Ask Angie & all: blazer lengths

I know that blazer lengths for women aren't as prescribed as for men, but I wonder if there's a rule of thumb I'm missing. I'm tallish with a long torso and I have a lot of jackets that fall to high hip. Today I tried on and bought one that was longer, hitting me at about the level of my palm when my arms are at my sides. It looked really nice to my weary eye (tip: don't go shopping the day before Easter, it was a madhouse) but maybe it's too long? I'll try to get pics if I can but in the meantime, where do most of your blazers hit and is there a difference between dressier and more causal ones for you?

7 years ago

Shopping

8 replies

Latest reply was from gryffin

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I've heard that blazers should fall to your hip bone, I think that's the current style. I also think it depends on how long your torso is--longer torsos need longer blazers.

I have a couple of shorter than hip bone-length blazers that work because I wear them with high-waisted things.

Also, the boyfriend blazer is in style right now, which is probably the length you tried and liked. So your instinct is probably right that it looked good.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I have collected a plethora of blazers in all lengths and found sometimes it’s more about fabric, cut, silhouette and of course fit (boxy vs structured) of each blazer that determines whether it’s a good look on me. I do know some style books say to avoid lengths that cut body exactly in half -when they start talking other fractions my eyes glaze- lol.
I agree with Carol- trust your instincts and of course a great full length, multi sided mirror.

7 years ago

Echo

Veteran

This very much depends on the person, their proportions, and the look you are aiming to achieve. I still prefer the old standby rule of longer jackets with pants and shorter jackets with dresses, but even I have exceptions in my wardrobe. I have a long torso and despite it perhaps not being traditionally flattering, I prefer very long jackets with pants. I've just never been that concerned about attempting to lengthen an already very short leg line.

7 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

It also depends of what you are wearing it with and the width of your jean's bottom (bell and flares can look very stylish in a slightly longer jacket).

7 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

What efbgen said about proportions. I prefer above my crotch point/widest point of my hip, or below that point. My hips are the widest part of me so I don't care to have a jacket end just there, like an arrow pointing to my widest part.

7 years ago

Liesbeth

Veteran

I agree with everything that’s been said on body and outfit proportions. For shorter women and in combination with dresses shorter blazers are usually more flattering while longer blazers can look super elegant on tall ladies. However, I’m personally on the verge of petite and consider the short blazer look too ‘prim’ for my tastes (if that makes sense). I do love the one Drew Barrymore wears pic I included though. Standard length blazers usually fall a little longer for me than hip lenghth but that’s a classic look to my eye. I just bought a second-hand longer style blazer (see second pic) because I love the relaxed vibe and wanted to see if I could get away with it. I think I can, with the right styling (waist definition or solid color dress underneath), at least I’ve gotten compliments

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7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I tend to wear my blazers on the short or cropped side, similar to the pic of Drew Barrymore that Liesbeth posted. I don't really think about what is stylish but what works for my body. The long loose boyfriend blazer is current right now and that would not be a good look on me. I need waist definition and distraction from my hips.
There seem to be lots of different lengths and styles of blazers available right now.

7 years ago

gryffin

Veteran

Blazer girl checking in. As Chanel said, "Fashion is architecture: it's a matter of proportions." The proportions are based on outfit and body type. General Guide lines (there are exceptions to everyone one of them).
Dresses if they are longer than knee usually look best with a short crop jacket.
Mid thigh to midi dresses look best with long jackets that are roughly the same length as the hem - can be slightly higher or lower. This is the "cake" song
Legging and long line with short dress/tunic, cigarette, skinny pants- look best with long boyfriend, a-line lady jackets, long equestrian style jackets
Wide leg, flares, bootcuts - look best with jackets that are on the shorter side with waist definition or cropped jackets.
It's all the golden mean 2/3 1/3 rule and balance volume. I do not believe that anyone can't wear every style jacket but some styles may require modification to best flatter their body type. Katerina wore wide leg flares with a long slim salmon blazer/coat and her proportions were wonderful. But that's trickier to get right. Same you can wear skinnies with a cropped jacket but unless you are a straight rectangle that's going to be a difficult silhouette to make flattering if you have any "sensitive" areas to deemphasize. I usually just follow long over short, short over long as a primary pairing.

7 years ago

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