How else can you use a blazer? - YouLookFab Forum

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How else can you use a blazer?

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I think of blazers as urban, as workwear, as something for an interview or speech. It says "mover and shaker." And with the vast number of blazer influencers on Instagram, you'd think we all had to have one! It is certainly described as an essential.

I haven't had one for years. I live in a jeans and sneakers town (Albuquerque) and I work in retail. I so don't need one. But I love how they look, and might pick one up if I came across it at a consignment shop, etc.

How else would you use a blazer, if your entire lifestyle screams "casual?"

37 replies

Latest reply was from Carol

rachylou

Veteran

I wear blazers now, not having a corporate office job anymore, in the same way I’d wear summer sweaters. When it’s fairly warm but there may be a/c or I want coverage from the sun. I push up the sleeves a lot, this making them more casual. I think boutique or department store retail is probably one of the best stages for a blazer actually. To me they fit nicely for the task and environment. Depends, tho, on the wares. A hardware store, maybe not so much… lol, I think of this and my orange miniskirt aprons I have for the bakery… people think I’m an employee whenever I go into a hardware store…

The Cat

Veteran

I use my blazers even when I go grocery shopping. I wear them with jeans, tees, sneakers or whatever I want to wear. However, I will only wear blazers that feel comfortable. So now in summer, this means e.g. linen blazers.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I wear blazers as a light weight topper.
I usually role the sleeves for a more casual vibe. If you can wear mens sizes you will find many quality made at a thrift store. Around here they run 3-5 dollars and one can often get them for less.
I have 3 wool ones, 2- I DIY'd into a vests and a linen one for warm weather. The wool ones pair especially well with a warm sweater in cooler weather. I can wear them with a turtleneck down to around 30 degrees. The pockets make them especially Fab for running errands.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou--I like the sleeve push up. Yeah, the retail work I'm in is so not clothing. I work in vitamins at a health food store, so we wear a mandatory green tee with usually jeans or a skirt. A blazer would go UNDER the tee, and I don't know if I'm ready to start that trend.

The Cat--that makes sense, weather permitting. Do you have to iron those linen blazers?

The Cat

Veteran

No, I haven't had to iron my linen blazers. While they are wet, I simply put them on hangers and let them air dry.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Carol, I wear a blazer as a light topper too. Sometimes under a wool coat in Winter.

My favourite ways to wear a blazer are with pants that match to create a suit. I love wearing dressy pants suits! I wear them with comfy layering tops, flat boots, flat loafers, or fashion sneakers. I don't wear heels.

I prefer my blazers tailored and on the shorter side. Full stop!

Item blazers need to have a cheeky and playful aspect to them, which I recently discovered. I wrote about that here:

https://youlookfab.com/2023/07.....challenge/

I wear those blazers over dresses, with jeans, with casual and dressy pants. I'll pop a shirt, blouse, or pullover underneath. Sometimes a knitted top. You can try a graphic tee too.

Blazers are an everyday jacket for me. Work, play, doggie walking, errands, socials, any of it

Carol

(website)

Veteran

The Cat--that's convenient.

Angie--hmm, I'd probably have to start with an item blazer before trying matching sets. Love the idea of matching, but I picture myself throwing a tweedy professor blazer over a white tee and jeans.

Indigoprint--I love the idea of thrifting a men's blazer. I'd feel more roomy in it, and able to toss it on a chair. I can't believe you can wear one in 30 degrees!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I wear blazers all the time as light coats during the cooler parts of the year. Usually with jeans or other very casual bottoms to offset the business vibe.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love them. As suits (with matching bottoms) or with jeans. Because my life is casual, it's mostly the latter. I wear them as often as I can.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Jaime--I think I could go with the light coat strategy, but mostly if they are machine washable. Don't know if that's a thing.

Suz--Jeans is probably the way to go. Just saw a YouTuber who said she grew up wearing them with bermuda shorts--that's a cute idea.

Nomad

Machine washable blazers are definitely a thing! Just check the label before buying.

I've also washed some dry-clean blazers (hand washed, machine washed, and steamed). It's a definite risk but often it works, and I abhor the cost and hassle of dry cleaning so I was willing to chance it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I wear blazers like any other style of jacket — moto, bomber, etc. My life is very casual so I underplay the more formal integrity of a blazer by pairing it with things like jeans and graphic tees. Conversely, I’ll pair a more casual jacket like a bomber or denim jacket with a dressier bottom like a skirt or over a dress. I think the key to casual blazers is not to be too precious with them — scrunch the sleeves, maybe size up a little for a slouchier effect. Definitely easier with a less strict or tailored style. Something with stretch or ease is easier to work with.

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gryffin

Veteran

Like Angie I’m a blazer girl. It’s the topper of choice for everything. I wear suits or, as Angie calls them item blazers, every day for work. But on the weekend I wear them with jeans. Anywhere you’d wear a sweater or jean jacket I’d choose a blazer. My independent blazers can be solid colors but more often herringbone, Glen plaid, plaid, interesting buttons or fabric something that makes them unique. I have all lengths, fits, silhouettes, seasonal fabrics for various outfits. As I usually wear a column of color I rely on my blazers, boots and belts to make a statement.

Vildy

Veteran

If you ever wear a third piece, then I would wear it like that. For example, pulling a lightweight blazer around you by having hands in the pockets and making a bit of a frame around the top or top 2/3 of our outfit.

Dee

Veteran

I had to wear blazers for work for decades, so they tend to conjure up a business vibe for me but I still have 2 newish blazers in my closet that I rarely reach for.
My lifestyle now is so casual that for a topper I usually go with a dressier coloured jean jacket style. I have tried the blazer/ tee/ jean combo but it still felt too dressy/ formal in my current environment although I do like the look,

Minaminu

Veteran

Another blazer fan here! Few months ago, I happily gave away a denim jacket as I kept using a navy blazer in my casual outfits. (navy cotton blazer + breton top + dark jeans + silver trainers = happy casual outfit).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Carol, the way you are envisioning wearing the blazer sounds dead right for you! Go for it

All this time I thought you lived in LA. But you're in Albuquerque.

Mirjana

Veteran

I wear my blazers like The Cat and Jaime. You try first with jeans and interesting tee for example for s casual vibe. I like striped tee or tee with print.

LaPed

Veteran

I think of blazers as “hard cardigans” — so any outfit I can throw a cardigan over I can also throw a blazer over. Sometimes the added structure nudges things a bit more formal, sometimes a bit more tomboy. Sometimes both!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love them with bermuda shorts! For sure. Or any short. I wear one with my sarong shorts sometimes.

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

La Ped's comment strikes a chord. I don't wear cardigans -- jackets are my cardigans! So yes, blazers are just another form of jacket and can be worn any way a jacket can.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Nomad--Great idea! I would totally try washing them, especially as I'll probably thrift them. It would have to be something truly special for me to buy new.

Janet--"not being too precious with them" is putting into words what I've been thinking, without knowing. I also love the graphic tee idea. Thanks for the pics--though I probably want one with texture, my favorite of yours is the Zadig and Voltaire--hangs so well.

gryffin--I also am drawn to the patterned/textured blazers. I think perhaps because it calls forth a writerly vibe.

Vildy--do you mean using the blazer as a cape? I see that all the time in photos, but haven't tried it. I wonder if it's comfortable.

Dee--yeah, you get it...sometimes when you leave that formal environment, you leave it entirely. But I'm hoping I can find a way to make this casual..we'll see.

Sally

Veteran

I wear blazers everyday for work to dress up my work wear as I wear black boyfriend jeans, a sweater or t-shirt and a blazer with boots most of the time. I don't look corporate but if I wore my jeans with a cardigan, I think I would look too casual. I do have a lightweight one I wear under my coat for extra cold days.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Minaminu--now that does sound like a classic outfit. You could probably mix and match a lot of stuff. Now considering a navy blazer, hmmm...

Angie--thanks! And you have a good memory--I used to live in LA. Moved here about 4 years ago.

Mirjana--with print is a great idea. Don't know how many print tees I have, but I have print shirts, print skirts, print dresses...

LaPed--"hard cardigan..." almost quotable. That's actually great for me, because with my strong shoulders and bust, floppy cards don't work as well on me.

Suz--thanks for the photos. That is a cute combo, for sure.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m team ‘blazer as light weight topper’. I have a stretch blazer that is as cozy as a sweater, and great for travelling. I wear it as part of a suit, with jeans, with co-ordinating joggers, a skirt…

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Runcarla--I love the idea of wearing it with joggers--that's great.

Vildy

Veteran

I didn't mean as a cape/shoulder robing. I'm too active for that so I don't do it. What I meant is more like stuff hands in pockets, treat it to some abuse.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love blazers, but I haven't added any to my wardrobe since I retired 12 years ago. If I had an item blazer, I would wear it with jeans and a tee for dressy casual events. I am thinking of occasions like music concerts, dinners and going to art galleries.
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SMYTHE Plaid Wool Blazer

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Anonymous

I don't own any right now, but in general just think of them like any other lightweight jacket! I wouldn't pair them with gear, but basically anything else would be fair game as long as the colors and proportions work.

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