How to wear a blazer

Blazers are useful pieces of clothing as they can offer a quick and convenient way to accentuate an outfit, and it’s possible to use them both for casual and formal occasions. Gone are the days of blazers simply being half of a suit, with many men and women now using them for an array of different events and working them into their regular wardrobes.   

Whether it’s a day out with your family or a formal dinner at an upmarket restaurant, a blazer could be the perfect item to complete your clothing ensemble. To make sure you look your best, you should consider what other items of clothing you could wear with it.

What to wear with a blazer

The items of clothing you choose to wear with your blazer are likely to depend on the material and style of this garment. Blazer materials include:   

Cotton -   

Popular in the summer and warmer days of the year, cotton blazers are lightweight and sit comfortably on the body. Cotton blazers work well with casual pieces of clothing such as chinos, jeans and t-shirts, and they don’t always require formal shoes.   

Wool -   

As a winter alternative, wool blazers are a thicker and heavier option. Wool designs also work with chinos, jeans and t-shirts, and they can complement a range of different types of footwear, including boots.   

Tweed -   

If you want even more warmth than you’d typically get from a wool blazer, tweed can be a great option. Another benefit to tweed is that, despite the traditional, formal look, it works well with a casual white shirt, jeans and boots.  

Linen -   

As the lightest blazer material, linen is ideal for sunny holidays, trips to the beach and family gatherings in the garden. Linen blazers are designed for casual use and are less likely to suit a formal touch. However, if it’s a casual occasion and a warm day, they work perfectly with shorts and sandals or chinos and loafers.   

Another factor that is likely to affect what will and won’t go with your blazer is the colour. Two of the most common blazer colours are blue and grey:  

What to wear with a blue blazer

Just like black, dark blue or navy are base tones and work with almost anything. Due to this, a blue blazer can suit most outfits, both formal and informal.   

For casual occasions, a navy blue blazer would suit a polo shirt, t-shirt or jumper with jeans or chinos and a pair of loafers. If you’re dressing for a more official event, it would be fitting to pair with a jumper or a smart shirt, formal patterned or light-coloured trousers and a smart-casual pair of shoes.

What to wear with a grey blazer

While a blue blazer works alongside most other colours, a grey blazer is a useful item for contrasting between styles and colours. As such, these garments are just as versatile and flexible as blue blazers, with options to use them for almost any occasion. For example, you could consider sticking to similar tones by wearing them with trousers that are white or another shade of grey, adding a more colourful shirt or waistcoat for contrast and finishing it off with some black smart shoes. Alternatively, you could partner your grey blazer with a white smart shirt and black or blue trousers if you want a formal feel.   

For a more casual appearance, consider wearing a t-shirt or polo shirt with chinos or jeans. Your choice of footwear when wearing a grey blazer casually will depend on the rest of your outfit, but loafers or boots are often a sensible choice.