Fashion Blogs

If you ever went to a grammar school, then the thought of wearing a blazer as a fashion item might be the furthest thing from your mind. This is somewhat ironic, because you’re probably amongst the best placed people to understand how to pull off this type of clothing with style.

For the rest of us, blazers can feel like a rather quirky and cool fashion item, and one that we would like to experiment with at least once in our lifetimes. Well, if this sounds like you, you're in for some good news: blazers are back in fashion – at least amongst certain key demographics, namely the London prep-scene.

When worn well, the blazer can look amazing. A great boating blazer with a carefully chosen pair of jeans or chinos can really make heads turn – in a good way! It has such a sophisticated connotation that it’s difficult to get this look wrong. When worn well, it will attract all the ladies (OK, so we can’t actually promise that, but it will certainly give you a few double takes).

There are a few rules when buying and wearing blazers. Here they are:

1. You must ensure that you get the fit right. Some people buy blazers that are too big for them and the result is that they look like a first year Hogwarts student on their way to Platform 9 ¾ for the first time – uptight, tense, and a little bewildered. On the other hand, if you wear your blazer too tight, you'll look more like Uncle Vernon – too much waist and not enough muscle.

The correct fit is essential if you want to look good. There should be no bulges in the material – no tummy tyres on show and no biceps looking to burst out of the jacket.

You need enough of a loose fit in order to wear your shirts and t-shirts. The blazer tends to fit a more preppy look, so more often than not, you'll be wearing a shirt rather than a t-shirt.

2. The colour of the blazer is important too. Right now, the boating jacket is in. Here, you have two or three block colours in vertical block stripes. Avoid buying blazers in single colours. That is so last year and tends to come across as a little boring and stuffy. In fact, it’s difficult to tell if you're wearing fashionable clothing or if you’ve just come from the office after your 5pm meeting.

3. With length, stick to a jacket that sits around waist height – so the jacket finishes around the belt. Any longer than that and the blazer will have a schoolboy appearance. Any shorter and it just won’t look right – it will look as if your jacket is too small for you.