen one. It won't act as a wind break if it is cool. I'd also avoid suedette - it feels horrible! And pale colours as I think it's harder to keep them clean on holiday. There are quite a few really thin-looking jackets posted here - they may look nice, but as @Gwenhwyfar said, I think you might be underestimating the temperatures at night!!

Not sure what colours your holiday wardrobe will comprise, but indigo denim, black leather or khaki quilted cotton etc should go with most things? Especially if you dress quite casually/sportily? And yes, it's all about the cut!! I like the Reiss leather ones posted - they're quite classic clean lines & leather is very windproof. Maybe even a leather or suede blazer might work (hard to tell without seeing your dresses/trousers) or a denim blazer.

I have this exact one (bought from Lands End, not Debenhams) and I get so many compliments on it I sometimes wonder if it looks different than I think it does! But, genuinely, everyone comments on it.

How about one of the cropped jackets from M and S . I saw a presentation of their Spring collection and there were some lovely ones. Not sure when due to hit the stores though.

I like this a lot - but if it's linen (albeit with a polyester lining), will it be enough in cool evenings?

If you are going to northern Italy in April then you definitely need something warmer than a cotton jacket. I would take a light coat and a cardigan or jumper.

This will probably be over your budget (though the indigo denim is £95 which is for some reason cheaper than the other lighter denim), but it's a very clean-cut chore jacket that would go with lots. And you could add a thin layer below if need be.

https://communityclothing.co.uk/products/womens-chore-jacket-indigo

This one is waterproof, & the navy is reduced.

https://www.whistles.com/product/ida-short-quilted-coat-38953.html

They also have this simple wool blazer well-reduced, if you want to try one of @Divebar2021 's suggestions of layering.

https://www.whistles.com/product/single-breasted-wool-blazer-40384.html

This is more lightweight so might well need a layer below. Comes in four colours.

https://www.whistles.com/product/crepe-boyfriend-blazer-31692.html