Q&A: What to Wear with a White Blazer
August 22nd, 2007
Q: What would suggest wearing a white blazer with to NOT give off the Miami Vice look? And, more generally, what other types of pants would you recommend with any blazer? The jeans and shirt and blazer look is so boring.
A:
The big white blazer with a pastel shirt screams Miami Vice (and the 1980s), but you don’t have to dress like Don Johnson if you don a white blazer. Try the white blazer with a black shirt and dark-rinse blue jeans for an casually elegant nightwear look.
You can also try going preppy with the white blazer. Pair it with a colorful polo and shorts. Or replace the polo with a striped or plaid shirt for even more visual interest. You can get away with knee-length shorts in white or colored fabrics–or even seersucker. Finish off the outfit with a pair of boat shoes or docksiders. Very WASP.
More generally, you can wear blazers with almost any type of pants, if you’re daring. It’s less about what you wear than how you wear it. While most men keep to jeans or trouser pants in the same fabric for their blazers, you can expand your options to trouser pants in different patterns and textures (very sophisticated when done right), cargo pants, and even shorts.
Have a great tip about what to wear with a white blazer? Share it with us in the comments!
Pictured: Ben Sherman ‘Paddle’ Two Button Blazer | $169 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
5 Comments
1. John | October 8th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
THIS is how you wear a white blazer:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_qjpwnPW4c1o/Rp91c4sDaKI/AAAAAAAABqc/tp9bJJNTRpk/s1600-h/stairs.jpg
2. Trisha | October 9th, 2007 at 3:17 am
What a great look, John! This look is high on stylish details–the cropped jacket, the cuffed pants, and the ever-so-slightly-narrow tie. Thanks so much for sharing!
3. John | October 9th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Also, notice his shoe color – black. Most people would wear brown here, but he instead matches his tie (and belt accordingly)…this is what bringing together an outfit it all about
4. Omiru.com: Style for All&hellip | November 9th, 2007 at 4:01 am
[…] November 9th, 2007 Q: Is it possible to wear a white blazer casually in the fall and winter months? By John Liu, sartorialistA: As far as I know, there aren’t any “rules†associated with the white blazer; there aren’t any “rules†in general on when to wear clothes, the famous exception being the old-fashioned “Don’t wear white after Labor day rule,†which I tend to ignore. That said, there are plenty on rules associated with what to wear in certain circumstances. So, if you really wanted to, you’re free to wear the whitest white blazer you can find. To me, though, it seems a bit “off†to wear a white blazer in the fall and especially in the winter even though white has become a year-round color. White blazers feel like summer wear; I’m even willing to bet that you can’t find a ready to wear white blazer made in a winter fabric (i.e. a heavier wool) for that reason. I personally stick to shades of navy and gray for my fall/winter blazers.If you feel confident and savvy enough to wear the white blazer, be careful not to dress like Don Johnson. Check out Omiru’s feature on how to not give off the Miami Vice vibe and check the great photo in the comments section.Also, I wouldn’t recommend buying a white blazer– instead, choose a cream or off-white colored white. And, in fact, the best (i.e. highest quality) white blazers are more of a cream color than paper white, since wool itself isn’t bright white. As GQ’s resident sartorialist Glenn O’Brien says, “If the jacket is really white, it’s probably polyester, a fabric that doesn’t breathe well and thus isn’t the best warm-weather option.â€Pictured: Sleek Blazer | $195 at Armani Exchange.Have a great tip about when and how to wear a white blazer? Share it with us in the comments!Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question. […]
5. Matthew | March 2nd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
hi! very interesting page, thanks for it!
i have a wedding in less than 20 days and thought of a white blazer. i am 20 years old, many relatives told me it isnt appropiate for a wedding but i think it can be and find it fun to wear it.
the wedding is at the end of summer which is still warm in here.. my uestion is, how could i wear it? which pants, colours? and any other tip so i dont look bad.. thanks