Jeans and a blazer will take you just about anywhere these days if the jeans and shoes are dressy, and the topper is structured. It’s a fab way to look pulled together, relaxed and smart casual for work or play. On the other hand, you can create outfit tension by combining a dressy blazer with extremely casual wardrobe items like sneakers, slides, distressed denim, and sporty items. The juxtaposition is fashionably 2018.
Outfit Formula:
Jeans + Layering Top + Blazer + Mood-Setting Footwear
The footwear that completes the outfit sets the mood for the look, so choose your peds carefully. Dressy, casual, flat, heeled, trendy, classic, patterned, solid, dainty or chunky — take your pick. Select any colour palette. For starters, here are six ways to do it.
1. Buttoned & Pattern Mixed
This is an unusual combination where the blazer is fastened like a top. Use a lace cami as the layering top so that it peeks through and makes a textural statement above the top of the blazer. Choose any style of jeans, and complete the look with dressy flats. The pattern mix of the blazer and flats is fun.
2. Trendy Jeans
Think roomy, HIGH-RISE jeans with straight legs that can be worn cuffed, rolled or as is. The point is to showcase the high waistband with a tucked or semi-tucked top like a tee, shell top, knitted top, or blouse. Layer a blazer over the top and add dressy heels, low heels or flats. Personally, I’d have preferred this look with pointy-toe ankle-strap pumps or mules. Structured bag is fab.
3. Slides & Structure
Here’s an interesting juxtaposition of formal blazer and structured bag combined with beachy slides and very faded jeans. The casual components relax the blazer, whereas the structured bag complements it. Make sure the layering top looks great worn on its own, because given the slides you’re probably expecting warm weather. A good option for a cooler morning or evening on a warm day.
4. Hoodie & Sneakers
Add a sporty component by layering a hoodie under the blazer and finishing off the vibe with fashion sneakers. You’ll need a thin layering hoodie and a fluid blazer to make this work comfortably. Casual flats work equally well if sneakers aren’t your thing.
5. Flares & Pointy Toes
Here’s a modern take on a ‘70s look that I find awfully elegant and glam. Combine structured bell-bottoms with a classic blazer and layering top like a tee, blouse, shell, knit top or shirt. Wear LONG hems that skim the surface of the ground, and finish off the outfit with pointy-toe pumps or boots. Less dramatic bootcuts aren’t as wide at the hems but work just as well.
6. Belted & Scrunched
Wrap a wide waist belt around a blazer layered over a sleek knit or blouse and jeans, and scrunch the sleeves. Cropped straights or jeans that are relaxed through the leg like wide crops or culottes can work as well as tailored skinnies. Add dressy heels, mules or flats.
