The navy blazer is a timeless and classic wardrobe piece that every man can use to great effect. It has remained an iconic staple for several decades and can be paired with near-endless outfit combinations. While not necessarily essential, a blazer can elevate any man's look all year round as long as it's worn tastefully and thoughtfully.
WHAT IS A BLAZER?
A blazer falls between a suit jacket and a sport coat. It is a standalone piece with similar characteristics to typical suits, such as padded shoulders and canvas constructions (though they can also be unstructured). What sets a blazer apart is that it does not come with a matching set of trousers and typically has contrasting buttons and additional features that make it more casual.
Blazers can be made of materials such as flannel, hopsack, etc. Flannel, which comes from wool or cotton, is much softer and more casual.
Hopsack is a basket-like weave for wool or wool-cotton blends that is quite breathable, making it an ideal choice of fabric year-round. Due to its construction, hopsack adds a more visible texture and is thus considered less formal than a shinier suit jacket made of worsted wool.
PATTERNS
Blazers can come in different patterns, but compared to sport coats, they have fewer pattern options. Blazers can be a solid color, often navy blue, or they can be striped. Some blazers also have a solid color with contrasting piping along the edges. In the past, many blazers had ornamentation like a crest, but nowadays, you won't find many outside private institutions.
WHEN TO WEAR
Blazers are less formal than suits but still appropriate for various events such as networking, business settings, dates, and some weddings.
HISTORY OF THE BLAZER
The blazer's precise origin has been lost to history; however, the garment can be traced back to various organizations.
- The boating team of St. John's College in Cambridge, England, during the 1820s.
- The HMS Blazer, whose captain had his men wear navy-blue, double-breasted jackets with bright brass buttons for when Queen Victoria would visit around 1837.
The Lady Margaret Boating Club in Cambridge, England, founded in 1825, is widely credited with popularizing the blazer garment. Members of the club were known to wear bright red flannel jackets, which were described as having been "ablaze," giving rise to the rowing regatta blazers. This helped establish the blazer as a stylish menswear staple designed to stand out.
HOW TO WEAR A BLAZER (12 NAVY BLAZER OUTFIT IDEAS)
OUTFIT #1: ULTRA CASUAL LOOK
I want to emphasize that this look is not my usual style, but it's a great example of how to dress down a blazer with a t-shirt. Many traditional men's style enthusiasts may disagree with pairing a t-shirt with a blazer, suit, or sport coat, but I believe it can work if you make tasteful and intentional choices. In this outfit, I'm wearing a navy hopsack blazer with a white crewneck t-shirt, classic khaki chinos, and sporty German Army Trainers (GATs).
Including GATs is a tasteful way to stand out due to their prominence in the fashion world and their luxurious materials. The gray suede paneling in the sneakers offers some nice contrast and great texture that complements the hopsack weave of the blazer and embraces the casual nature of this look. Ensuring that each garment piece fits and flatters your frame is always important. Ill-fitting clothes can negatively impact your outfit, even if the individual pieces are of high quality.
This look is great for casual social events with friends and family.
OUTFIT #2: STREET REBEL
This outfit is the most casual I would wear with a navy blazer. Not every man can pull this off, and I'm not even sure if I can. But for those who like this street style, it's important to understand that the fit of each item will make or break this outfit. It's okay to have a straighter cut of jeans to enhance the casual look, but don't overlook the proper trouser length and color coordination! When in doubt, stick with your neutral colors.
The ballcap I included complements the blazer and shoes very well. I chose a minimal pair of white sneakers instead of the GATs from before because I wanted to maintain a cleaner silhouette. It's important not to include sneakers with contrasting colors to avoid the outfit looking too loud or busy.
This look is also perfect for casual days with friends and family.
OUTFIT #3: ELEVATED DAPPER
This outfit is quite casual yet decidedly elevated. It's a great example of lightweight layering. I'm wearing a white dress collar polo shirt as the thinnest layer, a navy v-neck sweater over it as the mid-layer, and a navy blazer as the outermost layer. When it comes to layering clothes, three layers are typically perfect from a visual standpoint, with each outer layer needing to be thicker than the preceding inner layer.
The stone-colored chinos go well with the clean white sneakers, and the texture of the navy sweater looks charming when paired with the hopsack blazer. Gray, blue, and white always look smart when paired together. Feel free to cuff the trousers to show a little ankle and further showcase the casual nature of the look.
This outfit is great for church, brunch, running errands, or casual dates.
OUTFIT #4: SMART CASUAL
This outfit follows the same basic principles for layering as the previous one. This time, I'm wearing a lovely gingham-pattern dress collar polo with a heather gray quarter-zip sweater. Instead of light chinos, I've opted for darker, textured denim jeans. The standout piece is a pair of oxblood service boots. Oxblood is a color of footwear that isn't very common anymore, but I think it's time for a comeback.
A color that your grandfather might recognize, oxblood can replace traditional brown footwear (depending on the style of shoe or boot) and elevate your overall look.
Don't sleep on oxblood boots! This look is also great for church, brunch, errands, or casual dates.
OUTFIT #5: BASIC BUSINESS CASUAL
Here is a classic blazer look that you might already be familiar with. It's a timeless ensemble featuring a navy blazer paired with a white pique polo shirt tucked into khaki chinos. I've completed this look with brown leather loafers and a matching belt. The texture of the blazer complements that of the knit pique polo shirt, creating a well-coordinated outfit that will never go out of style.
Wear this for a casual job interview or an equally casual work or family event.
OUTFIT #6: NAUTICAL VIBES
This outfit is perfect for spring. I've combined a navy blazer with a denim dress shirt, white jeans, brown leather loafers, and a matching brown belt. The white jeans are a bold choice that helps you stand out without going overboard. Blue and white look sharp and handsome together.
The denim dress shirt adds a nice touch of blue and has a great texture that complements the blazer's basket weave and the denim fabric of the jeans. Just add some sunglasses, and you're ready to hit the town.
Great for lunches, work events, dates, casual get-togethers, etc.
OUTFIT #7: TEXTURED NEUTRAL
This outfit focuses on texture and a neutral color palette. I use blue, beige, and olive green to anchor this look. Blue and green are analogous colors because they sit next to each other on the color wheel. Therefore, the blue blazer and the denim button-down shirt go well with the olive green chukka boots.
Each piece has a distinct color and texture. The navy blazer's textured weave complements the lighter blue denim chambray button-down shirt. Similarly, the dark beige corduroy trousers go well with the dark olive suede boots.
As you can see, combining different textures with colors can greatly enhance the overall look of an outfit.
OUTFIT #8: COZY CONTRAST
This outfit is designed for warmth and incorporates a variety of interesting textures for the late fall and winter seasons. It features dark blues, whites, and browns. The navy blue turtleneck sweater complements the similarly colored blazer and white corduroy trousers, creating an intriguing mix of textures. Each piece pairs well with the chocolate brown capped-toe boots, which I've coordinated with my similarly colored dress watch.
If you plan to wear something similar in late fall or winter, I suggest adding a long overcoat in matching colors.
Great for brisk days, cold nights out, or a date with the special lady in your life.
OUTFIT #9: CHUNKY SWEATER
This outfit is perfect for holiday gatherings, especially when you want to incorporate your navy blazer. I've paired my hopsack blazer with a classic, chunky, gray donegal cable-knit sweater, deep gray cotton dress pants, brown loafers, and navy socks. Navy blue looks classy when paired with different shades of gray. Much like the previous look, his casual and cozy ensemble is also an excellent option for a fall or winter date night.
OUTFIT #10: COCKTAIL HOUR
Cocktail attire is historically very formal, at least by today's standards. A black, dark navy or charcoal suit is usually more appropriate for cocktail events. However, nowadays, a blazer can do just fine if paired smartly with additional garments.
Here, I have my navy blazer, a black wool turtleneck, charcoal flannel trousers, and black oxford dress shoes. This look creates a sleek, dark silhouette that uses tone and texture to create visual intrigue. It is inherently cozy, so if it is really hot and stuffy where you live, consider swapping out the black turtleneck for a black dress shirt and the flannel trousers for charcoal cotton dress pants.
I think the look speaks for itself. Show up wearing this, and others will notice you.
OUTFIT #11: DRESSY BUSINESS CASUAL
Most people think of this type of outfit when considering a navy blazer—dressy business casual.
In this outfit, I've chosen another analogous color scheme, pairing my navy blazer with a powder blue oxford-cloth dress shirt, dark olive green dress chinos, a light blue cotton pocket square, and a navy grenadine tie.
Grenadine is traditionally a high-end, gauze-like material with more texture and thickness than conventional silk neckties. This fabric is excellent for a business casual outfit and can be paired with other textures or patterns for a cohesive look. The brown double-monk strap shoes are a deliberate and casually elegant choice that will command respect in the workplace.
There are many clever and stylish ways to dress in a business casual setting with a classic blazer, and this is just one of my favorites.
OUTFIT #12: WEDDING FORMAL
Wearing a blazer for a wedding can be a bit tricky. While I usually recommend that men wear a two-piece suit, some weddings these days have a more casual vibe. I believe wearing a navy blazer can work well in such cases.
To pull off this look, I follow some rules. I typically wear a white dress shirt, as it's the more traditional and formal choice. I pair it with dark trousers in a classic fabric like flannel, usually in charcoal (never black). I opt for timeless dark brown oxford dress shoes and a dress watch with an elegant brown leather strap.
I often choose something in silk for the tie, such as this white and navy Prince of Wales glen-check tie, which complements the navy blazer and white dress shirt. I finish off the outfit with a white silk pocket square.
A TIMELESS AND CLASSIC MENSWEAR STAPLE
Hopefully, after reading this post, you are better aware of the power of a classic navy blazer. There are so many different ways to style this timeless menswear staple, and provided that you don't gain or lose too much weight throughout your life, it is undoubtedly a wardrobe piece that will stand the test of time by affording you options decades from now.
