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I tend to cut guys a lot of slack in the fashion department. They didn’t grow up with their magazines, movies, and TV shows telling them their self-worth is factored heavily upon their appearance, so they didn’t develop the same survival-level fashion instincts most girls did at a young age. Society’s laissez-faire approach to men’s fashion has gifted us with staying trends such as socks with sandals, the Beefy T, and the high-school gym shorts worn well into a man’s thirties, and I am fine with that. To opt for comfort over steez is never a crime in my book.
There is, however, one trend that simply does not sit well with me. Increasingly popular among men of all ages, in both business and social settings, is the blazer-with-jeans combo. I get why this seems like an attractive option, in theory. If you’re a dude who enjoys the comfort of jeans, but you find yourself in a situation requiring a slight step up in the dress code, you might think adding just one piece will bippity-boppity-boo you into becoming Cinderella at the ball.
Do not be tempted by your fairy godmother in the form of the salesperson at Aeropostale, because it will not.
Blazers alone are great, and jeans alone are great. But together, the look is haphazard and indecisive. On a guy in his twenties, it says “I’ve never been to a restaurant before.” Thirties, “I’m very recently divorced.” Forties, “I’m very recently divorced and I hope you’ll ask me about my startup.” It doesn’t work on you. It works on no one.
The key to dressing for any occasion is commitment to the je ne sais quoi of your style. If the event calls for a blazer, wear chinos on the bottom. If the event calls for jeans, wear a sweater or button down on top. If you’re not sure, wear khakis and a sweater. If you don’t give a fuck, wear your Beefy T and your high school gym shorts. I’ve made known my support for the right to dress for comfort and will never attack anyone who exercises theirs.
But we all know the blazer and jeans look is not about comfort. It is insecurity, a lack of preparation, or both, on display. You look simultaneously overdressed and under-dressed. It’s both too much and somehow not enough. There is a reason the country club that requires you to wear a blazer does not allow you to wear jeans. I find myself in disagreement with many a country club policy, however, this is one they did not err on.
I never want to discourage anyone from expressing themselves. I simply want to give clear feedback on how exactly said self-expression is received. If the message you’re trying to send is the visual equivalent of a twelve-second long Tina Belcher groan, then sure, wear the blazer with the jeans. But if you want to seem like you’re capable of deciding whether the event you’re attending is closer in dress code to a wedding than a little league game, pick a lane and stay in it..
Image via Shutterstock
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Best
Best specializes in making fun of men and wondering why she is still single. She has over 6,000 followers on Periscope, the reason for which she has yet to figure out. Her Tinder bio once went viral for including a pretty mediocre fart joke. Neither of these events she allows anyone in her life to forget.
@WhatTheHellTina
@t_mihel
tina_mihel
Blazer and jeans is a great look if you wanna use a kickstarter for your up and coming tech company and wanna appeal to investors
This is actually so spot on ^
I’m all about that blazer and sweatpants/athletic shorts look with dress socks and slip on shoes. Underneath the blazer it’s usually a tshirt or some awful corny Hawaiian shirt. As you can see, I don’t really care about much anymore and I’ve come to terms with it. I’m also at the stage in my life where if I drop something on the ground I look down and ask myself “do I really need that”
I’m all on board with the hawaiian under the blazer/suit combo. I did it for a sorority formal and haven’t looked back since.
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Living in Lubbock and attempting to navigate the oil and gas landscape, I lived on this look for longer than I’d like to admit.
This look is the oil and gas field worker tuxedo. Add cowboy boots and a hard hat and you’ll fit right in.
And the Brooks Brothers dress shirt with the top two buttons undone. Beware the used Rolex worn by a man who had a decent year prior and now “knows what he’s doing.”
I have a Tommy Bahama sport coat that I wear with jeans. I’ve never gotten anything but compliments from the look. Everyone cares too much of what other people think tho imo.
Lol there are MANY types of blazers. If you’re wearing a suit blazer with jeans, then I agree…. the look sucks. But if you’re wearing a casual blazer (not designed for a suit) it doesn’t look as bad as you described IMO
Yeah I don’t think Best understands the difference between suit coats, sport coats, and blazers.
I think I’d value Barrett’s input a lot more on this- smart idea having him do a man outfitter style guide by the way.
Jeans and a tweed blazer in the fall and winter is a solid look.
Thrown over a light sweater, game over.
“Best, have you met my friends Duda?”
Blazer and jeans are a staple and will set you apart from every other dude who just does the untucked button down and jeans.
I would use this as a guide:
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/09/23/how-to-wear-a-sports-jacket-with-jeans/
I completely agree, my friends and I have called this the Ted Mosby and it makes you look like a limp noodle
Alright Best, serious question. What’s your take on the golf polo with basketball shorts look?
Trash. Sewer trash. Gutter trash. Those people should be banned from society, expelled to a deserted island in the pacific
Golf polo and baggies?
I wear a button down with baggies and topsiders on the reg. And by on the reg I mean right now.
Sport coat with dark jeans and full quill ostrich will have you dressed appropriately for literally any occasion in Texas.