A simple cotton blazer is a key battle-weapon in the struggle to look put together without looking like you give too many fucks. Lacking the structure of more formal tailoring, the cotton blazer can be employed almost like a cardigan, but when tossed on provides an element of formality (an ever so slightly dressy counterpoint) to a fundamentally casual get up. It’s easy to get wrong mind you. Look around, you’ll see over-long versions, ones with shockingly ornate top-stitching and ones washed out into a weary amalgam of ‘sort of blue’ and ‘sort of dirty looking’. There really are some high-street travesties out there. The only travesty with the blazer above, is that you don’t already own it.
This is this season’s Knockabout Jacket from Engineered Garments. You’ll notice the press stud buttoning up the front and there are also zips hiding under those pocket flaps and press studs crop up again as fastenings at the cuffs. It’s all going on. It’s pretty much the perfect casual blazer. Grab it at Reggie Shop or Meyvn.
Don’t be put off by the current weather either. Cotton blazers are all about layering, so shirt and sweatshirt up, then get a gilet over the top of that blaze. Toss on some Yuketens and a ridiculously shaped Japanese bucket hat just so you feel awkwardly self-conscious. Done. You look like the kind of idiot I look like. But at the very least, you don’t look like you shop at Zara.
Press studs on a blazer/jacket is bit a like velcro on trainers.