What's a boyfriend blazer?

Antje

Sorry for the naive question, but I would love to understand better what really makes a blazer a boyfriend blazer. Is it the length? Looser fit? Other aspects of the cut?

I bought a black blazer from Club Monaco this winter, which is definitely a departure from my usual short and tailored jackets. It's longer and not tailored in the waist. Is this a boyfriend blazer? So far I've only worn it as "party wear" over my tuxedo shirt, with and without a vest, and with my big red flower pin as an accessory. It looks great for those evening looks. Now I'd like to figure out if and how to dress down the blazer for daytime. (I guess that is my main question, whether it's a bf blazer or just a blazer :-))

16 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

shiny

Veteran

It's like the blazer equivalent of the boyfriend cardigan. So yes, longer and looser. You want to look like you nonchalantly threw on your boyfriend's blazer. You are supposed to roll up the sleeves so the best blazers have interesting linings like white with a striped pattern. Preferably you leave the jacket open.

This look comes in and out of style. In the 80s we wore the look with huge shoulder pads and skinny lapels, and came in a myriad of colors and materials.

I think the best investment boyfriend blazer - one that will work for decades - is to find one that fits you really well in the shoulders, but is loose elsewhere. A slight nip in the waist is good, but you don't want it to be too form-fitting. For example I tried on a Theory "boyfriend" blazer recently and I felt it was too form-fitting and too short to fit the bill. To me it was just a classic blazer.

As for ideal length, I'm thinking to the crotch point. I would go with navy, gray or black, perhaps with a pinstripe, in a 3 season wool - the classic menswear blazer colors.

I think I remember your blazer with flower pin ... I may be misremembering, but if I'm not, it's pretty close. What is the lining like? To me, that is the key element, having that interesting lining to show when the sleeves are rolled.

16 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Okay, here are two pictures of my blazer, not sure if they show it clearly enough. Sadly, no contrasting lining.

http://s291.photobucket.com/al.....G_0253.jpg
http://s291.photobucket.com/al.....G_0254.jpg

Can I turn this into an interesting and hip daytime look?

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Yup, that is definetly the look - even minus the lining! And you've got it right, adding that flower pin to girly it up. Try rolling/pushing up the sleeves.

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, I might actually already have one of these. When Forth & Towne was closing in 2007, I bought a plain black suit at 90% off, but I never wore the jacket because it was too long and looked too manly to me. The pants I wore all the time, in fact they are one of the few pants I have right now that fit!

I just pulled the jacket out of storage, but was still not loving the length; I should try it on as part of this look instead! Thanks for the explanation and idea, Shiny and Antje!

16 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Shiny - cool that you think this might work. But do you (or others) have suggestions for how to put an outfit together? I don't have good ideas yet. I want to reserve the flower pin and tuxedo shirt for evenings, and am looking for more smart casual looks, but am not sure where to start. The blazer is all black, so it needs some color and "softness" (or girlyness) to tone down the starkness.

16 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Antje, I posted this on my blazer thread, but this is basically the look I put together (although I will get an different jacket):

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN4032.jpg

So the elements are; skinny ( or straight) jeans, a simple top ( but a bit looser than the one I have in the photo), sleeves on the jacket pushed up ( and rolled) and shoes as high as you can comfortably go.

Inspirations:

http://www.shopbop.com/james-j.....shopbysize

http://www.shopbop.com/elongat.....shopbysize

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....8;ev19=1:5

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Antje, I think your jacket would look great with a graphic T and pearls to girl it up. And I like Tanya's idea of high heels!

These jackets also look darling thrown over a girly spring dress.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Boyfriend blazer ideas from fabsugar:

http://www.fabsugar.com/s/boyfriend+blazer

If you can wear a mini, this look is all over the place - and it's also very much how we wore them in the 80s:

http://www.luckymag.com/style/.....sminidress

... except we wore them with gigantic shoulder pads like this fashion horror:

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....G_0058.jpg

(hee hee, that's me!)

I like this SJP outfit combo:

http://www.elleuk.com/starstyl.....mg)/180707

And here's an idea of how to wear with a skirt, tights and booties:

http://pics.livejournal.com/meganj28/pic/002aecrt/

Here's over a graphic T - good casual Sunday idea:

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/boyfriend-blazer

More inspiration - I think the first photo might also work with a flowy knee-length dress; scroll down for a pic with skinny jeans:

http://lovelifeandalatte.blogs.....lazer.html

16 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Oooh, thanks Tanya and Shiny!

Tanya, I like the look you put together a lot, as well as the links you posted. I'm not sure this will work for me, though. The looks are very classy and clean, and I totally see you rocking this. But for me they may be just a little "sparse". I kinda like a little more going on in my outfits and think I need to add a bit more color/detail with accessories or printed tops.

Shiny, I like the graphic tee idea. I'm not a pearl girl, but could throw on my new multi-strand turquoise bead necklace. I also like the idea of the blazer with a dress. And I'm wondering now whether I could try it with a new skirt I just got, a cute little pinstripe pencil skirt.

I guess I'll just have to experiment to find my own "blazer style". I can't quite "see" it in my head yet but now I have great ideas to play with. Thanks you two!!

16 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

No problem Antje. I would actually also add accessories to the look I have posted, I just didn't bother with it beacuse I was more interested in the opinions on the jacket fit. At least my white watch, or maybe a bold cuff, or a chunky necklace.

16 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Shiny,
What a great blast from the past!!! I LOVE that photo of you. Did you have red hair?
Antje,
I think this would be a great look for you. I can see it now. I would love to see you in one with patterned cuffs, I think that would add to the interesting patterns and textures that you like.

16 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Greenglove, I'd love to get a blazer with patterned cuffs, but at the moment I'm limiting my clothes spending (and this would likely be a pricey item), so I was hoping I can "shop in my closet" and make this blazer work. I'll try some looks and post photos, and will await your guys' helpful critiques.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I was thinking that it would probably be a really simple alteration to add patterned lining - just to the cuffs. Could possibly even do it at home, sewing by hand. But as you see, a lot of the links I posted don't have the lining. I am also now thinking, after seeing the pics on the last link, that this might actually be a good item to go thrifting for?

GG - that's my real haircolor, if I don't highlight it. My real hair color is the same color as my eyebrows. I started out a towhead - very similar to how it looks highlighted (I brought in pics and asked my hairdresser to recreate it). My sister is auburn and my mom was also auburn, my brother is a brunette with red undertones, my dad is a dirty blonde with red undertones. So I have a lot of natural red undertones. My hairdressers have always said I could easily dye my hair red, but the drawback is upkeep. I am told it's harder to keep red looking good - harder than highlights. Is that true?

I did once try to go red (when I had a pixie cut) but the hairdresser totally goofed and it turned this horrible shade of Ronald McDonald orange!!!

16 years ago

Category