While at $11,000, Beyonce’s Balmain is a bit out of my range, I can’t help but love this incredibly chic military-inspired look.  Military jackets not only provide a welcome alternative to the basic blazer, but with their structured shapes and slimming cuts, they can be even more flattering.

Check out our three picks below for some wearable options that won’t leave you looking like a member of The Lonely Hearts Club Band.

1. An ideal denim jacket or blazer substitute, Express’ double-breasted military jacket ($79.50) is super flattering and trendy without being over the top.

2. This military jacket from McQ ($550) adds modern flair to a classic angular military shape.

3. Banana Republic’s Heritage military blazer ($152) serves up the trend in an understated, almost preppy manner.

Browse more outerwear in our guides to blazers, leather jackets, and trenches.

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Test those fashion skills in our library of Taste Tests.

And while you’re at it, find out what to wear with your new fall vest, or pick up a discounted J.Crew blazer from our Deal of the Day.

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Over the weekend The New York Times addressed its own article from freelancer Cintra Wilson, covering the new Manhattan J.C. Penney.  The original article was more or less universally viewed as a particularly New York brand of condescension, a rude attack on the store.

The rebuttal, by Clark Hoyt, notes the level of insult: Hoyt quotes the Times’ managing editor, Bill Keller, who mentioned that his mother was a Penney’s shopper, and she would have found Wilson’s review “snotty.”

While we don’t particularly feel Wilson’s pain about not being able to find a size 2 anywhere in the store, the reason we most agree with the Times’ rebuttal is that, hey, Penney’s has indeed been stepping up its game.

Just check out the great blazer we found.  It’ll get you into the second article’s camp in no time.

There’s more out there to get you in the mood for fall, from J.C. Penney or not – peruse our guides to the best leather jackets, trench coats, and foldover boots.

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In the latest summer (semi-chick) flick, Post Grad, Alexis Bledel plays a perfectly nice girl who graduates from a nice school, but can’t find a nice job after college. Her character’s wacky family and her sartorial choices in coats are two bright spots in the movie, and the latter is definitely worth copying.

As a recent graduate from Cali, you’d expect Ryden’s style to be fresh and original, mixing current  trends with some well-worn classics. And she does it perfectly when it comes to her little leather coat.

It dawned on me over the course of the movie that I really need to get one just like it, and this MICHAEL Michael Kors Leather Quilted Detail Zip Jacket ($267) would be an ideal choice.

On her mission to get back the perfectly nice boy she didn’t know she wanted to be with, a cropped plaid blazer like this one from Theory ($445) with skinny jeans, knee-high flat boots, and a perky scarf couldn’t be more perfect.

I think I’ll get one of those too.

Browse more cinema fashion from this season’s other top flicks: The Time Traveler’s Wife, 500 Days of Summer, and, of course, The September Issue.

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Test your fashion skills with other Taste Tests.

And browse more fall fashion, along with skinny jeans and on-trend shoes to wear come September.

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Sweatshirts are cozy but they just aren’t quite right once you hit the adult years.  Stay warm on cool summer evenings with these super-reduced lightweight jackets.

A short-sleeved linen jacket like this collarless option ($50 from $130) is something I’d keep around for years.

Safari jackets, safari dresses, safari everything…it’s one of our top looks for summer.  We’re so glad this short-sleeved jacket is reduced to $60 from $98.

Banana Republic claims this zip-up piece is a suit jacket, but I have to admit that I’m excited to wear it with jeans and shorts ($100 from $225).

More Sales and Deals:

Urban Outfitters: Save an extra 25% off sale items with code 25OFFSALE

Lord & Taylor:  Save up to 75% off sale items and an additional 20% off with code FINALTAKE

Ralph Lauren:  Take an additional 25% off all sale

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A well-cut cropped jacket amps up any outfit.  These cute little shorties are fashionable and useful – they’ll all look great keeping you covered on a cool summer evening.

1. The double row of buttons on this cropped Whitley Kros jacket ($200 from $286) give the contemporary cut a classic feel.

2. A fun, casual piece from the Gap ($30 from $59.50) makes for a great addition to any warm weather wardrobe.

3. Clean lines and a simple black form – this cropped Theory blazer is a perfect investment piece ($355.)

4. This quirky piece from Twelfth St. Cynthia Vincent ($120) will jazz up a simple shorts-and-tee outfit.

5. A short, woven jacket, like this one by Generra ($134) makes for a chic, grown-up sort of look.

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For episode 7 of The Fashion Show, designers were back in teams for the mini-challenge, where they had to make over Harper’s Bazaar staffers from night to day (yes, the presumption is that they slept in those cliched outfits) by using their clubwear and stuff from the lost and found.

And what did winners Johnny and Merlin get? An extra five minutes with (surprise!) Isaac, who was revealed as the guest designer that would be tasking the designers with their main challenge: check out his mood board and design an outfit for his collection.

The mood board had a lot going on: metallics, tribal prints, bright colors, plaids, texture, and a variety of silhouettes. Johnny and Merlin took a risk with this felt jacket, but the audience liked its shape – as did I.

What they didn’t love was James-Paul and Lidia’s fabric disaster. The duo had a promising start with Lidia designing the dress inspired by a fish scale chain, and JP creating a (supposedly complementary) cape with a plaid lining. Together, it was fabric overload and unforgiveable enough to send Lidia home.

Audience faves Anna and Haven put together a colorful tribal-inspired shorts/tank ensemble. But the real winner for them was their wrap coat with the funnel collar. (Buy the Striped Sleeveless top, $95, Sexy Stand Out shorts, $95, and Glamour Wrap coat, $225, here.)

Funnel necks have always been a go-to silhouette for designers, but for a something that’ll work for summer into fall, I suggest this gray Zooey funnel neck jacket ($137). Gray is hot now (it looks great with metallics), and the three-quarter length sleeves  work for both day and night.

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With the random June weather we’re having, some sort of layering is still important, and a denim jacket is just the type of outerwear to help out in this uniquely annoying situation.

The number one cardinal rule of denim jackets is to keep them far away from denim jeans – or skirts, or dresses, or shorts. Try instead to match with a flowy full skirt and white tank. Accessorize with a thick belt and patterned scarf , and make the look casual office-appropriate with a pair of neutral heeled sandals. Finally, opt for a roomy, goes-with-everything tote that can fit an umbrella in case the summer showers start back up again.

Acne Spinal Worn Denim Jacket ($280, was $400)

Silence & Noise Cornelli Tank ($48)

Kimchi Blue High Waisted Oversized Plaid Skirt ($68)

Interlocked Belt ($48)

Virginia Johnson Crisscross Scarf ($98)

Loeffler Randall Leather Sandals ($339, were $595)

Kenneth Cole Reaction Medium Tote ($50, was $69)

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What: Tie-Dye Cloud Scarf, $10

Why: My mother and I used to make an annual pilgrimage to Aéropostale at the beginning of summer to stock up on cheap tanks and cargo shorts for camp. For nostalgia’s sake, I recently re-visited my old haunt, and was greeted by much of the same merchandise. But while my fourteen-year-old self would have freaked out over the babydoll tank in the window, this time my well-over-drinking-age ass got pretty giddy over a blue tie-dye cotton scarf on the sale rack.

And if Mom were still footing the bill, I would have grabbed the pink and yellow too.

Get Yours: aeropostale.com

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