Style - Hope's How-To

Sure summer is — mostly — all sunny sun and beach dates and LWDs, but there is the occasional day of grey clouds and teaming rain, not to mention cool blasts of ice-berg-worthy air thanks to office air-conditioning.

While some shrug on a cardi or opt for long-sleeves, I warm up to the idea of a box jacket with bracelet sleeves and a cute crop. But when it comes to keeping things square, a girl’s gotta know the rules:

Opt to pair a box jacket with an A-line skirt or a breezy summer dress. If you choose to court your jacket with tailored pants, wear a colourful camisole underneath to keep the look feminine.Milly Cropped box jacket, $520, Net-A-Porter.com

2) Skimp on any boisterous baubles around your neck. Most box jackets come complete with a unique collar and stand-out buttons, so accoutrements should be minimal.Chloé cropped linen box jacket, $1,850, Net-A-Porter.com

Step outside the box, literally. Base your look around the box jacket, but don’t be afraid to mix-and-match the jacket’s pattern with your dress-skirt-pants or to wear bright colours. Cacharel cotton tweed box jacket, $520, Net-A-Porter.com