How to Wear a Blazer with Jeans
by Barbara Cedillo Alvarez
Whether you're a college student going out on the weekend or a young professional relaxing with your friends, you want to put your best casual foot forward and dress well. A blazer can be the key to dressing up jeans and a T-shirt. Choosing a well-made casual blazer, a few pairs of classic or slightly distressed jeans, a white button-down shirt and tennis shoes will put you on the way to achieving a look perfect for a night out or even a casual day at the office.
Wearing a Blazer with Jeans:
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- Understand how to pair jeans and blazers.
Both must fit properly in order for you to carry this look off, so select a tailored blazer. If you plan to go out for the evening, you can add a graphic or vintage T-shirt. However, this look is not appropriate for most offices.
- Leave your oversize jeans at home and choose a more fitted pair.
When wearing blazers, jeans that fit a little more closely work best. Make sure they are a "classic wash" jean: In other words, don't pick a pair with rips in them. Combining a tailored blazer with a dark-wash jean and a dress shirt can work in a business-casual office environment.
- Don't worry that blazers will fit in only at the country club.
Although country club members do wear casual blazers, you can still take a blazer out of your closet and put it on with a tailored shirt, jeans and a pair of tennis shoes. Leave your polished dress shoes at home; the tennis shoes will pull this look together much better.
- Leave the top buttons of your shirt unbuttoned and forget the tie.
You're going for the "casual polished" look, and buttoning the top two buttons and wearing a tie will force you to veer away from this look.
- Add a sweater vest and a striped tie.
For a prep school look, tie a tie loosely, not the way you do for the office and layer a sweater vest over an untucked dress shirt. You can also add a beanie to dress down the tie and vest.
Wear white athletic shoes for a more polished look or put on your favorite sneakers for a laid-back style. Leather sandals make the outfit look more very casual, and this look is best for warmer weather.
Adding a belt and tucking in a dress shirt will dress up the look and make it appropriate for a business lunch or more formal event.