Women's Softshell Jacket from £12.85 : A Practical Guide for Fit, Fabric and Bulk Buying

A men's softshell built with straight seams and dropped shoulders won't sit right on a woman's frame: sleeves run long, the shoulder seam sits too far out, and the waist has nowhere to nip in. The women's range fixes this at the pattern level: contoured side seams, a shaped waist, and shorter sleeve lengths that don't need rolling up. Most models also use a fabric blend with added elastane, giving four-way stretch that keeps the fitted look from restricting movement during an active shift.

Two build types run through the range, same as the rest of the softshell category:

• 2-layer jackets bond a woven outer shell directly to a fleece lining — light, warm enough for indoor-to-outdoor roles, and generally the easier option to print or embroider on.
• 3-layer jackets add a breathable membrane between the two, pushing water resistance up to around 8000mm on the more technical models — worth it for anyone spending real time outdoors.

The same construction options extend to men's softshell jackets and kids' softshell jackets, making it straightforward to outfit a mixed team or a whole family in matching styles.

Two terms come up repeatedly across the catalogue: fitted and slim fit.

Fitted styles follow the body's natural shape without being tight, which tends to suit most workwear settings. Slim fit goes a step further, with a closer, more tailored silhouette — a better match for front-of-house or client-facing roles where the jacket is as much a styling choice as a functional one.

Sizing generally runs XS to 4XL, though the exact range shifts slightly by brand, so it's worth checking each product page rather than assuming consistency across Regatta, Russell and SOL'S alike.

In terms of colour, the women's range currently covers black, white, red and green, alongside navy, grey and a few other shades depending on the brand.

The tighter seaming on women's softshells doesn't change how well the fabric takes a logo. Embroidery remains the sturdiest option for a long-lasting corporate mark, holding up well through repeated laundering.

For anything with more colour or detail, heat transfer or digital print works cleanly on the smoother "printable" fabrics used across several Result and Regatta models.

One practical note specific to fitted cuts: a large chest logo can distort slightly across a more contoured seam line, so smaller placements or left-chest logos tend to translate better than oversized back prints.

A softshell gilet or sleeveless vest version is worth considering for roles that need core warmth without restricted arm movement — reception staff, kitchen teams, or anyone working at a counter all day. For genuinely wet or windy outdoor conditions, a 3-layer jacket with taped seams and a higher water-resistance rating is the safer choice over a 2-layer fleece-lined style, which is really built for comfort rather than sustained weather protection.

Since sizing isn't standardised across brands, ordering a single sample garment before committing to a full team order is generally worth the extra step — particularly when mixing brands within one order. There's no minimum order quantity here, so testing fit across a couple of styles before scaling up is straightforward.

Wash at 30°C without fabric softener, which strips the water-repellent finish over time. Air-dry rather than tumble-dry, especially for 3-layer jackets, since heat can degrade the internal membrane and shorten how long the waterproofing actually lasts.