Men's Style Tips: The Blazer, by Joe Ottaway
A wardrobe staple, it’s well worth investing in a good quality blazer. However, you don’t have to break the bank – particularly to get the perfect fit. As we all know, temperatures in spring and autumn can be fairly mixed so it’s in these transition months when the blazer comes into its own, and stylist Joe Ottaway has some great tips on finding the best one for you.
Joe is a professional stylist and is the mind behind some of the world’s best-dressed gentlemen, including David Gandy and Jude Law. He is best known for his classic sartorial looks, and he has designed his range for London Sock Company: The Ottaway Range
KEEPING IT ‘COOL’ IN TWEED
A tweed blazer is perfect for those cooler spring or autumn days. Tweed is a bit warmer and has a very classic style. These blazers can come in plain or patterned styles and always have great texture.
Here we simply paired with dark jeans and dark grey leather trainers – perfect for a smarter weekend look. To finish the look, add a splash of colour with our Spot of Style, in Skye blue.
Sock – Spot of Style Skye Blue
Blazer – Hackett London Blazer
Shirt – Slim Fit Shirt from Reiss
Jeans – Slim Fit Jeans in navy from Reiss
Shoes – Axel Arigato Clean 90 Dark Grey Leather
TAILORING TRICK #1: ‘NIP THE SIDES’
How can you find a perfectly fitting blazer, without spending lots on bespoke tailoring? The most cost-effective way is to buy your blazer ‘off the peg’. However, the chances of it fitting you perfectly are very slim.
The good news is you can ask a tailor to make two simple alterations to give your blazer the perfect fit. The first of these tailoring tips is to: “Nip the Sides”. As Joe explains, “For this, simply ask your tailor to nip or take in the sides. This helps create a narrow waist, as well as accentuate the natural shape and width of your shoulders.”
To accompany your new fitted blazer, why not try a sharp pair of dress socks, like our Spot of Style Earl Grey.
Blazer – Double-breasted wool jacket from Reiss
Socks- Spot of Style, in Earl Grey
Shoes- Sons of London
TAILORING TRICK #2: NARROW THE SLEEVES
According to Joe, another easy way to ensure your blazer looks sharp is to adjust the width of the sleeves. “Having baggy sleeves on your blazer is never a good look. Simply ask your tailor to narrow them. It’s very simple and will make them more fitted to you, giving your blazer a much sharper look,” offers Joe. A fitted sleeve makes any blazer go from shapeless to tailored with this simple tweak.
Socks – Spot of Style in Bordeaux
Suit – Double-breasted wool jacket from Reiss
Shoes – Loafers, Private White x Cheaney
THE SHIRT
When it comes to choosing the right shirt for any blazer, Joe’s simple advice is that you can’t go wrong with a crisp white or pale blue shirt. Find the right shirt sleeve length to leave a quarter-inch of shirt showing beyond your blazer sleeve. It’s a minor detail but it makes all the difference and gives you a perfectly tailored look. Add a subtle hint of pattern and colour with our Shaken & Stirred sock in Red.
DRESS IT UP WITH A TIE (and a pop of colour)
Need something a little more formal? The great thing about a blazer is that you can quickly upgrade your look with a tie; it’s a simple yet effective tool for any gent. Finally, a splash of colour is the pièce de résistance for this outfit, we suggest our Simply Sartorial Pink Friday.
