How to style a blazer (without looking like you're going to a meeting)
A blazer is the most versatile piece in a wardrobe and the most misused. Here is how to wear it without the office.
A blazer carries more weight than any other piece in a wardrobe. Worn well, it makes everything underneath look deliberate. Worn badly, it looks like you are still at work. The difference is in the details.
The fit
Shoulders first. A blazer that fits the shoulders can be altered everywhere else; one that does not fit the shoulders cannot be fixed. The seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder, not on it and not beyond it.
A blazer is a frame. What you put inside it is the picture.
— the studio
The casual version
Blazer over a tee and denim. The blazer does the work and the rest stays quiet. This is the outfit that makes a blazer feel like a choice rather than a uniform.
The evening version
Blazer over a slip dress or a fitted top with a skirt. The blazer adds structure to something soft, and the contrast is the whole point.
The proportion
A long blazer over a short bottom reads as intentional. A short blazer over a long bottom reads as accidental. Match the length of the blazer to the length of the bottom half and the outfit will look considered.
The fabric
Unstructured blazers in soft fabrics read as casual. Structured blazers in wool read as formal. Know which one you are buying and dress accordingly. The edit sorts by structure for exactly this reason.
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