Transitional Season Essentials: The Blazer Jacket

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Introduction

It would appear that summer is over. We are, after all, midway through September and Christmas is nearly here. Again. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. When it comes to dressing, I find autumn/winter a far more exciting and engaging season – better textures, better colours and better layering options. Sadly, it isn’t yet cold enough to break out the chunky roll neck, but it is definitely getting cooler and it’s time to pack away the shorts, bury the espadrilles and banish all thoughts of another sunny day on the beach. We’ve been covering the awkward transitional period in recent weeks; considering how to make the most of this strange period and highlighting a few of the key pieces that will play a major part in your wardrobe in the coming weeks. Today it’s the turn of outerwear… but not in the way that you might expect.

Blazers As Outerwear

Ask any sartorially-inclined man to reel off a list of essentials (if you believe in such a thing as ‘essentials’) and you can almost guarantee that a blazer (probably navy) will be near the top. Personally, I’m not so sure, but it is certainly undeniable that the blazer constitutes a significant part of many a man’s wardrobe. Blazers are, of course, very easy to wear: put on a shirt and just throw your blazer over the top. However, I don’t think it would be unfair to say that whilst this approach will create a smart and well put together ensemble, it’s perhaps a touch safe. As more and more men start caring about the way they look, making yourself stand out becomes harder and harder – but you don’t have to go all out ‘fashion week weird’ to avoid blending in; even the smallest changes can make a huge difference. When it comes to blazers, one of the easiest ways to subtly differentiate your look is to use it as outerwear. Rather than having it as a mid layer or sticking to classic combinations, some clever layering and a little bit of imagination can completely transform the aesthetic of the piece. So when it’s cold outside, but not so much that you would need a coat, your blazer can be the perfect alternative and would serve the purpose just as well as any other jacket. With this in mind, here are a few ways you might want to wear your jacket as outerwear this autumn…

The Blazer Jacket

Before we start, it is important to identify the type of blazer we are concerned with today. Formal or suit blazers are not congruent with the aesthetic we are looking to achieve, plus they should be perfectly tailored to fit just a single layer (shirt) underneath. Trying to layer multiple pieces, including knitwear, under your formal jackets will simply ruin the clean lines and drape you have tried so hard to create. Instead, consider blazer styles that straddle the line between smart and casual. Think unstructured construction; textured jackets in tweed, canvas or cord; casual features such as patch pockets, contrast collars, heritage patches and piped detailing; on trend patterned styles in plaid or herringbone; and a slightly more relaxed cut that can fit a couple of layers underneath. Remember that this isn’t a traditional blazer that will be worn to work every day, you are buying it for the purpose of crafting a variety of smart-casual outfits for the colder months.

  • Burton Brown Slim Fit Blazer With Contrast CollarBurton Brown Slim Fit Blazer With Contrast Collar
  • Minimum Blazer With Horizontal StripeMinimum Blazer With Horizontal Stripe
  • Native Youth Cotton Worker BlazerNative Youth Cotton Worker Blazer
  • Topman Blue And Green Tartan BlazerTopman Blue And Green Tartan Blazer
  • River Island Blue Checked BlazerRiver Island Blue Checked Blazer
  • River Island Stone Lightweight BlazerRiver Island Stone Lightweight Blazer
  • Slowear Montedoro Slim-fit Woven Wool-blend BlazerSlowear Montedoro Slim-fit Woven Wool-blend Blazer
  • Burberry London Leather-trimmed Shell BlazerBurberry London Leather-trimmed Shell Blazer
  • He By Mango Leather Elbow Patches PiquÉ BlazerHe By Mango Leather Elbow Patches PiquÉ Blazer
Key Technique: Denim Jacket/Shirt Layering

On the surface this is a technique that would appear to only work as part of an editorial look; the kind of outfit that you can pull off on a photo shoot, when everything is perfectly managed and the model is standing completely still. This isn’t the case – you just need to adapt your clothing choices to fit the situation (and you). The best place to start is with a thinner denim jacket or thicker, more rigid denim shirt. As much as it might go against FashionBeans‘ usual mantra, cheaper is better here, simply because the material will be thinner. This will enable you to layer it under your blazer jacket, without it looking as though you have stuffed yourself into your clothes. The wash or colour is entirely up to you, but a mid to light wash will probably work the best in this scenario; they’re more relaxed and will provide a greater contrast when layered. Due to it being used as the under layer, it is imperative that you opt for a slim-fitting jacket or shirt in order to maintain a streamline silhouette. Unstructured, casual blazers will suit this look best, so ensure you have little to no padding through the shoulders – these styles will allow you more room to manoeuvre and will also drape better over the shoulders of the jacket. Experiment with blazer colours and pop the collar on the jacket or shirt to create a defined separation between the two. If you have working buttons on your blazer, try leaving them undone and manipulating the sleeves to add further detailing.

Outfit Inspiration
  • Allsaints Geno ShirtAllsaints Geno Shirt
  • Asos Denim JacketAsos Denim Jacket
  • Reiss Moon Extra Fine Merino Roll Neck Soft GreyReiss Moon Extra Fine Merino Roll Neck Soft Grey
  • He By Mango Elbow Patch Wool CardiganHe By Mango Elbow Patch Wool Cardigan
  • He By Mango Multi-pocket Wool-blend BlazerHe By Mango Multi-pocket Wool-blend Blazer
  • Ray-ban Clubmaster SunglassesRay-ban Clubmaster Sunglasses
  • Nudie Jeans Thin Finn Slim-fit Organic Dry Denim JeansNudie Jeans Thin Finn Slim-fit Organic Dry Denim Jeans
  • Grenson Stanley BroguesGrenson Stanley Brogues
Lookbook Inspiration

Men's Heavyweight Blazers Lookbook & Outfit Inspiration

debenhams aw13 he by mango aw13 house of fraser aw13 lbm 1911 aw13 drykorn aw13 banana republic aw13 berluti aw12 marks & spencer aw13 Boglioli aw12
Key Styles
  • Allsaints Bermen JacketAllsaints Bermen Jacket
  • Asos Slim Fit Blazer In DonegalAsos Slim Fit Blazer In Donegal
  • Topman Navy Herringbone BlazerTopman Navy Herringbone Blazer
  • Beams Plus Slim-fit Harris Tweed BlazerBeams Plus Slim-fit Harris Tweed Blazer
  • Gant Rugger Slim-fit Prince Of Wales Check Wool BlazerGant Rugger Slim-fit Prince Of Wales Check Wool Blazer
  • River Island Red Tweed BlazerRiver Island Red Tweed Blazer
  • Uniqlo Men Corduroy Jacket+Uniqlo Men Corduroy Jacket+
  • Richard James Flannel JacketRichard James Flannel Jacket
  • He By Mango Raw-edge Wool-blend BlazerHe By Mango Raw-edge Wool-blend Blazer
Final Word

So there we have a quick round-up of some of the ways you can transform your blazer into a makeshift jacket this autumn. Most of it is common sense, and perhaps a touch of thinking outside the box, but it shows you just how versatile your blazer can be, even with only the smallest of changes. The transitional period is an awkward time, but that just means it’s a great time to experiment and try new things. Who knows, you might even surprise yourself and develop a new signature look. Make sure you let us know your thoughts on using blazers as outerwear in the comments section below… Will

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