To look sharp and impeccably well, a man needs to pay a lot of attention to what he is wearing and how he is going to style that as well.
The bedrock of men’s fashion is understanding the importance of layering and, at the same time, taking a keen interest in different fabrics and types of suits and jackets.
But if you are looking for a tailored wardrobe, then there are certain staple pieces that you must have in your closet, and those are suits and blazers. Now, you might ask me if you really need them both since they are quite similar to each other.
Mainly there are about five main types of tailored jackets, and they are:
- Tuxedo Jacket
- Suit Jacket
- Blazer
- Sport Coat
- Smoking Jacket
Well, as a matter of fact, this is an ongoing debate that never seems to cease and is still continuing. So if you too wanna know about the difference between a sports coat vs blazer, then this is the article for you to go through.
Off topic A Complete Guide To The Practical And Classic Men’s Trench Coat
What Is A Blazer?
“Like many garments in fashion, there are numerous origin stories for the blazer. One follows a common theme among menswear in that it has a history in the military.”
“As the story goes, the serving captain at the helm of the HMS Blazer dressed his crew in navy-blue, double-breasted jackets with distinguished Royal Navy brass buttons to welcome a visiting Queen Victoria on board the ship.”
“Another story is an equally familiar history in the halls of English education as the blazer was believed to have originated when the Cambridge rowing team wore their matching double-breasted jackets throughout campus. Since everyone wants to be part of a club, the look stuck, and now we have the blazer.”
Main Function
A blazer is a formal wear that is just below a suit jacket. “As such they are great to wear for shopping events and weekends events. It is recommended that you wear a balzer any time a suit is not appropriate but you still need to dress up.”
“Gray flannel trousers, chinos and even dark jeans are all great items to pair with a blazer. Covered twill and corduroy pants work beautifully as well. Another detail that sets blazers apart from the suit jacket it it’s buttons. Balance will have gold, silver or mother of pearls buttons.”
Distinguishing Characteristics
- “Highly versatile dress one up or down with ease.”
- “Traditionally navy blue, today comes in a wide variety of colors (it should be noted, though, if you only own one blazer, make it a navy blue one).”
- “Come in 2-button single breasted, 3-button single-breasted, and a 6-button double-breasted variety.”
- “Offer a bit more shoulder structure and are more tailored than a sports jacket.”
- “Features buttons that are traditionally gold, silver or mother or pearl (though both casual and formal button varieties can be found today).”
Key Fabrics
- Worsted wool
- Serge
- Cashmere
- Flannel
- Fresco
Styling Tips
“To dress a blazer down, feel free to pair yours with denim, colorful chinos, or khakis. For a more formal take, flannel trousers and tailored slacks look superb with blazers as well.”
“Although a blazer will look nice with anything from a t-shirt to a thin turtleneck, blazers look most classic with a crisp button-up shirt and a tie (or bow tie). As far as shoes go, the versatility of blazers lend themselves to a wide variety of shoe pairings.”
“Based on the formality of the pants you are wearing, choose shoes accordingly.
Flannel trousers will demand something like a double monk strap or oxford. Chinos and jeans, on the other hand, will pair nicely with loafers or any other dressy casual shoe.”
Most Common Fabrics Used For The Blazer
Here are a few popular fabrics that are used to make blazers, so check out these fabrics right here.
- Cashmere
“Soft and luxurious, a 100% cashmere blazer is a great option to pair with chinos. Durability is a small issue but quality of the cashmere plays a role in this as well.”
- Worsted Wool
“Common, easy to find, but can make a blazer look like an orphaned suit jacket.”
- Serge
“Usually clear finished, serge has been a staple fabric in military uniforms for many years. Typically has a flat, diagonally-shaped rib pattern.”
- Flannel
“Most often created from wool or cotton, flannel is a soft weave usually woven in twill.”
- Fresco
“A rare fabric, created from multiple yarns in wool, the fresco fabric is usually created in a plain weave. A great fabric for the summer due to its thin lining but not recommended as an all-season fabric.”
What Is A Sports Jacket?
“In contrast to the formal upgrade the blazer gives the wearer, the sport coat does the opposite. It owes its beginnings to the English as well, this time to the aristocrats who needed something to dress down in (while still retaining their posh nature, of course) for hunting, fishing, or sporting.”
“As referenced in the name, the sport coat is meant for outdoor adventure wear, sometimes with a leather patch on the shoulder where the hunting rifle would sit.”
“Today, the sport coat is used to dress up jeans or dress down the shirt and tie. It is characterized by some of the same aspects as the blazer, with different focuses.”
“For instance, where the blazer is light-weight, solid colors with no patterns, the sport coat runs the gamut with fabrics like wool, flannel, linen, silk, cashmere, and anything else a suit is made out of.”
Main Function
The main purpose of a sports jacket is as a sporting apparel for men. The rugged appearance of a sports jacket is what attracts you while buying it.
“Pleats, arm patches and ticket pockets are all details found on a sports jacket that are meant to serve various functions. A sports jackets will usually come with a sport lapel which can be closed to protect the chest and neck area.”
But you should always remember that it is never acceptable to wear a sports jacket instead of a suit, that is just wrong on so many levels.
“A good idea is to invest in a sports jacket after you have invested in your first suit. A sports jacket wiil have more uses than a regular blazer as it lends itself to a number of casual and slightly dressy occasions.”
Distinguishing Characteristics
- “Offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns.”
- “Are less structured and fitted, providing the ability to layer as well as a wider range of movement.”
- “Sometimes (though not always anymore) features elbow patches, slits, ticket pocket, and/or pleats.”
Key Fabrics
- Flannel
- Tweed
- Houndstooth
- Herringbone
Styling Tips
“Being the least formal of the three jacket varieties, the sports jacket should be your go-to when you want to elevate a pair of denim pants. However, virtually any pair of trousers that isn’t identically in color or texture to your sports jacket will pair well.”
“Since a sports jacket is typically your most loose-fitting option, these pieces do well when layered over sweaters, turtlenecks, anhd other thick garments (but they will also look sharp with any standard teer or button-up).”
Most Common Fabrics Used For The Sport Coats
Here are a few fabrics that go into the making of sports coats, so check them out here.
- Flannel
“ Soft with a napped surface, flannel sports jackets are distinguished from blazers by the use of non-navy fabrics and the interweaving of other colors to create accents that bring out those same colors in a man’s shirt and accessories.”
- Herringbone
“ A classic pattern. Look for sports jackets in this fabric to be made in browns, tans, dark grays, light grays, and blues.”
- Tweed
“The perfect fabric for the sports coat given its thick and rough weave. Different colored weaves are used to make some truly unique looks. Tweed comes in a wide range of colors and are especially hard-wearing.”
- Houndstooth & Shepherd’s Check
“Both are “busy” fabrics with distinctive patterns classically worn in the UK, Europe, and Northeastern United States.”
Why Take Care Of So Many Coat Details?
“Sport coat vs blazers and suit jackets, most men use these terms interchangeably, as do many men’s clothing retailers. Because of this, the difference between these three classic menswear pieces ends up being a mystery.”
“Are these jackets really all that different? (Yes, they are!) And why should a man even care to take the time to learn these details?”
Here are a few reasons why you need to know:
- It’ll save you money– “Armed with this knowledge, you can buy the right jacket that will stand the test of time.”
- You’ll sow respect to others– “Each of these jackets has a slightly different level of formality. You don’t want to try wearing a sports jacket to an event that calls for a suit.”
- You’ll learn a bit of history– “Each of these jackets has its own unique story of how it came to be. Further, understanding this helps you grasp the changes men have lived through over the last 150 years.”
Sport Coat vs Blazer: Wrapping Up!
Well, there you go! If you were still confused about the difference between sport coats vs blazer then this is the article for you.
Now after going through this article, if you think that this article was informative, then all you need to do is give this article a like and also comment down below.
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