5 x Casual Blazers To Take You Back To The Office
Although Boris hasn't given us the go ahead yet, I'm sure it won't be long before we're able to return to the office.....at least for a few days a week.
Will people still be wearing suits or will they continue to wear what they've been wearing for working at home? If you're unsure how the dress code will look and are confused about what to wear for work now, then my suggestion would be to opt for a casual blazer.
You can throw it on over a t-shirt and jeans to instantly smarten them up, or wear it with a formal shirt and trousers, to look smart but not stuffy and nail that 'smart casual' look.
Here are some of my suggestions:
This is actually in the lounge wear section on the Oliver Spencer website, as it's made of a textured jersey fabric which makes is super comfy to wear and more like a cardigan but with the appearance of a blazer.
Avoid wearing it with jeans that are too similar in texture and colour, and instead go for a contrasting colour on the bottom like grey jeans or sand coloured chinos or you could put it with more formal cotton trousers in something like a sage green.
You'll be able to wear it in summer and winter, and could put it with a shirt if you need a more formal look or wear it over a t-shirt to smarten up for a zoom call, all in all, making in a pretty versatile piece.
Birch navy lounge jacket - £249 - Oliver Spencer
I bought this jacket with a client a couple of months ago and we both loved it. Similar to the one above, it's an unlined fabric that has stretch in it and ends up being a bit more cardigan-like but with a formal look to it. In the outfit list I put together for him after our personal shopping trip, I styled it with the teal cords, black jeans and navy chinos that we'd also bought that day.
We went for quite a snug fit which looked great (in fact, better than it looks on the model!) If you're big in the shoulders / chest / arm area and have a narrower waist (a triangle shape) then the other bonus to a jacket like this, is that you can get away with a smaller size to flatter your slim waist and it'll stretch over your chest / shoulders / arms and still be comfortable.
'Torceo Sorbo' woven grey jacket - £325 - Barena
I've only just discovered this brand and found out about their 'raison d'être' - to combine elegance with comfort. They make comfortable, stretch blazers to put on and forget about, and here's an example of one of them.
If you've got your basic navy and grey blazers and are wondering what to buy next, or feel like being a touch more adventurous - this green and navy check one is a great option. It'll look perfect with a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, or a fine knit navy crew neck sweater and cream cords. Or for more formal meetings, wear it with navy chinos, a pale blue shirt and brown Chukka boots and voilà - easy, stylish, and modern office dressing.
Seersucker check blazer in green and navy - £250 - Circolo 1901 at Mr & Mrs Smith
A slightly different feel to this one - less cardigan, more chore jacket - it's another way to do the smart casual look. And despite the lighter colour, don't think you can't wear it now - put it with a forest green sweater and dark jeans, or a white shirt, navy fine knit cardigan and some grey cord jeans.
It'll suit someone with a stockier frame that fills out the straight cut....so if that's you, snap it up now with it's 60% off and you'll be ready and prepped for the return to work.
Blue garment dyed cotton blazer - £90 - Mr P at Mr Porter
Sitting at the more casual end of smart casual, this knitted blazer is the answer if you want to smarten up just a bit from your jeans and hoody. In fact, I've noted it as an option for the client I'm taking shopping tomorrow.
He wants to edge his style up a notch or two to upgrade his status and gravitas, as he heads towards a promotion. When you work for a company where everyone can wear what they like and the general consensus is to dress very casually, this can be tricky, but incremental changes like wearing this instead of a hoody or chunky knit cardigan can make all the difference.
Navy cotton knit blazer - £89.95 - Massimo Dutti
"I found shopping with Sarah really fun: she had done very thorough research in advance, and we went to shops and tried on clothes that I simply would never have considered on my own.
I particularly valued her specialist knowledge, such as bringing me to a tailor who was able to refine the off-the-peg suit I had bought until it was exactly right for me.
Working with Sarah has been a real boost to my self-confidence. I strongly recommend Sartoria Lab to any guy looking for a new style and unsure of where to begin".
If you're confused about what to wear when you go back to the office and would like some help dressing in a new and relevant way, then click below to book in for a personal shopping trip or email me for more info.
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Alternative trousers to wear instead of jeans