the Unstructured Blazer

For us, the year 2013 is the beginning of the casual formals, fashion is becoming more about practicality & individual style, an unstructured blazer is one of the many staples to this start.

Casual Blazer:

The Blazer is one of the most versatile pieces you could possibly hope to own. They work well as evening wear, great for day wear, great as outerwear, great for layering, great with a t-shirt, great with a scarf… you get the idea. Now, we have all heard of the blazer before and I am sure many of you out there have already experimented with them in the past? Being such a timeless piece there should be no excuse for a blazer not to appear in every mans wardrobe, even more so at the moment with some beautiful designs currently out there looking to lead your wardrobe into Spring.

I don't want to get into the details of a blazer, many of you I’m sure will already have a very clear idea in your head of what a blazer should or might look like and the chances are it won’t be the same as the subject this article; the unstructured blazer.

So What’s The Difference?

As is so often the case in the fashion community, terms are passed around on a regular basis that we might not always completely understand; the phrases structured and unstructured are no different. This is particularly the case for those newer to the community, taking the first steps in developing a wardrobe. The forums are full of suggestions for blazers but not all blazers are the same. So to help those who don’t know and for those who have an idea but just want confirmation, here is a quick explanation of the key differences.

Structured

The style you would most commonly associate with a suit, a structured blazer has a more defined and (unsurprisingly) constructed nature. They have padded shoulders and additional material within the linings to help hold the shape and cut. Most structured blazers will have a tapered waist regardless of whether it is slim fit or not as this also creates the shape of the original cut.

The pockets are generally flap covered and incorporated into the jacket itself but this is not exclusive; patch pockets are common on sports/shooting jackets and other heritage inspired styles. With pressed seams, strengthened collars and cuffs the structured jacket looks to maintain clean lines and a more formal aesthetic.

Unstructured

Generally made from lighter materials (cotton, wool mixes or linen) unstructured jackets are more associated with the lofty temperatures of summer than depths of winter.

Overall they are a more casual style as they aren’t required to hold as much shape; the shoulder padding and inner structure of the jackets more rigid sibling is removed, making it softer and creating a more relaxed line. Rather than frame the shoulders it will follow the line and naturally drape closer to the body.With unstructured blazers often including patched pockets and featuring exposed seams, it means they suit more casual looks.

For us, the unstructured look is perfect with denims, unstructured blazer is certainly an item that deserves consideration. Our pervading desire for clean cut shapes and sharp lines make it a bold choice, but it could well be a choice worth making. So, will one be making its way into your wardrobe?