About a year into the pandemic, amid extended office closures, I took a new, fully remote job, turning my temporary WFH setup into an indefinite one. As weeks turned into months, and then years, my beloved blazer collection gathered dust. With no boardrooms to walk into, or power lunches to be had, it’s like my wardrobe breathed a relaxed sigh.
Here’s the thing, though: I love blazers. I would call myself an amateur collector. From basic black (vintage) to boldly patterned (Dries Van Noten), tailored (again, vintage) to oversized and boxy (Miu Miu) I own a blazer for every possible occasion. Cocktail party? Time for the satin-lapel double breasted. Job interview? Bust out the charcoal tweed with a velvet notch collar. Brat Pack member Halloween costume? My oversized wool houndstooth men’s blazer is perfect.
So it truly thrills me to have ample occasions to wear blazers again. Plus, we’re in a great, everything-goes kind of blazer moment right now — from the resurgence of collarless options a la ‘90s Armani to the subtle rise in embellishment. And if you still want to shop boxy blazers for that Djerf-Avenue-esque, borrowed-from-your-dad’s-suit-closet look, you’ll hardly look out of step.
Here are my top blazer categories — and please note my deliberate avoidance of the word “trend” here. Because if there’s ever been a timeless wardrobe item, it’s the trusty blazer.
I’ve been steadily collecting collarless blazers for some time, mostly vintage ones from classic brands like Jones New York and DKNY. Of course, my holy grail would be the real deal from Armani — a brand that’s been known for this sleek and minimal style for decades. I love wearing them fully buttoned up, essentially in lieu of a shirt.
Collarless Blazers
Does your blazer need to have a built-in belt to be belt-able? Of course not. But my general rule is to make sure the blazer is a little more roomy in its cut to allow you to overlap the left and right sides. I also like to pop out one or both sides of the lapel — as seen on the Spring 2025 Dries Van Noten runway.
Belted Blazers
Saxon from The White Lotus probably has a whole rack of these preppy sport coats finished with contrast stitching. This spring, why not dress like you know the rules of lawn bowling and frequently drink Pimm’s.
Preppy Blazers
One of the best things about blazers is that they often double as outerwear in milder weather — and there’s no better proof than the abundance of leather options this season.
Leather Blazers
There are so many classic blazer patterns and finishes out there: from nautical navy to prim Prince of Wales check. I’m a fan of the seasonless, trend-resistant banker’s grey, which looks as fresh with denim as it does with other lowkey luxury neutrals. Sizing up is welcome here to take some of the seriousness out of this all-business option. Or go with something with a nipped waist to add some classic femininity to a typically masculine-coded item.
Classic Grey Blazers
Liz Guber is the Editor-in-Chief of FASHION. In her own words, she's "less interested in telling you what to buy, but rather why you want to buy it." Her work has appeared in The Kit, ELLE Canada, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and Girlboss.
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