| The beauty of the men's blazer is that it goes | | | | not a suit, it shouldn't look like one from a |
| with almost anything. For the purpose of this | | | | distance. |
| discourse, by blazer we mean a classic | | | | When it comes to dress shirts, as said above a |
| single-breasted navy wool coat with brass | | | | button-down oxford is the classic. Besides solids, a |
| buttons. Over gray flannel slacks, a white | | | | broad variety of stripes and checks, including |
| button-down oxford shirt and a striped tie, it | | | | many that would look garish with a suit, mix well |
| makes a classic outfit that in the United States | | | | with a blazer. The latter's dark, solid fabric looks |
| registers just shy of a suit on the formality scale. | | | | good next to just about anything, and the shiny |
| On the weekend, the same blazer over chinos | | | | buttons amply counterweight bold patterns. For a |
| and a polo shirt makes a very smart casual outfit. | | | | more casual look go with a long-sleeve polo shirt |
| In this article we will discuss some basic means of | | | | or a turtleneck depending on the climate. The |
| wearing a men's blazer jacket for work and | | | | urbane silk tee-shirt and tight-fitting knit shirt tend |
| leisure. | | | | to clash in their modernity with the blazer's long |
| If you work in a business casual office, the blazer | | | | heritage, and work better with a suit jacket. |
| gives you a simple solution to the tricky problem | | | | In cooler weather, you way want to don a |
| of dressing respectably without appearing aloof. In | | | | sweater under your blazer jacket. If you're going |
| a workplace dominated by polo shirts and khakis, | | | | without a tie, a cable-knit or argyle crew-neck will |
| the man who has the class to throw a blazer on | | | | add some life to the outfit. The V-neck worn |
| over the ensemble looks distinctive without | | | | over a tie may also be patterned or textured, but |
| standing out. A dress shirt with a button-down | | | | can be solid as well. |
| collar and gray flannels are also worthy | | | | A few words on neckwear and accessories: the |
| accompaniments for a blazer; add a tie to take it | | | | tie you wear with a blazer should be in keeping |
| up a notch. A point collar shirt formalizes the | | | | with its sporty dressiness. Woven silks in polka |
| ensemble a tad more, and here one should stop. | | | | dots, bold stripes, and other simple patterns do |
| Contrast collars really belong under a suit, and | | | | this grandly, as do knits of silk or wool. The |
| even if the formality of French cuffs were not an | | | | bowtie with white shirt and blue blazer looks |
| issue, having cuff-links next to brass sleeve | | | | sophisticated on the few men who know |
| buttons creates a discordant clash. For footwear, | | | | precisely how and when to wear it, but goofy on |
| bluchers, loafers, and monk-strap dress shoes are | | | | most everyone else. Beyond ties, any pocket |
| all good options. | | | | square that harmonizes with the rest of the outfit |
| The outfits described above are also smart | | | | adds a dash of style. For younger men, it will also |
| choices for dinner in a nice restaurant or a | | | | ensure that a blazer and white shirt don't look like |
| morning religious service. In fact, the blazer will | | | | a prep school uniform. For belts, follow the old |
| serve you well for most weekend activities, from | | | | rule: match leather to leather, metal to metal. |
| taking in a play in most American cities to | | | | That means brown with brown shoes, although it |
| cheering on a girls' softball team. It looks | | | | can be a different shade of brown, and black with |
| aristocratic and dignified over an ecru turtleneck | | | | black. The buckle should be brass to coordinate |
| and your trusty gray flannels; for a laid-back look | | | | with the buttons. |
| in the summer wear it with off-white pants and a | | | | As you can see, the possibilities with a blazer |
| bright polo. While it is perfectly acceptable to wear | | | | really are endless. It is perhaps the best |
| a blazer with jeans, and indeed the combination | | | | investment a man can make in his wardrobe, as it |
| can look very stylish, one must take care that | | | | virtually doubles the choices he has each morning |
| pants and coat are not too close in color. This | | | | when getting dressed. It will serve nobly in a wide |
| goes for any jacket and pants combination: if it's | | | | range of situations, and never go out of style. |