Women’s Blazer Jackets: A Timeless and Versatile Wardrobe Staple
Women’s fashion is a diverse landscape that’s nothing short of amazing. Whether it’s the designs or the styles, the textures or the colours, there’s a lot to admire and choose from. Although there are lots of options of clothing pieces to browse and select, few can compare to the versatile and timeless blazers.
From the oversized to the cropped, and the in-between form-flattering models, ever-stylish and elegant women’s blazer jackets have many faces today. This explains why they seamlessly fit within any wardrobe, be it corporate, casual, or business casual.
What Is the History of the Blazer for Women?
Well, to be able to understand more about it, we’d actually have to look back into men’s fashion. Although very much a staple in women’s fashion nowadays, this type of item has in fact had its start in men’s fashion, and its presence in the clothing scene spans centuries, not just decades – something that further adds to the allure.
Its origin is said to have been related to Cambridge’s St. John College and its boating team back in the 1820s when the red blazers, i.e. bright sporting jackets, first made their appearance. There’s another story that relates it to the distinguished uniform look of the HMS Blazer crew with their double-breasted jackets they wore to welcome Queen Victoria during her visit to the ship. Then some credit Englishman John Redfern for creating this garment in 1885.
And some suggest the name came from the blazes, i.e. stripes, of the 1870s country club jackets. One thing is for sure, this iconic item surged in 19th-century England and from the men’s world made it to the women’s world at the turn of the century. With the need for more comfortable clothes due to the more active lifestyles, women started to lead, especially during WWI when they were mobilised in factories, corsets started making their way out of the closet, clearing up the path for the suits – a combo of hip-length women’s blazer jackets and long skirts.
It’s not uncommon for women to find themselves altering their husbands’ suits to wear to work. This led to the preference for the boyish silhouette, asking for more equality in a men’s world. Women on the screens, like Katharine Hepburn, who donned the blazers with pride further contributed to their popularisation and rise to symbols of empowerment, slowly but surely turning them into unisex items. This practical but chic allure started changing to elegant chic with Dior’s feminine silhouette blazer designs after WWII.
Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent are other famous names that have had their impact on the overall design of woman blazers over the years, turning them into what they are today – statement pieces every woman could incorporate in her wardrobe to inject it with style, power, comfort, and functionality.
How to Make a Blazer Part of Your Wardrobe?
The beauty of blazers is they’re very adaptable, so they can easily fit into a range of styles, wardrobes, professions, and occasions. You make of them what you feel is right for you, using them as the means to showcase more of your personality while looking empowered and feminine at the same time.
And, the secret lies in what you choose to pair a blazer with, making it the ideal piece of clothing for any setting and season. It all falls down to how feminine you want it to look. If you’re up for a more lady-like outfit, go all in on the warm colours, and flowy and flattering clothes. For instance, a red or pink blazer, plain or with an interesting pattern (think flowers) could seamlessly be paired with a dress or shirt and skirt combo.
The dress and the skirt can be of any length, as both long and short are suitable. Picture this: a midi dress, with colours that match those of the blazer, heels, and bag. Another pair: a hip-length relaxed fit blazer with a skirt or shorts for a casual ensemble. If you like the sound of this but would like to take it to the office too, consider pants or a longer skirt.
Another classic combination that’s easy to top off with ladies’ blazers is jeans plus a white tee. The blazer could be oversized or not, the jeans could be skinny or not – either way the teaming up is nonetheless stylish. Consider finishing off the ensemble with a fancy accessory, like an eye-catching belt, and some jewellery pieces to add a bit of structure and layer, whether it’s a striking necklace or some gorgeous earrings, and you can count on a stylish result.
A matching tailored blazer with pants is also a staple blend you can swear by time and time again. Nowadays, you have the flexibility to wear this with any kind of footwear you see fit, even a pair of your favourite design of sneakers and not just classy heels, and still look highly trendy. Then again, if you’re up for more stylishness and flexibility, look for a blazer of an interesting design, in the likes of cut-out or ultra-cropped, to truly stand out from the crowd.
