Your wardrobe is an ever-changing animal. Whether it is changing through the seasons of the year or the seasons of your life, it is ever-evolving as time goes by. There are staples that the seasons offer which should always be in your closet regardless of how much you or the weather changes. Blazers are one of those staples. Whether you think you are someone who is always in a suit or someone who sees no need for one, a blazer is something you will unavoidably need. Of course, there is one aspect we need to get out of the way before we start listing out our favorite men’s blazers.
Suit coat vs. blazer vs. sport coat
For the purposes of knowledge, we want to make sure you know and understand the differences between these three coats. Of course, in the fashion world, many brands and stylists use these three terms interchangeably. If you want to be a true sartorialist, you will want to know the difference. Even if this article focuses on all three under the banner of blazer.
- A suit coat is the most elevated of the three. It is canvas-lined to keep its shape and comes with a matching pair of pants to keep you as formal as you can be without going all the way to a tuxedo.
- A sport coat is the most casual on the list. While the makeup of a sport coat is virtually the same as a suit coat, there are no pants to go along with it.
- A blazer is a bridge between the two. It is often double-breasted and features contrasting metal buttons. If you wear it with jeans or chinos, it can be perfect for a casual event, or you can elevate it with dress pants for a truly fashionable ensemble.
Knowing the difference will do you well in some circles, but most of the world uses all three interchangeably. So here is a list of our favorites from all three worlds.
Ralph Lauren Gregory Hand Peak Lapel Blazer
We can’t start out a list of best blazers without choosing the granddaddy of blazers on the market. Ralph Lauren didn’t invent the blazer, but this Gregory Hand peak-lapel blazer reinvented it for the modern day. This is the blazer Ralph Lauren himself wears when he needs to style up his outfit, so if you want the best, here it is.
State and Liberty Athletic-Fit Stretch Blazer
For the bigger guys out there, stretch and fit are crucial; State and Liberty tackles this problem handily, and it does so in crisp color and all the correct stylish design details.
Buck Mason Carry-On Jacket
Buck Mason has proven as reliable as ever when it comes to casual gear you can depend on daily. It’s now upping the ante and expanding into a simple, breezy, breathable blazer. Made to be worn on and off a plane or a train while retaining its shape, this patch-pocket blazer is a surefire winner any way you style it.
Tommy Bahama Boracay Blazer
Shake up your style with a cotton-blend blazer in a refreshing shade of light blue, the kind you can wear to inject a bit of tropical flair into your seasonal wardrobe. When the time comes to return to a sunlit patio for cocktails, you’ve already got the perfect jacket.
Johnston & Murphy Knit Blazer
It’s pretty helpful when the brand that makes your stylish dress shoes and boots comes through with a laidback-yet-versatile knit blazer — one that you can wear over everything from a white Oxford shirt to a merino henley.
Peter Millar Flynn Classic Fit Wool Blazer
If you’re going to own only one, make it this one, as it fits perfectly into your Four-Legged Stool. A classic navy blazer in lightweight wool will get you through everything from an early fall wedding to a holiday party, with plenty of options for the office in between. It looks good on everybody and goes as well with crisply pressed dress pants as it does with completely ripped jeans.
Bonobos Unconstructed Italian Wool Blazer
Pick this jacket up for effortless class. Its soft construction does make this sport coat feel as comfortable as a sweatshirt, but throw it on with a dress shirt for a style that says “no sweat.”
Stone Rose Black Stretch Performance Blazer
This polyester, viscose, and stretch fiber blend is the ultimate travel blazer. Its clean, black silhouette looks great with dress trousers for a big meeting, but it’s also super comfortable on the plane or in the car.
The Normal Brand Lambswool Blazer
This is about as close as you can get to a cardigan while still being a blazer. Made from a mid-weight lambswool blended with nylon, this blazer is the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Wear it as a blazer to dress up a t-shirt and jeans, or wear it as a cardigan to dress down a dress shirt and slacks.
The House of Bruar Harris Tweed Jacket
There is nothing like adopting a classic, masculine style. Harris Tweed is known all over the world, and this Harris Tweed jacket is hand woven on the Scottish Isles. You may be looking for a more casual style, but that doesn’t mean the style part of that statement is any less important. Refined and gentlemanly, this is as close as you can get to Henry Jones Sr. without going for the grail.
A few tips on how to wear a blazer
When you step out wearing a blazer, the key is that the blazer shouldn’t be wearing you. For example, you can almost always wear a classic pick like an Oxford shirt with your favorite blazer, paired with chinos and a tie if the situation calls for it. It’s a great way to ease into a dressier look for the office (worn over jeans or chinos) without wearing a suit. Wearing one can also raise the stakes on a romantic dinner out. We’ve gathered some of our favorites here (featuring the best men’s clothing brands), from traditional jackets with old-school construction right through to warm, snuggly sweaters that are shaped like sports coats.
Blazers with more structure look better with dress shirts, while blazers with less construction can be worn more easily with more casual picks, like a lightweight T-shirt or even a crewneck sweatshirt if you want to blur the lines between high and low. Sports coats are some of the most valuable garments you’ll find in your closet; whether dressing up your jeans or chinos or dressing down your dress pants, they create versatility for anything they are paired with.
When shopping for the right coat, thoroughly go through this list and find the one that speaks to you.
