In the heat of summer, coats and jackets tend to turn into pumpkins—pieces you just end up towing around like luggage. A more hands-free, practical and seasonally friendly layering piece is the cardigan. Not the woolly knits from fall, but the light and wispy (even sheer) silk, rayon, modal, bamboo, supima and organic cotton variety.

Several designers are showing their most interesting interpretations of spring and summer trends through the lightweight cardigan. Draping and body conscious sculpted silhouette are both showcased in this V Asymmetrical Cardigan from Collection K designer Sharon Wauchob. Plastic Island does Avant Casual well in this long, lightly deconstructed Raglan Sleeve Cardigan. Here's a few more summer cardigans worth a look.