Tag / how to wear a blazer for men

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear a Blazer This Fall, The Right Way

Today, my friends, we’re doing something that might seem a bit out of left field in these increasingly casual days. We’re going to tell you all about how to wear a blazer, and not just any blazer — a slightly bold, very sharp Todd Snyder Madison Suit Jacket that injects your next fall #OOTD with some serious style and a bit of flair. It’s one of the best men’s blazers for a reason, and you’ll see why below. To keep it casual — perhaps, as you head back into the office or head out of town for a socially distanced wedding or road trip (those are still happening, right??) — we’ll team it up with your favorite blue jeans and a pair of the best chukka boots for men for the ultimate in rugged, versatile fall style. After all, you’re going to have really get dressed again eventually, and if that timing has caught you off guard, you might as well go with tried-and-true classics to help get the job done.

Elsewhere, we’re talking all about one of the best weekender bags for fall trips, available at a discount from Boarding Pass NYC when you use the code BEAUKNOWS. How cool is that?? Naturally, classic picks like one of the best Oxford shirts help to ground this outfit even further, and in a way that’s cool and fall-friendly. When it comes time to look sharp and to look put-together, you really can’t go wrong with one of the best blazers for men, so let’s get you geared up for the occasion. How about it? And hey, here’s a reminder to follow me on Twitter if you like the look of this ensemble below.

The perfect way to wear a blazer this fall? You be the judge.

My friends, how are we doing out there? Are we ready, slowly but surely, to dress again in style for fall with one of the best men’s blazers, teamed up with perfectly casual and classic menswear picks? I know I sure am, and I couldn’t be more excited for you (any one of you!?) to try out, say, the Todd Snyder Madison Suit Jacket for a bit of bold fall style. Of course, it’s all grounded the right way with one of the best Oxford shirts, not to mention the best blue jeans for men and a fitting pair of the best chukka boots for men. Each of those pieces are so classic and so well-made, you can wear this look just about anywhere (but especially to the office or to a casual country wedding this fall). It all gets even better with one of the best leather belts for men, a critical pairing alongside a classic brown leather watch from Timex. And it really wouldn’t be a fall outfit without the best men’s socks to wear with boots, courtesy of my friends at American Trench. If you can believe it, it’s all tied together by the “Work Hard, Play Hard” Duffel Bag from Boarding Pass NYC, one of the best weekender bags for a trip out of town or a day on the road (don’t forget the discount code BEAUKNOWS for $20 off!). So, folks … what do ya say? Who’s ready for fall dressing in earnest? I know I am. As always, thanks for reading!

 

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Dress Down a Blazer This Winter

We’ve talked in the past here on The Style Guide about how to dress for the office, but we’re now taking that a step further today — how to dress down your blazer the right way. The move here involves dressing it down for a nice blend of workwear-inspired, ruggedly casual office style. It’s a tricky balance to get right, but I think you’ll find the below #OOTD gets the job done just fine (pun intended). The trick comes in the blazer you pick, and the supporting cast with which you surround yourself. In this case, the blazer in question is the unstructured, laidback-yet-polished Outerknown Ambassador Blazer — but more on that in a second.

In other matters, the rest of these men’s style essentials might look more like pieces you wear on the weekend: Consider a rugged Taylor Stitch henley and the durable-as-heck Flint and Tinder Mill Pants to now be stylish and essential enough to wear to the office. The key, again, comes with blending it all together in a way that’s polished and cool — not stuffy. So, you’ll also find a stylish leather watch and grooming essentials from Duke Cannon in the mix. It can be a bit uncomfortable at first to mix and match pieces that you normally feel might not work together, but when you put your mind to it … it all falls into place. See for yourself below, then check out my #OOTD rotation over on Instagram.

Can you dress down a blazer? Yes, with this #OOTD … you sure can.

  • The Blazer: Outerknown Ambassador Blazer, $325 — When wearing a blazer more casually (like with a stylish henley), reach for one that’s unstructured and easygoing — Outerknown has just the ticket. (While we’re at it, head here to get a discount on Outerknown).
  • The Henley: Taylor Stitch Heavy Bag Henley in Natural, $68 — If ever there was a henley to wear with a blazer, it’d be this rugged Taylor Stitch henley. Right?
  • The Pants: Flint and Tinder Mill Pants, $98 — Mixing workwear with more dressy style staples can be a bit of a daring move, but the rugged Flint and Tinder Mill Pants balance out the two nicely.
  • The Jacket: Taylor Stitch Winslow Parka, $238.98 — You’re still going to need one of the best men’s winter jackets for a little while longer — Taylor Stitch strikes again here, helping you get to the office and stay dry while doing it.
  • The Boots: Allen Edmonds Normandy Captoe Boots, $295 — Rugged leather lace-up boots are the go-to move here, particularly as you fight the elements in business casual style.
  • The Stylish Leather Watch: Martenero Ace Watch, $595 — This handsome leather watch is bold enough for the weekend & subtly stylish enough for the office.
  • The Grooming Essential: Duke Cannon Bourbon Solid Cologne, $25 — Try something new on for size — this refined cologne from Duke Cannon is truly like no other, and that’s why I love it.
  • The Everyday Carry Essential: This Is Ground Mod 5 Organizer, $385 — The right way to organize your daily work must-haves? This Is Ground, of course. Stylish AND sleek.

Shop Faherty Brand

So, we’re calling this meeting to a close today in terms of how to dress down your blazer — did this #OOTD get you thinking outside of the box a little bit? Again, it all comes down to making sure your blazer (in this case, the Outerknown Ambassador Blazer) is laidback and stylish enough to wear with pieces like a rugged Taylor Stitch henley and of course, the workwear-inspired Flint and Tinder Mill Pants. You get more assistance at bridging the gap between the rugged and the office-ready with the suitably tough-yet-classic Allen Edmonds Normandy Captoe Boots (a personal favorite as seen on GearMoose!). The other accessories do the heavy lifting here, too. That includes the exceptional Martenero Ace Watch (possibly the best leather watch to buy now), plus the essential Duke Cannon Solid Cologne. Both of those bring this ensemble right to the office. And for when the weather gets to be too rough? The durable Taylor Stitch Winslow Parka helps you stay dry in style. Every single base is covered, from what to wear on your commute to what to wear at the office — casually, of course.  Again, check out my Instagram to see how I’m dressing for the office on the daily. Thanks for reading!


Shop Faherty Brand

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear a Blazer When It’s Hot This Summer

Let’s get down to business right off the bat — in the remaining time we’ve got this summer, you should certainly be considering how to wear a blazer this summer.  That’s especially true for when it’s hot out — like, really hot out. You’ll surely need all the help you can get. It seems simple enough at first, yet there are plenty of #menswear tips and tricks to consider when throwing on a streamlined suit jacket or a lightweight, classic blazer. For one, you’re going to want to start your search for the perfect summer jacket by going both lighter in weight and lighter in color — fabric blends that incorporate linen, like the option we’ll discuss in today’s #OOTD, are the way to go. The featured jacket in today’s ensemble does a nice job of checking both of those boxes — that featured jacket just happens to be he Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket, featuring a pleasantly earthy (yet summer-ready) charcoal color and a stretchy wool-linen blend. The fit is going to be modern, classic and easily wearable with other summer style essentials — a slim navy polo among them. Like other entries in our #OOTD series, it’s all geared toward casual, versatile and seasonally friendly style. But I won’t give the rest away — that’s for you to find out. Got questions on all things style and men’s lifestyle? Fire off a Tweet in  my direction, and keep up with all of my summer men’s style tips on Instagram.

Take your favorite lightweight blazer and pair it with a sharp polo and classic men’s dress shoes.

The Jacket: Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket, $278 —  You certainly know the Taylor Stitch brand and its body of handsome, stylish work — this stylish suit jacket functions just as well as a blazer, with more style and comfort to boot.

The Polo: Flint and Tinder Supima AirKnit Polo, $68 — Certainly, you can swap in your favorite navy polo here without buying this sharp, well-made option from Flint and Tinder… but why would ya want to do that?

The Pocket Square: J. Crew Cotton Pocket Square, $45 — A somewhat overlooked accessory that’s still crucial here — the cotton pocket square livens this outfit up and provides visual contrast to the casual polo.

The Trousers: Banana Republic Slim Non-Iron Cotton Stretch Pant, $89.50 — For solid, well-fitting and accessibly priced work staples, Banana Republic knows how to set you up. The light blue color contrasts nicely against the navy polo and light charcoal jacket, too.

Florsheim

The Belt: Banana Republic Stretch Leather Belt, $34.50 (On-Sale) — Might as well get your belt from the same spot you get your pants, right? This textured stretch belt is versatile and not overly dressy.

The Shoes: Allen Edmonds Strandmok Cap Toe Oxford, $295 — A positively gorgeous pair of exquisite footwear, crafted to last from the excellent footwear purveyors at Allen Edmonds.

The Socks: Arvin Goods No-Show Socks (Three-pack), $30 — You guessed it, folks. We’re actually going with no-show socks here — cuff those trousers a bit for European-inspired style points.

Nautica

The Watch: About Vintage 1844 Chronograph,$309.98 — Similar in nature to the refined, sleek and yet accessible Spirit of St. Louis Chronograph from Armogan, this About Vintage timepiece channels wearable, eye-catching style.

The Sunglasses: Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses, $19.98— If you don’t yet have a pair of  stylish summer sunglasses in your rotation, then I’d say … you need the simple, durable and ridiculously well-priced Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses. How much better can it get?

What’s the biggest key to keep in mind when styling a blazer this summer? In addition to finding that perfect fit for your stylish summer jacket, lightweight fabric is critical. The Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket  knocks it out of the park in that regard, and it’s able to be layered up casually with the crisp-yet-laidback Flint and Tinder Supima AirKnit Polo. A patterned pocket square rounds things out on your top half, and light blue trousers and a rich brown leather belt should provide solid visual interest to complete the main components of this summer-ready #OOTD. And when it comes to footwear? There’s hardly a more reliably stylish and well-crafted American footwear brand than Allen Edmonds — just don’t forget your stylish no-show socks. And before you leave the house, I’d strongly advise you to strap on a stylish leather watch from About Vintage — it’s vintage inspiration without the vintage price tag. The same can be said for those handy, durable Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses. That’ll wrap things up for today — as always, the difference is in the details. How will you be styling your polo and blazer for the rest of the summer?

Stay stylish and stay cool,

-Beau

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear A Chambray Blazer

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

When the heat waves start to roll in, it can be a tricky time to try and dress well. There’s that ever-difficult balance between keeping your cool and looking cool that requires you mix things up a bit. In the case of today’s post, that means we’re talking how to wear a chambray blazer. It’s the lightweight alternative to the classic navy blazer, what with a rougher, more visually interesting texture and (usually) less internal construction. That means it looks more natural when paired with other casual menswear pieces, such as a simple T-shirt and twill pants. It’s a get-up that nods toward a trend (that would be the menswear world getting more and more casual by the day), yet you still look crisp and put-together. As you’ll see with the below #OOTD, it’s a look you could even pull off as you dress for summer travel.  So with that being said, get to reading below. For more #menswear inspiration, check out yours truly on Instagram, or swing on through Facebook for a daily briefing.
Ben Sherman

An effortless mix of casual and cool -- a chambray blazer plus a simple striped tee.

An effortless mix of casual and cool — a chambray blazer plus a simple striped tee.

 

The Blazer: JackThreads Chambray Blazer, $79: A chambray blazer for just $79? Believe it. Slim, stylish and well-made, from a brand that just gets things done.

The T-shirt: Bourbon and Blue Surfcomber Heathered Red Stripe Tee, $55: If you’re going to rock a tee under a blazer, it’s best to pick up one that’s comfortable, well-made and trim-fitting; warm weather stripes don’t hurt, either.

The Pants: Old Navy Ultimate Slim-Fit Khakis, $29: While the color of the chinos in that particular picture is lighter than the pair on Old Navy’s site, the principle remains the same — slim khakis fall in line with that trim blazer and tee, and can be easily rolled to show off those sneakers.

The Sneakers: GREATS Pronto in Cadet, $199: GREATS does, well, a great job at producing versatile, comfortable sneakers that are easy to wear with high-low style combos  like a blazer and tee (Italian manufacturing just does that).

The Socks: J. Crew Anchor No-show Socks, $10: Stylish no-show socks are an absolute summer must, and these add another subtle, nautical touch to the outfit while keeping your feet cool.

The Belt: J. Crew Factory Double-striped Webbing Belt, $14.50: As much as it’s popped up in a few recent #OOTD posts (including this post on how to wear a short-sleeve shirt), it’s a highly versatile casual belt that adds some nice color to this ensemble.

The Watch: Timex Weekender Fairfield, $75: Timex watches are as solid as they get, and this particular timepiece is suitably refined enough to heighten that blazer-and-tee combo just a bit.

The Accessory: Cambridge Satchel Oxblood iPhone Case, $32: So not everyone still has an iPhone (just me?), but regardless of what phone you’ve got, it’d be a neat touch to finish off your everyday with a rich leather phone case.

Does that check all the boxes of dressing sharply in warm weather? Well, mostly. If you feel a tee is too casual, you could always swap in an essential chambray shirt or a classic blue Oxford. But the best part about pairing a tee with a chambray blazer is the combination of effortless style and comfort it gives you. It’s an on-the-go style move that meets the warm weather while looking cool and sharp. Plus, it works well when paired with a classic set of navy sneakers — a more comfortable answer to brown leather wingtips, for starters. And crisp accessories, like a lux leather phone case and a dependable watch, are going to be by your side (and on your wrist) for plenty of outfits in the future. Even starting gradually (swapping out denim for twill pants and upgrading to a lighter chambray blazer) can be a step in the right direction. Still unsure? Give it a try –it might become a go-to style combo.

Are you sold on the idea of pairing a blazer with a striped tee? What about sneakers? Let me know in the comments!

Frank & Oak

 

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.