A Black Blazer Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
When it comes to wardrobe essentials, all women should own a black blazer. A black blazer is one of the most versatile items in a wardrobe as it can be worn to the office, for fun, as makeshift outerwear, and more.
If you’re looking for one item to add to your wardrobe this fall, you might want to consider a super versatile black blazer. It can be worn myriad ways, it goes with everything, and you don’t have to spend a fortune on it as it’s not uncommon to find black blazers under $75… or even less!
Black Blazer, White Tee, and Jeans
A black blazer, jeans, and a white tee are about as classic as it gets. Bedazzles After Dark pulls off the look perfectly here! She opted to pair her outfit with heels, but you could also try tall boots, flats, or Converse sneakers. This is an outfit that is incredibly easy to put together as long as you have the main pieces!
Wear a Black Blazer as a Shirt
Jennifer Lopez wore a black blazer in place of a shirt to the 2015 MTV Movie Awards. This style might be a bit too sexy for everyday wear, but J.Lo’s blazer plus skirt combo makes a nice alternative to the typical little black dress.
Tie a Look Together with a Black Blazer
While I’m not sure that the blue peplum top and green pants that Candace Lake wore to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Australia necessarily go together on their own, the black blazer ties the entire look together and makes it look a bit more polished.
A black blazer can add substance to any outfit. Want to wear a strapless dress for the office? Pull-on, a black blazer, and nobody will know!
Wear a Black Blazer as Outerwear
An easy way to get more wear out of a black blazer is to wear it as outerwear. In the image here, the blazer appears to be worn over a hoodie, but you could also pair a black blazer with an oversized scarf for protection against a chilly night.
The Best Travel Accessory is a Black Blazer
A washable women’s blazer is the best travel accessory. Not only can you carry it on the plane for when it inevitably gets chilly, but you can also pair it with other clothing items to create new looks while you’re away.
When in Doubt, a Suit is Always Appropriate
While a black blazer on its own is an item that most women should be able to wear quite frequently, it never hurts to have an entire suite on hand. Suits can play the part of a little black dress or can be worn to job interviews or the office or if you’re Emma Watson, movie premieres.
How to Shop for Blazers
- Very, VERY few women fit perfectly into mass-manufactured blazers.
- Blazers were originally created for men. With men’s bodies. And they used to be custom-made for those men and their bodies.
- Blazers are a fantastic garment to have in your wardrobe because they instantly elevate any outfit.
And fact three is really a doozy because we’d all love to have a selection of perfectly fitting blazers at our disposal, but due to fact one very few of us do.
That doesn’t mean you should give up and resign yourself to cardigans forever. You just need to learn to shop smart when it comes to blazers and know what you’re getting yourself into when you buy one that isn’t quite perfect.
Pick a modern cut
Although modernity isn’t directly related to fit, you want to grab a blazer that will make you look sleek and chic instead of dated.
So still relevant, I’d wager. Women’s blazers from past eras were often boxy and oversized, but modern blazers are fairly fitted, generally curving at the waist a bit. A few decades ago, high stance blazers were the favorite, but currently, a lower stance is preferred. (“Stance” refers to the highest point where the blazer buttons.) And unless you’re buying a blazer that will be worn with skirts and dresses exclusively and is, therefore, a little short in the length, go for a current cut that hits at mid-hip.
NOW. All of this is relative, especially if you’re factoring in a large bust or serious curves. Stance can be especially tricky: Low-stance blazers may pucker around the chest of a large-busted frame, and high-stance blazers may fit oddly due to dart placement.
If you’re super curvy, a longer blazer may bunch up or pull across your hips. So, naturally, take this with a grain of salt and go for a style that fits and works for your specific body shape and size.
Fit your shoulders
In my opinion, the most important place for an off-the-rack blazer to fit is the shoulders.
A good shoulder fit is hard to find, but shoulder alterations are complex and expensive. So try to hunt down a style that works for your shoulder span, and have other bits tailored to fit.
The shoulder seam of a properly fitting blazer will hit right where your own shoulder begins to slope downward. You should be able to hug yourself at the waist without too much pulling or puckering.
Fit your bust
The next most important would be the bust fit. Due to their structured shape and stiff materials, blazers can be at odds with bust lines of all shapes and sizes. If you have more trouble fitting blazers in the bust than in the shoulders, pick a style that works for your shape and have the shoulders altered as needed.
The lapels of a properly fitting blazer will cover about half of each breast and skim over the bust line without wrinkling. Ideally, the blazer should look equally amazing worn buttoned or unbuttoned.
Fit your torso
Torso fit comes in third. Long-waisted and short-waisted folks may find blazers challenging since they are generally cut for a smallish bust and average torso length. If a blazer is too long in the torso for your frame, it will create a bubble of fabric just above your butt. If a blazer is too short in the torso, it will look like you shrunk it in the wash. If a blazer is too big in the torso, it will stand well away from your natural waist. If a blazer is too small in the torso, it will pull and wrinkle.
Buy to be taken in, not let out
It is always easier for a tailor to make a garment smaller or shorter than it is to make it bigger or longer. When buying a blazer, this means you should pick one that fits your most prominent and biggest feature and have it trimmed in other spots.
Be prepared to shell out for alterations
Honestly, the only easy and cheap alteration on a blazer is shortening the sleeves. And even that can get pricey if the blazer is lined. Some stores offer free alterations, generally on full-priced merchandise only, but the freebies are simple jobs like pant hems and sleeve shortening. Getting a blazer fitted to your bust or waist – again, always buying big with the intention of tailoring down – will generally run you $40 to $60. Getting a blazer fitted in the shoulders can be even more, especially if there is shoulder padding that needs to be removed and re-fitted. So, sadly, you’ll need to factor in tailoring costs when you’re considering overall cost.
But since blazers look amazing when they fit and sloppy when they don’t, it’ll be worth the cash. A properly fitting blazer is wardrobe gold, friends, and a great style tool to have in your closet.
Plus Size Blazers for Work
Cape Blazer
Throwing on a blazer can really dress up your work outfit. Usually, you can match a cute blazer with anything and get work- to -weekend wardrobe. I like different blazers….solid colors, floral prints, or all black; I can pair these colors with practically anything. Here are 7 workplace blazers that you can look at.
I really like this all-black Cape Blazer. This blazer opens to a cape-like back with drape sleeves and padded shoulders.
Summer White Blazer
Summer white is a must as it starts to heat for the office. White is super versatile and will pretty much go with anything you pair it with. In addition, this blazer from Eloquii has a nice twist on the classic blazer with hints of a moto collar and mock double layering. This blazer retails for $110 and goes up to a size 24. You’ll want to note that Eloquii usually gives awesome discounts usually between 30 – 50% off, so make sure you take advantage of that.
Marina Rinaldi Plus Chimera Jacket
You always need a Chic blazer that you can pull out your closet, and this Marina Rinaldi Plus Chimera jacket is it. First, take a look at the fabulous pattern, then the round neck and the three-quarter sleeves with slit cuffs (I love to roll up my sleeves, but love it more when it’s done for me) to complete the look.
Drapey Blazer Jacket
The Colored Drapey Blazer is very unique and lightweight that you can wear as a jacket as well. This blazer/jacket has long lapel, sheer chiffon sleeves with rolled cuffs, lightly padded shoulders, pockets at the hip, and chiffon panel across the back.
Striped Blazer
I love this blazer for a casual Friday, where you would dress up a pair of jeans. Stripes are a favorite of mine and a no-brainer when it comes to making a look fashionable.
Senna’ Drawstring Drape Front Jacket
Everything about this jacket is perfect for the warmer months. You can see that it’s lightweight, the color is fantastic, and it looks expensive. I could easily see this jacket at a $500 price tag but is moderately priced at $100.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
