I am beyond pleased to get to have partnered with Theory for this letter. For my whole adult life, I’ve looked to Theory for mega classic, super minimalist, polished pieces. I love how everything can be styled in such personal ways - it’s the ideal building block for versatile wardrobe. When I was first coming up in Fashion, I dreamed of dressing like a Theory gal, so this one is especially fun and special for me.
I’ve always really liked the idea of uniform dressing. I like the idea of having a set group of things you mix and match from kind of effortlessly and seamlessly. I’ve tried to implement such a system in my own wardrobe, to varying degrees of success. The truth is, I do wear more or less the same thing everyday, but it’s mainly because I’m too rushed or just don’t really care to get dressed. Which feels more like a rut than a uniform. And which I wrote about in the last installment of What To Wear Everyday. (Dresses & skirts are coming next week)
When I’m feeling my best, I can easily get into the groove of getting dressed - I have fun with the usual markers of my personal style, and try and approach them in new ways daily, depending on how I feel. I’m a very emotional dresser - at my best, I like experimenting, but I have a few base markers that stay consistent. My favorite jeans, for example, or an oversized button down. Navy cotton sweaters are a big one for me, as are loafers. At the tippy top of the “go-to” food chain, for me, is a good blazer. I get so much wear out of my blazers and I wear them in a million different ways - I find it to be the ultimate confidence-booster and security blanket at the same time. A blazer + XYZ just works, and when I think about uniform dressing in my life, that’s how it makes sense.
This, ~blazers~, is a subject I’ve wanted to tackle since I started this letter, but I didn’t know how because for me, they’re as essential as socks, and so how do you approach such a huge arena? You’ve gotta start somewhere! My prompt from Theory was to think about how I do uniform dressing, which gave me a really effortless framework to dip a toe into blazer world. And so here! An quickie guide to three effortless ways to style a blazer (even with shorts).
EASIEST: WITH JEANS
This is kind of a no-brainer, especially for me, since I’m so heavily influenced by 70s, 80s, and 90s menswear. It feels very this to me, which is honestly Earl Earl in a nutshell. Here’s why the blazer specifically works so well here.
It takes a pedestrian outfit, a white button down and jeans, and makes it feel more complete. Also more menswear inspired, dressier, and more polished - thus, more styled but still simple, simple, simple.
It’s a familiar look, and is so classic and formulaic, that it also says very little about the wearer other than that she gives a shit. This is, in my opinion, kind of the perfect thing to wear when you’re going into a situation where you don’t know how dressy you should be.
The mensy blazer with the lady flats and red lip is - again, in my opinion - striking the ideal balance between feminine and masculine.
SLIGHTLY BALLSIER: A SUIT
So, I know in theory a suit is easy to wear. But it’s a LOOK, and if it skews too dated, or too literal, or too fussy, or too anything, it becomes a bit self-conscious - like the suit is wearing you instead of you wearing the suit. That said, when you find a good one it’s a bit like a dress - one and done, something effortless that makes an impact. And like the jeans with a blazer, it’s a totally familiar and classic look, but even more polished. Three reasons why this one works:
I like a blazer that I can wear on its own, as a shirt - especially one that’s double breasted. It takes it out of the tricky realm and into something that’s a little sexy but still tough (though not edgy, that’s just not me). If you have more boobs than I do (I have none), you could do this with a pretty balconette bra for a little cleavage, and try a less boxy blazer - one that’s a bit more nipped at the waist to really highlight your body.
The pants with this one have a flattering cut - they’re slouchy but still sort of fitted. Kind of a Goldilocks situation. The whole effect with the oversized blazer and slightly slouchy pant gives a cool feeling rather than corporate.
The whole look, with exposed ankles and little loafers, hits perfectly in the middle of the spectrum between masculine and feminine. With jewelry, makeup, additional accessories (a cap) you can push it either way.
A LITTLE TRICKY! WITH SHORTS!
When I think of shorts and a blazer, I either think of indie sleaze denim cutoffs with tights and a little cropped fitted….pointy little blazer…. OR a little pastel shorts suit that someone might wear to a baby shower. Neither is my vibe. HOWEVER! A slouchy blazer with a slouchy pair of men’s shorts? I’m into it, because….
The classic, preppyness of a double breasted blazer with the long shorts is really giving me 80s dad at the beach, and yet the designs on the shorts (mine are men’s Rohe - those are tiny doodles of horses) give it more of an artistic vibe, but not out there. I’m on the tall side, if you’re shorter, or have a long torso and shorter legs, I’d go with shorter shorts here to keep the proportions balanced.
The structure of the blazer with the softness of the shorts makes it ~flow~. It’s like the outfit version of a mullet, and keeps it all lighthearted and casual enough that it’s easy to wear, not be worn by.
It works because it kind of doesn’t! Whereas the other toe the line between masculine and feminine, this one eeps between serious and not. The whole effect is kind of weird, but again, familiar (thanks to a super classic navy blazer).
AND TA-DA! Three easy ways to style a blazer. Now that I’ve broken the seal, I’ll be back with more blazer-specific stories soon!
Your friend,
Laurel
I, too, adored Theory as I came into my career — even when I worked in fashion and had options, I lived by the uws store in nyc and was in there constantly. Thank you for the great brand reminder and adorable blazer recos!
Can you comment on the sizing for the Row loafers? I always buy 6.5 in US shoes which equates to a 36.5 when looking at the sizing chart but I typically purchase 37s when buying European shoes.