YOU MAY have noticed that fewer menswear brands are making blazers these days, given our laxer dress codes. But we'd argue that the best men's blazers still have a place in our closets. Blazers, and by that we also mean sport coats (we’ll cover that distinction later), work on multiple levels of formality. They can go full formal when matched with slacks and a tie for occasions like weddings and dinner parties. But the blazer's specialty is business casual, worn with jeans or chinos and button down. What makes them especially relevant today however, is how well blazers accent casual looks.

The right blazer can take a matching sweatsuit for all-day lounging, or level up a party fit. You can throw a blazer over a t-shirt and shorts combo for bead days our outdoor dinner parties. Or you can go classic with a navy blue blazer, a wardrobe workhorse, that looks great with just about anything.

Best Jackets | Best Suits | Best Dress Shirts | Best Button-Down Shirts | Best Bomber Jackets

What Exactly Is the Difference Between Blazers, Sport Coats, and Suit Jackets?

Blazers: Essentially, a blazer is a jacket in the style of a suit jacket that does not have matching pants. They usually have a less refined look to them when it comes to stitching and pocket construction. However, the only definitive characteristic of a blazer is the lack of matching pants. Most people associate the blazer with the old prep school/yacht club navy jacket with gold buttons. While that may be the most iconic form of blazer, the category has much more to offer.

Blazers were originally worn by sports teams, starting with rowing clubs, at schools in England during the early 1800s. Think of them as the original version of a varsity jacket. The term blazer comes from the fact that the first ones were bright red. As team members started to wear them around, they caught on in popular style.

Sport Coats: For most people, fashion enthusiasts and professionals included, the terms sport coat and blazer are interchangeable. The origin of the term sport coat goes back to the days when men wore full tailored outfits to play sports like skeet shooting, cricket, tennis, and rowing. These jackets did not feature all the lining and finishing details of tailored suits. This made them less constricting and allowed them to breathe better. That legacy lives on in the fact that sport coats and blazers are usually half lined or completely unlined today. It also lives on in the tweed blazers that were originally worn for hunting.

Suit Jackets: This one is pretty self explanatory. If you have a matching pair of pants, that jacket is a suit jacket. All of the rules for what details make a proper suit jacket went out the window long ago. Any level of finishing details, lining, pocket arrangement, and fabrics are out there today. So now, it’s just the pants that make a suit. One thing to keep in mind is that most traditional suit jackets, the ones that follow all those old rules, do not make good blazers because they’re too formal looking and just don’t come off correctly without the matching pants.

Indochino

indochino.com

$289.00

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For guys who prefer more formal styles, you can't go wrong with this sleek wool blazer from Indochino. Yes, it's on the conservative side, but this micro check pattern makes for an interesting twist. Plus, each order from Indochino is custom made for a perfect fit.

Amazon Essentials

amazon.com

$76.90

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This bestselling jacket has received tons of five star reviews for its affordable price point, wrinkle-resistant fabric, and athletic fit. And did we mention it's under $80?

Read more: Best Affordable Online Clothing Stores for Men

Brooks Brothers

brooksbrothers.com

$548.00

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Brooks Brothers specializes in classic jackets that still look great today, and this two-button blazer is no exception. It's in a darker navy hue for a dressier look, and has a standard cut that's relaxed but not sloppy.

Read more: Best Fall Blazers for Men

Polo Ralph Lauren

ralphlauren.com

$1198.00

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RL is the gold standard for All-American formalwear. Tak this luxe doeskin wool jacket. Yes, it has brass buttons and a solid navy color like the best old school blazers. It also has modern details like a soft shoulder and a lower button stance to elongate your body. In other words, it's an investment piece that will look great for years.

Todd Snyder

toddsnyder.com

$698.00

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Herringbone is that two-tone zig-zag pattern you see everywhere from suiting to furniture. A black and gray herringbone tweed blazer is as essential to a well rounded wardrobe as a reliable pair of jeans. Many brands do it well but it is hard to top this unstructured version from Todd Snyder. You'll struggle to find anything in your fall/winter wardrobe that it does not compliment.

Buck Mason

buckmason.com

$148.00

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Corduroy is a go-to winter fabric because it's sturdy and cozy (without being itchy), which means it's also great for traveling. This unlined blazer will keep its shape if you decide to stuff it in your luggage, but we recommend wearing it on the plane. Its garment washed finish feels like a well-made college hoodie, and internal welt pockets add for extra storage.

Lululemon

lululemon.com

$198.00

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Lululemon has been churning out some menswear classics with an activewear sensibility. This office-friendly blazer also has a stretchy, water-repellent fabric that moves and breathes easily.

Bonobos

bonobos.com

$225.00

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Meet your warm weather blazer. Made with ultra breathable linen, Bonobos' new line of unconstructed jackets have soft shoulders and a breezy fit to keep you looking and feeling cool this summer. Available in three colors, we prefer the khaki glen plaid for an al fresco wedding look.

Read more: Best Summer Suits

Paul Smith

paulsmith.com

$895.00

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With spring just around the corner, its time to start thinking about linen when you're blazer shopping. It's tweeds warm weather counterpart. This light blue linen blazer from Paul Smith with all patch pockets makes the perfect casual summer party jacket.

Gucci

gucci.com

$2980.00

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Harry Styles wore this blazer to the 2022 Venice Film Festival and instantly made it one of the most sought after looks of 2022. In typical Gucci fashion, it is somehow over the top and absolutely classic at the same time. The secret is the mis-matching of common style elements like pinstripes and gold buttons. You see them all the time but never together and it works perfectly.

Banna Republic

bananarepublic.gap.com

$225.00

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Looks like a blazer, feels like a cardigan. Add to cart.

Uniqlo

uniqlo.com

$129.90

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At this price point, you'll want a few of these thick wool jackets in your wardrobe come winter.

Read more: Best Affordable Clothing Brands for Men

Ted Baker

saksfifthavenue.com

$598.00

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Ted Baker makes quality off-the-rack jackets that rival Saville Row-style tailoring, and this wool blazer looks great in just about any business casual setting. After work, pair it with dark wash jeans and horsebit loafers to be the best dressed guy at the bar.

Hawes and Curtis

hawesandcurtis.com

$319.00

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Houndstooth, or Dogtooth as it is called here, is a popular pattern for blazers. The pattern goes back to a specific type of knit used in Northern Europe for centuries on blankets, scarves, and sweaters. It was applied to blazers and suiting starting in the 1800s. It is most commonly found in black and white but Hawes and Curtis make a beautiful stone and white version.

Faherty

fahertybrand.com

$198.00

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Made from recycled polyester and cotton, this sustainable knit blazer is just as comfortable as your favorite sweater.

Brunello Cucinelli

saksfifthavenue.com

$2217.00

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Cucinelli has become a word that evokes thoughts of the finest Italian tailoring and some of the best looking men's formalwear in the world. They're the Bentley of suiting, if you can afford it then why wouldn't you?

Barena

mrporter.com

$675.00

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This stretch cotton-line blazer from Barena hits all the marks you're looking for in a spring/summer '23 blazer. The wide lapel, three buttons, patch pockets, a navy blue for every occasion.

Goodthreads

amazon.com

$81.40

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Here's a blazer you won't mind getting dirty. Goodthreads' jacket is rendered in Twill, which means it's as durable as a chore jacket. Great for contractors who want to look put together without getting too dressed up.

Read more: Best Spring Jackets for Men

Peter Millar

neimanmarcus.com

$698.00

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Button plackets, a wool-cashmere construction, and a peak lapel makes this a reliable blazer during shoulder seasons.

J.Crew

jcrew.com

$198.00

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Blending cotton with linen helps alleviate the rumpling and wrinkling that linen is notorious for. Sure, you lose a bit of the airy breathability but your dry cleaning budget will thank you. This cotton-line blend jacket from J.Crew is a prefect example.

Abercrombie & Fitch

abercrombie.com

$160.00

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A no frills black blazer.. sport coat.. suit jacket.. call it whatever you want because this jacket from Abercrombie does it all.

Overland

overland.com

$1295.00

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A leather blazer? You bet. Overland's lambskin jacket will keep you warm (without losing your cool).

Read more: Best Leather Jackets for Men

Todd Snyder

toddsnyder.com

$698.00

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You know that no white after Labor Day rule? It's a myth, don't believe it. White works year round and if it's a blazer that looks as good as this cotton one from Todd Snyder, you'll never run out of occasions to wear it.

Topman

nordstrom.com

$130.00

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There are occasions like New Years Eve that call for a velvet blazer and then there are many more occasions, like dinner with friends at your favorite restaurant, that a velvet blazer makes instantly more fun. This bold teal option from Top Man works for both.