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So here we have the same guy in his favorite jeans and favorite shoes. Everything fits perfectly. And the only thing that changes in all these images is what's on top of it. If you look, we see a polo, a white shirt, a crew neck sweater, a long sleeve knitted polo, and a turtleneck. To be honest, gentlemen, all these images are good in themselves. But, gentlemen, if you're watching this video, "good" isn't enough for you. You want more. So how do you go from "good" to something incredible? Guys, just one item of clothing. Yes, look how all these looks become better if you just add a blazer. In the case of the polo, the blazer suddenly made this casual look a little more formal. In fact, at most companies, it
looks smart enough to walk into a board meeting. In the case of the white shirt, we had a strong contrast between the upper and lower body. The blazer suddenly focuses this contrast, so we are more focused on the torso and the face. And the clear dark silhouette makes it visually slimmer and more masculine. The same principles work with a knit polo and sweater, making both looks more formal and giving them a sharper, slimmer silhouette. And a turtleneck combined with a blazer transforms this look from casual daytime to elegant evening. I know some of you will say, " Antonio, that's all well and good, but I'm not one to wear blazers." But I would argue with that, because I deeply
believe that every man is the type of person who looks good in a blazer. Because if you define a blazer like I do-as a lightweight jacket that makes you look better-then what man wouldn't want such a magical thing to throw over his clothes to instantly add authority, make his figure slimmer and taller, look more reliable and status-conscious in the eyes of people, and literally open up new possibilities for himself? It sounds crazy, but guys, that's what a blazer can do. And the data on this is quite clear, because we humans rely on heuristics. These are mental shortcuts we use to understand the world. And one of these mental shortcuts is that when a man wears a jacket like a blazer, he
is perceived as an authoritative person. And therefore, most people automatically grant him the powers of this authority. Seriously, do you want to gain respect? Then dress like a man who looks like he deserves respect . Gentlemen, today's video is sponsored by my friends at Collars&Co. This is high-quality classic clothing made of high-tech fabrics, which is comfortable and perfectly complements the wardrobe of a stylish man. And let me be honest, nothing demonstrates this better than their new Maverick Passport blazer. They use a knit fabric that is breathable, has great stretch, and has a subtle texture that looks incredibly stylish. You know, I pay attention to details: from classic lapels
to decorative stitching along the seams. I really like the casual style of this jacket, which they accentuated with the patch pockets. I'm just delighted with him. Guys, if you haven't seen their Maverick Travel blazer line yet, you know-they come in a lot of different colors. For example, I have a new color called "coal." Briefly about the main thing: if you don't already know about the advantages of the Maverick Travel blazer, I will say that it has anti- wrinkle technology. This fabric is not only breathable and has a bit of stretch-it looks great even after long trips, so you can wear it every day and still look great. In addition to being lightweight and breathable, it is very
functional: it has reliable internal pockets and a separate pocket for glasses. There 's also a built-in pocket square, which I think is just brilliant. And if you want to add color, pay attention to the shade Hunter Green. This option looks simply incredible. If these jackets aren't functional enough for you, for example, you're in Seattle and need something water-repellent, check out their Equinox All Weather Blazer. I love how they have combined style and functionality in their Apex Dresser zip-up sweatshirts and shirts. You definitely won't go wrong by choosing Collars &Co. Their website clearly shows how to combine things and create your own combinations. So guys, if you want to improve your style, head over to
Collars&Co. Follow the link in the video description to get the best price online. But before we get into how to style a blazer, let's find out what it even is. Because, in case you haven't noticed, up until this point in the video I haven't worn a navy blue jacket. And that's because not all blazers have to be navy blue. Although it's the most popular color today, if you know history, you'll know that blazers originated at Lady Margaret's Boat Club at St. John's College in Cambridge. And I know if you're familiar with sports jackets, this can cause some confusion. In general, I would say that most blazers these days are usually solid colors, with the exception of rowing blazers. But yeah, in
today's video I won't be making a distinction between blazers and sports jackets. I'll leave that for another time. The first step in choosing a blazer style is the perfect fit. Like any item in a man's wardrobe, it should fit the figure as it is today, not as it was before or will be in the future. But the point is, clothes are only useful when they fit your figure. So put on this jacket. First of all, it should always sit correctly in the shoulders. As you can see in the photo here, if it is too big or too small in the shoulders, this is a jacket that cannot be fixed and you need to find another one. If you have a roll forming on your back in your shoulders, it's easy to fix. You can just take it to the seamstress. She will either release some
tissue or take it deep. Yes, this can be fixed. What about the front closure? I like to have a little more room, and in general I think blazers should fit a little looser than a suit. And we'll talk about why that's important in a moment. But if you see that you're getting that dreaded "X" in the front or that you have too much room, consider taking it to a tailor, as a skilled seamstress or tailor can usually widen or narrow it by about an inch and a half to two inches, depending on how much fabric is inside the jacket. Another easy change is hemming the sleeves. You want about a half inch of your shirt cuff to be visible when your arms are down. And if you're not wearing a shirt, in general, the length of your jacket sleeve
should be just above your wrist bone. Oh, and let's not forget about the length of the jacket, which is very important if you are a taller or shorter man. There's a little wiggle room here, but I believe a jacket should always cover the curve of your buttocks. Proportionally, it should be about the same size as the tip of your thumb. Again, each person has their own physique, but we are looking for the right proportions, and a skilled seamstress or tailor will help you here. Now that you're sure you can fit the product, let's talk about fabric options. So, you noticed that I suddenly went back to navy blue. This is one of the most versatile and easy blazer colors to pair with other clothing. The dark gray I mentioned
earlier is also easy to combine. Light colors look really good, especially if you have blonde hair, live in a warm climate, or this will be your second or third jacket. But I usually prefer darker colors because they're a bit more versatile, although I know some of you like light blazers, and if you're one of them-go ahead. Next, let's talk about functionality. Blazers, as we have already talked about their history, originate from sportswear. Therefore, they are somewhat more everyday. They have a slightly looser fit. In fact, you'll see a lot of unstructured blazers, which I just adore.
Knitted blazers are a truly great choice. By the way, they are available at Colors and Co. I'll leave a link to them in the description. Seriously, these knit blazers are one of my favorite items in my wardrobe right now. This is important because suit jackets usually have more structure. They have sizing inside, there are different types, but in general they are designed to hold their shape better. Some blazers have this too, but the problem is that many men make the mistake of trying to wear an old suit jacket as a blazer.
It's possible if you know what you're doing, but generally I like to buy a blazer separately that wasn't created as a set with pants because it will be sewn in the classic blazer shape, which brings us to a term you may hear-"separate jacket." It simply means a jacket that was not made with matching pants. Technically, blazers and sports jackets fall into the category of "stand-alone jackets." Now let's move on to the pants. And when I say that, I mean everything. That's why I love blazers-they can be worn with so many things in your wardrobe. Let's take jeans. I know that almost everyone wears jeans. We love our jeans.
Let's say you're wearing dark indigo jeans. You can wear them with almost any blazer. Even with a blazer of a very similar color, thanks to the difference in texture, you can successfully combine it. And I know some people are worried that it will look like a costume. No, that's not true. Texture will save you. If you choose a lighter shade of denim or even distressed denim, which I don't recommend, it will be a much more casual combination. If you're a rock star or a business owner, you might be able to pull it off. But what I like about denim is its dark color. It works great with other items, like shoes, and we'll talk more about pairing it with shirts and sweaters. Since it's denim, and it's inherently casual, it will
make the look a little less formal. The next type of pants worth paying attention to, and which many people underestimate, are chinos. Yes, maybe you have one pair of khakis. Guys, chinos come in a variety of colors. Historically, they were mostly made of cotton. Now you will see many models with the addition of elastic materials. But what I like about chinos is the high contrast. So, this is clearly a combination of a blazer and separate pants. And they will look elegant. Although chinos are casual wear, they are a step above jeans. So you can wear light khaki chinos or dark chinos. Wear them with a blazer and shirt-it's a great combination, you can even add a tie and you're almost in a suit. Or you can choose bright chinos, you have many
options here. You can choose blue, you can choose red. Yes, red will actually work. It doesn't have to be too bright, maybe burgundy, or any shade of your choice. The bottom line is that this combination is a true classic of men's fashion. Wear a white shirt with a blazer. Bright chinos will be the accent in this case, so don't choose a bright blazer. If there are any patterns, just choose a discreet dark blue or graphite option. Choose a simple shirt-it's a classic combination. Next come woolen pants, and for some, classic trousers. You can also add gray flannel pants here. Gray flannel is a little different, more suited to winter, fall, or cool
spring, but I love these combinations. These pants definitely look more elegant than chinos and, again, are a level below a suit. In fact, I think gray flannel pants with a navy blazer, maybe an oxford shirt, and a tie-that's very old-fashioned. Technically, it's less formal than a suit, but it's a timeless combination that, in my opinion, suits every man. And, of course, let's not forget about corduroy. These are pants that many guys don't pay attention to. Maybe they had these when they were kids. Guys, you can wear corduroy as an adult, and you know what? This combination, this texture, these ribbing go perfectly with a blazer, and corduroy pants can often be found in brown and
beige tones. These colors go especially well with blue, and if you don't understand why this combination works so well, even with red, it's because of the color wheel. The way these colors are positioned opposite each other creates a classic combination that works just flawlessly. It's important to choose the right shades, but overall it's a fairly simple combination that's easy to implement. And now quickly about technological pants. How about athleisure clothing? The pants we see today are not made of cotton, but of more synthetic, functional fabrics. Overall I have to say they've taken a big step forward and I love that they actually look great with blazers. So don't ignore these
combinations, especially if you're traveling and want to feel comfortable, just choose classic colors. Again, blue looks great with different shades of brown and beige, and if you want something more formal, combine gray with blue. Yes, these are classic combinations. So, the shirts, I'm laying them out here. As you can see, almost any shirt that can be worn with these pants will also go with blazers. The only advice I have if you're choosing a blazer for this is to keep it simple. You don't need to choose anything bright, as the jacket will cover most of the shirt anyway. This is great because it suddenly turns into an accessory in your wardrobe. When it comes to knitwear, there are certain things that can be considered too casual, like zip-up
sweaters, but I think they're perfectly appropriate under a jacket, especially these days. Hoodies are probably still too casual for most people, although I know guys who like them, but crewnecks, turtlenecks, and V-necks work great. If the item has buttons in the front, like a sweater jacket or cardigan, these styles usually duplicate the functions of the jacket, so I wouldn't try to combine them. Also note that there is nothing wrong with choosing colors that are close to the shades of your jacket or pants. And again, since we will have a difference in textures, this will help create a cohesive monochrome look. Now let's move on to shoes.
Since you're pairing this with a jacket, even if you're wearing jeans, you can wear nice classic shoes. I don't recommend choosing black, unless you have a dark gray or black jacket. In that case, yes, wear black shoes. But I think for most people who wear blue or lighter colors, brown shades will work best. So, any loafers will look amazing. Anything with a bit of texture, like brogues, will be a great addition. I would avoid more formal shoes like oxfords or full leather shoes. All of these shoe options I just talked about go with almost any of the pants mentioned earlier, except for athletic styles.
I think you can only wear loafers with them, but that's probably the only downside to sweatpants-they significantly limit your choice of footwear. But if you're wearing jeans, you'll immediately be presented with a wide range of shoes. You don't have to go for casual options, but almost any classic lace-up shoe, especially brogues or simple models with a split toe, looks really good. So, gentlemen, if you enjoyed today's video, let me know in the comments below. And if you liked this video, well, I have another one for you-right here. Seriously, if you have any more questions and want to know how to dress properly, guys, I'll help you-right here.
