The right blazer (or two!) is a super-versatile item that no man should be without. In this video, we’re discussing our picks for the 3 types of blazers every man should own. Don’t forget to check out our blazer fit guide and all our picks below!
Navy
A classic staple that goes with everything. Get one in wool and you can wear it with everything; dressy, business casual and more.
Try one with some texture like tweed or herringbone or even one in cotton. This one is great for fall and the color can be worn with everything from jeans to slacks and a tie.
For a third blazer, try one with some pattern like a check, houndstooth or windowpane. It’s an elevated look that’s perfect with dark jeans or chinos. This one also dresses up well and can stand in for a suit when worn with slacks.
I’m sure you’ve already seen my article/video about a Navy Wool Blazer in my Wardrobe Essentials Series, riiiiiggghhht? If not, then please read and watch it first before we talk about Fall and Winter wool blazers/sport coats, because I’m going to assume we’re on the same page in regard to the differences between a blazer, sport coat and suit jacket as well as how your blazer should fit your body type as well as the finer details of what to look for in a quality blazer. Otherwise, you will probably be lost or think this article is a little anemic. There will be a few critical differences between your year-round blazers and your specific Fall and Winter wool blazers. So let’s get into them.
1. Fabric Weight
The most important difference during this time of year is the fabric weight of your blazer.
You want a much heavier wool fabric, like Harris Tweed, for three reasons:
It will keep you much warmer during this time of year.
If it has a tighter weave, like Harris Tweed, it’ll be more durable, robust and repel water and snow better.
To get technical for a moment, a typical weight you should look for is around 12 ounces, but you can go all the way up to 16 to 20 ounces. For year-round wool blazers, I prefer a fabric weight of between 8 to 10 ounces, depending on your climate. In comparison, for hotter climates/seasons, I usually go with somewhere around 6 ounces for the fabric weight.
You’ll instantly notice the difference of fabric weights when you feel the blazer in-person. It’s a little harder to see it in in pictures, so I would suggest going to a store that carries suits to see it for yourself.
Long story short, you want a thicker wool for this time of year.
2. Color
The second difference is the colors for the time of year. Unlike the year-round wool blazers, this is the time of year where you can wear richer, more jewel-toned colors, all based on your skin tone, of course.
The best way I can describe colors is to think of the leaves changing to their fall colors and those are the colors you want for the season. So that typically means these colors:
Browns
Burgandys
Greens
Blues
Oranges
I went over all these colors and how to wear them based on your skin tone in my introduction article & video to this series.
3. Patterns
The last and final thing to consider for your Fall & Winter wool blazers are the patterns. Since you’ll be wearing heavier items, bold and heavier patterns work great this time of year.
All of these blazers are from companies that I love. Zegna, Canali, and Brooks Brothers’ blazers have superior construction and the fit, color, and pattern are exactly what I look for in a standout blazer for my clients. For more budget-friendly options, I really like J.Crew’s english tweed sportcoats. The weight of these blazers are perfect and the solid textured colors (brown, grey, and navy) will never go out of style. For a nice camel or dark green blazer, Topman and H&M, respectively, make these nice blazers. The fabric isn’t as thick as I’d prefer, but the price point is hard to beat so I’m willing to overlook that.
