A while back I had the opportunity to speak with Lauren Deatherage, the men's trend forecaster for Cotton, Incorporated. Lauren provided some valuable men's fashion tips for the fall season. She has much to say about a key element in a man's wardrobe--the blazer.
Lauren says the key to a fall wardrobe is mixing it up. In the past few years men have been reintroduced to a more dressed up look. Now feeling more comfortable with the idea they are ready to update the look by mixing and matching some key pieces. The blazer has become a must have to every man's wardrobe. Versatility of this piece is vital when choosing your new blazer for fall. Here are seven of Lauren's tips to guide you in the right direction in choosing a blazer:
- The blazer can be worn day to evening and should be able to work with various looks.
- A denim blazer will work for day time when paired with a fine knit sweater or can be brought to an evening look when put over a bold woven shirt (think dobby stripe, novelty clip spots, or a small scale plaid updated in bright colors).
- Tweed and herringbone can also be versatile options for a blazer. Look for updates to these classic fabrics in color and scale. Classic browns and blacks for tweeds and herringbones are accented with a royal blue, orange or other vivid colored yarn dyes.
- The fun part about the fall season is taking the blazer and pairing it with a complementing trouser. You don't have to worry about having an exact match.
- Use the tweed blazer with your favorite pair of dark washed denim or brushed pinstripe pant.
- Pair your corduroy or moleskin trousers with your denim blazer. The pieces that are being used here are classic and formal, a trouser and a blazer.
- The way of putting them together is not. The look is not fussy or contrived. It's about feeling comfortable with these pieces and using different fabrics, constructions and weaves to create some surface interest/visual appeal.
See my My Favorite Men's Sport Coats and Blazers or My Top Picks in Velvet Blazers for Men.
