Suited, Booted: what to look for in a blazer

I love wearing a suit. Not everyone will say the same, but back in sixth form when we had to wear suits, I definitely found it a cause of celebration, not commiseration! Fast forward 5 years and now in a London corporate job, a suit is pretty much expected. It puts you in the right mind-set. It looks smart and sophisticated. It's professional. Did I go out and shop for suits before starting? Oh yes - and picked up a few things along the way.

Firstly, a blazer might be in your size, but sometimes it pays to go up a size, or down a size, depending on the look you want. I have a blazer which is slightly over-sized but that's because I liked the way it fell/hung. Liked having it that tad bit longer. On the other hand, you might decide to go for a blazer one size (or a few inches) down, to achieve that 'nipped in', fitted look. Be sure to try on a few.

And be sure to experiment with different fits, as well as sizes. One blazer which has lasted me from sixth form to now has a tapered front but a shorter back. This means wearing it with high-waisted trousers or a high-waisted skirt creates a feminine silhouette from the side. I like that it's a bit different to the fit/style of a normal blazer. Keep your eyes peeled for those slightly unusual styles.

Image: bcbg

And experiment with colours and patterns! Obviously black, navy and grey are perfect fail-safe options and should definitely make up a good percentage of your blazer collectiom. But a check blazer? A pinstripe blazer? A maroon blazer or emerald green blazer? Why not. Just be sure to check with the company policy first - or save it for that weekend dinner party...

Also, don't forget functionality - e.g check for pockets. If you're like me and always have your personal/work phone on you, you'll want to have a pocket in your blazer. The number of blazers that skip pockets altogether (or have 'fake' ones for stylist purposes) is more than you think. It's a practicality worth considering.

Image: mango

As is the lining. Good quality lining will mean the blazer will last longer. It's also an aesthetic consideration too. Sometimes, you might want to roll up the cuffs of your blazer for a stylish 'rough and ready' look. But to do this, the underlining has to look pretty good. Just because it's on the inside of the blazer doesn't mean no one will see it. A solid colour works well, like dark blue or red.

I could go on but I'll stop there for want of blazer frenzy (!). Other factors to consider include buttons (are there spare ones included inside?), lapels (how much of your shirt do you want to show?) and shoulder pads (a little, yes, too much, no.)

Happy Blazer-ing!

First photo courtesy of Telka Zcos & VanityStudios