Bringing back the blazer and jeans
Who’d have thunk it: blazers are about to make a post-Covid come back.
It’s been widely noted that the novelty of WFH sweats has worn off and some of us like a bit of corporate-lite cos-play. For those going back to offices, even if it’s part time, they want to dress the part. And for the never-going-back-to-the-office brigade, a tailored blazer is still the easiest thing to throw on for impromptu Teams calls. I guess old habits die hard.
The best route for this then is ye olde blazer and jeans combo and fortunately it’s an easy one to shop your closet. Here’s three ways to wear…
BLAZER AND WORN-IN JEANS AT HOME. I‘ve not worn skinny jeans for ten years; I’ve always preferred rigid Japanese denim or the softened vintage variety. The latter is best for sitting at a desk for hours on end. These new B Sides Louis jeans* have the worn-in effect I like; they’re based on vintage styles sourced by the founders. For summer I like them with loafers and off white or oatmeal socks. Crockett & Jones* and Grenson* both have really nice ones at the moment. I’ve just had my ancient Ralph Lauren blazer back from the dry cleaners and will be wearing it with my Levi’s Made & Crafted crop 501s*.
STRUCTURED BLAZER AND HEELED BOOTS FOR EVENING. The structured tailored blazer with faded jeans was my favourite runway look from Paco Rabanne SS21 (below). I usually like dark jeans for evening but I think light jeans with a dark jacket work as we go into summer. I’m way too short to carry off this long line silhouette, so I’ll substitute it for my 20-something year old APC boxy twill blazer with satin lapels. This Joseph jacket* with it’s discreet slit pockets is very cool too and I like the internal drawstring on the Theory blazer* for adjusting the silhouette. I’m looking forward to pulling on my Dries snakeskin ankle boots after over a year in hibernation, along with a super-chunky chain bracelet or two. (Better still would be the new Hermès 17mm Nantucket watch* with its weighty chain strap.)
BLAZER AND WHITE JEANS FOR OFF-DUTY WEEKENDS. White jeans in perpetually rain-soaked London – always a bit risky. But the window of May-August is the time for living on the edge in straight leg Levi’s 501s* or the fuller barrel cut from Gap*. I’m eyeing double-breasted blazers at the moment; particularly this blush pink MaxMara DB blazer* with its peak lapels and back vents, to wear unbuttoned with a boxy Agnès b tee and a fine-gauge sweater round the waist or shoulders. I used a tote for a trip across town last week and it exhausted me – so much stuff to carry! So I’m reverting back to small-ish cross-body bags*. In my dreams I’d wear these La Botte Gardiane Santiago boots, but in reality, probably normcore New Balance* for channeling the Sporty and Rich look.
NOW CLICK BELOW TO SHOP THE POST (I MAY EARN A COMMISSION ON THE BASKET VALUE OF ITEMS BOUGHT*)…
WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Paris Vogue; Celine SS21; Christy Turlington by Bruce Weber for Calvin Klein; Valentino blazer and jeans by Scott Trindle for Vogue; Paco Rabanne SS21; Tylynn Nguyen
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links* and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here
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18 May, 2021 @ 6:33 pm
Ooh these are very much my kind of combinations…
19 May, 2021 @ 12:52 am
Back to basics!
19 May, 2021 @ 10:07 am
I think I still need convincing about cropped jeans (shades of my mother calling trousers which were too short ‘half mast’ – but I’m now inspired to play around with my current jeans and jackets to see what works. I love the Theory jacket – but discovered that one of the downsides of going ‘au naturel’ grey is that beige and sand colours no longer work. Pink though…..now that could become my new beige.
19 May, 2021 @ 11:00 pm
Hi Gillian! Ha, we used to call them ‘ankle swingers’, and not in a good way! For me, being short, somehow a crop jeans puts me in proportion. Regarding the light-coloured Theory blazer, I think it’s all about contrast so as long as your top (or maybe a scarf) is several shades darker or lighter then you’ll avoid the washed out look. I know for example that if I wear light camel that is too close to my skin tone then I look washed out, but if it’s a darker tan, or a paler creamy colour, then it’s fine. Interestingly, the pink MaxMara blazer has had way more clicks than anything else on the page (apart from the black Joseph blazer)! Oh, the other tip, if you’re a make-up wearer is to use blusher or a sheer pink lip balm/gloss to put some colour back in your face. Have a look at That’s Not My Age blog as well, as I think she covers this sort of thing quite a lot!