5 Best Places for Men to Wear Blazers

A men's blazer is one of the most versatile jackets a man can own. It gives you a polished appearance without requiring the matching pants of a complete suit. This makes blazers ideal for occasions where you want to look well dressed but do not necessarily need the formality of a two-piece or three-piece suit.

Today's mens blazers also offer much more variety than the traditional navy jacket. Men can choose from fashion blazers, plaid blazers, velvet blazers, double breasted blazers, bold solid colors, and fancy woven patterns. Pair one with dress pants and a French cuff shirt for a dressier appearance, or wear it with a knit shirt and loafers for a more relaxed look.

For mature men who appreciate dressing with style, blazers provide an excellent balance between formal and casual clothing. Here are the five best places for men to wear blazers and how to put together the right outfit for each occasion.

Key Takeaways

• Church is an excellent place to wear classic and fashion blazers.

• Weddings allow men to wear velvet, plaid, and dressier fashion blazers.

• Restaurants and date nights are perfect for relaxed blazer outfits without ties.

• Casinos and jazz clubs give men more freedom to wear colorful and patterned blazers.

• Parties and celebrations are ideal for velvet and fancy woven jackets.

• Black dress pants make it easy to coordinate many different blazer colors.

• French cuff shirts, knit shirts, dress shoes, loafers, and Fedora hats can help complete the look.

Why Blazers Work for So Many Occasions

A blazer fills an important space in a man's wardrobe.

Sometimes a complete suit feels too formal. At the same time, wearing only a shirt and pants may feel too casual.

A blazer solves that problem.

You can wear one with:

• Dress pants

• Pleated trousers

• French cuff shirts

• Fashion dress shirts

• Knit button-down shirts

• Mock neck shirts

• Leather loafers

• Italian style dress shoes

• Hybrid dress shoes

The ability to mix and match these pieces means one blazer can create several different outfits. You will be surprised how much better you dress wearing one. 

1. Church

Church is one of the best places for men to wear blazers, especially for mature men who enjoy dressing with style on Sunday.

You do not need to wear a complete matching suit every week to look well dressed. A blazer and dress pants can create a polished church outfit while giving you more freedom to experiment with color.

For example, try a burgundy fashion blazer with:

• Black dress pants

• White French cuff shirt

• Patterned tie

• Black leather dress shoes

• Black Fedora

Another Sunday, wear a blue plaid blazer with gray trousers, a white shirt, and polished black or burgundy shoes.

Popular church blazer styles include:

• Plaid

• Windowpane

• Double breasted

• Burgundy

• Navy

• Black

• Fashion patterns

• Bold solid colors

Church is also an occasion where many men enjoy coordinating their jackets with Fedora or Homburg hats.

A dress hat can provide the finishing touch to a complete Sunday outfit.

2. Weddings

Weddings are another excellent place for men to wear blazers.

This is particularly true when the dress code does not require a complete matching suit or tuxedo.

Blazers can work well for:

• Daytime weddings

• Summer weddings

• Casual weddings

• Cocktail weddings

• Wedding receptions

• Evening weddings

For a daytime wedding, consider navy, tan, light gray, or plaid.

For an evening wedding, you can dress things up considerably.

A men's velvet blazer is an excellent choice.

Try a burgundy velvet blazer with black dress pants, a crisp white French cuff shirt, and polished black shoes.

Black, navy, royal blue, burgundy, and green velvet are all attractive evening choices.

Some velvet and fashion blazers also feature satin peak lapels or shawl collars. These details give the jacket a tuxedo-inspired appearance without requiring you to wear a complete tuxedo.

Just remember to check the wedding dress code first. If the invitation specifically calls for black tie, wear the appropriate tuxedo rather than substituting a blazer.

3. Restaurants and Dinner Dates

A nice restaurant or dinner date is one of the easiest places to wear a blazer.

This is where you can make the outfit more relaxed.

You usually do not need a tie.

Try a navy blazer with:

• White open-collar shirt

• Gray dress pants

• Brown leather loafers

Mature men can also wear a blazer over a knit button-down shirt.

For example:

• Black blazer

• Burgundy knit shirt

• Gray dress pants

• Black loafers

This combination gives you a polished appearance without making you look like you just left the office.

A blazer is especially useful when dining at an upscale restaurant. You look appropriately dressed while remaining comfortable.

For a date night, consider a fashion blazer with a little more personality.

Burgundy, blue, plaid, and subtle patterned jackets can make your outfit more interesting without becoming overly formal.

4. Casinos and Jazz Clubs

A casino or jazz club is an ideal place to bring out your men's fashion blazers.

These settings give you much more freedom to experiment with color, texture, and pattern.

Consider wearing:

• Velvet blazers

• Paisley blazers

• Plaid blazers

• Jacquard jackets

• Fancy woven blazers

• Burgundy blazers

• Royal blue blazers

• Double breasted blazers

For a casino, try a royal blue blazer with black dress pants, a black shirt, and fashion loafers.

For a jazz club, consider a burgundy velvet blazer with black trousers and a white or black shirt.

You can also replace the traditional dress shirt with a knit shirt or mock neck for a more relaxed evening look.

Mature men who prefer comfortable footwear can finish the outfit with loafers or hybrid dress shoes with sneaker-like soles.

The goal is to look stylish and dressed for an evening out without looking like you are attending a business meeting.

5. Parties and Special Celebrations

Parties are among the best places to wear men's fashion blazers because you have more freedom to experiment.

Wear a blazer to:

• Birthday parties

• Anniversary celebrations

• Holiday parties

• New Year's Eve parties

• Retirement parties

• Cocktail parties

• Family celebrations

• Formal dinners

The occasion can help determine the type of jacket you choose.

For a Christmas party, consider a burgundy or green velvet blazer.

For New Year's Eve, try black, silver, gold, velvet, or a fancy woven pattern.

For a birthday or anniversary celebration, royal blue, burgundy, red, or plaid can add more personality to your outfit.

If the jacket already features a bold color or pattern, keep the rest of the outfit relatively simple.

Black dress pants and a solid shirt are usually all you need.

Black Dress Pants Make Fashion Blazers Easy to Wear

Every man who enjoys fashion blazers should consider owning at least one good pair of black dress pants.

Black works with almost every fashion color.

For example:

• Burgundy blazer with black pants

• Royal blue blazer with black pants

• Green blazer with black pants

• Red blazer with black pants

• Purple blazer with black pants

• Gold blazer with black pants

• Silver blazer with black pants

• Patterned blazer with black pants

This is one reason blazers can provide excellent value.

You do not need to buy matching pants for every jacket.

Own several fashion blazers and a few pairs of neutral dress pants, and you can create many different outfits.

Velvet Blazers Are Excellent for Evening Events

A men's velvet blazer is particularly well suited to evening wear.

Velvet has a rich texture that separates it from an ordinary sport coat.

Popular colors include:

• Black

• Burgundy

• Navy

• Royal blue

• Green

• Red

Many velvet blazers also feature satin lapels.

This creates a dinner-jacket-inspired appearance that works particularly well for evening weddings, holiday parties, casinos, formal dinners, and New Year's Eve celebrations.

Pair a velvet jacket with black dress pants and a simple shirt.

You do not need many additional patterns because the texture of the velvet already gives the outfit plenty of personality.

Plaid Blazers Are Great for Church and Daytime Events

A men's plaid blazer is an excellent choice for men who want pattern without wearing an extremely bold jacket.

Popular patterns include:

• Windowpane

• Glen plaid

• Large fashion plaid

• Multi-color checks

• Tonal plaid

Plaid blazers work particularly well for church, daytime weddings, dinners, and family celebrations.

Pair them with solid-colored pants.

If your jacket has a strong plaid pattern, choose a relatively simple shirt so the patterns do not compete with each other.

A white French cuff shirt is one of the easiest choices.

Fancy Patterned Blazers Are Made for Parties

Some men's fashion blazers are designed specifically to attract attention.

These may feature:

• Paisley

• Floral patterns

• Geometric designs

• Metallic patterns

• Jacquard fabrics

• Fancy woven textures

• Contrasting lapels

These jackets are excellent for weddings, parties, casinos, jazz clubs, and special evening events.

The more elaborate the blazer becomes, the simpler the rest of your clothing should usually be.

For example, pair a black-and-gold patterned blazer with black dress pants, a solid black or white shirt, and polished black shoes.

Let the jacket become the centerpiece of the outfit.

What Shirts Should Men Wear with Blazers?

The best shirt depends on where you are going and the style of your blazer.

For Church

Consider:

• French cuff shirts

• White dress shirts

• Fashion dress shirts

• Bold striped shirts

For Weddings

Try:

• White French cuff shirts

• Solid dress shirts

• Black dress shirts for certain evening looks

For Restaurants and Dates

Consider:

• Open-collar dress shirts

• Knit button-down shirts

• Mock neck shirts

For Parties and Casinos

You have more freedom with color. However, if your blazer already has a bold pattern, choose a simple solid shirt.

French Cuff Shirts Dress Up a Blazer

A French cuff dress shirt is one of the easiest ways to make a blazer outfit look dressier.

French cuffs work particularly well for:

• Church

• Weddings

• Holiday parties

• Formal dinners

• Anniversary celebrations

Add a pair of cufflinks for another small fashion detail.

White is the most versatile French cuff shirt because it coordinates with practically every blazer color.

If your jacket is solid, you can also experiment with colorful or patterned French cuff shirts.

Knit Shirts Create a Relaxed Mature Men's Look

You do not always need a traditional dress shirt underneath your blazer.

A men's knit shirt can create a more relaxed outfit while maintaining a polished appearance.

Try a knit button-down shirt with:

• Solid blazer

• Dress pants

• Leather loafers

This combination works particularly well for restaurants, casinos, jazz clubs, cruises, parties, and date nights.

It is an excellent option for mature men who appreciate dressing with style but also value comfort.

What Shoes Should Men Wear with Blazers?

The right shoes depend on the occasion and the overall style of the outfit.

Popular choices include:

• Italian style dress shoes

• Oxford shoes

• Leather loafers

• Monk straps

• Velvet loafers

• Hybrid dress shoes

For church or weddings, polished leather dress shoes are an excellent choice.

For restaurants, casinos, and jazz clubs, loafers can provide a slightly more relaxed appearance.

Men who prioritize comfort can also consider hybrid dress shoes that combine a dress-shoe upper with a sneaker-like sole.

Wear a Fedora with Your Blazer

Mature men who enjoy traditional dress accessories can pair their blazers with a Fedora hat.

Try combinations such as:

• Black Fedora with burgundy blazer

• Burgundy Fedora with black blazer

• Gray Fedora with navy blazer

• Brown Fedora with tan blazer

The Fedora does not necessarily need to match the blazer exactly.

Instead, coordinate the hat with one or more colors in your shirt, pants, shoes, or accessories.

This combination can work especially well for church and other dressy social occasions.

How to Get the Best Price on Men's Blazers

The best value does not always mean buying the least expensive jacket.

A blazer becomes a better value when you can wear it several different ways.

If you are building your wardrobe, start with versatile colors such as:

• Navy

• Black

• Burgundy

• Gray

Then add fashion styles such as:

• Plaid

• Velvet

• Double breasted

• Fancy patterned

Before buying, think about the pants, shirts, and shoes already in your closet.

A blazer that coordinates with four pairs of pants and several shirts can provide much more value than one you can only wear as part of a single outfit.

Also watch for:

• Outlet prices

• Seasonal clearance

• Holiday sales

• Online specials

• End-of-season promotions

Pay attention to fabric, construction, lining, buttons, and fit in addition to price.

How You Will Look Your Best and Feel Your Best Wearing a Blazer

The secret to looking your best in a men's blazer is making the complete outfit look intentional.

If your blazer is bold, keep the pants and shirt simple.

If the jacket is a classic solid color, you can add more personality with a French cuff shirt, patterned tie, pocket square, Fedora, or fashion dress shoes.

Fit is also important.

The shoulders should sit properly, the jacket should close without pulling, and the sleeves should allow a small amount of shirt cuff to show.

Finish the outfit with clean, polished shoes.

A properly coordinated blazer outfit lets you look stylish without requiring you to wear a complete suit everywhere you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best places for men to wear blazers?

Church, weddings, restaurants and dinner dates, casinos and jazz clubs, and parties or special celebrations are five of the best places for men to wear blazers.

Can men wear blazers to weddings?

Yes. Blazers can work particularly well for daytime, casual, cocktail, and certain evening weddings when the dress code does not require a matching suit or tuxedo.

Can you wear a blazer to church?

Yes. Church is an excellent place to wear solid, plaid, windowpane, fashion, and double breasted blazers with dress pants.

Can men wear velvet blazers to parties?

Yes. Velvet blazers are especially appropriate for holiday parties, New Year's Eve celebrations, weddings, casinos, formal dinners, and other evening events.

What pants should you wear with a fashion blazer?

Black dress pants are one of the most versatile choices. Gray, navy, tan, cream, and other neutral trousers can also work depending on the color and pattern of the blazer.

Final Thoughts

The five best places for men to wear blazers demonstrate just how useful these jackets can be. Wear a stylish blazer to church, choose a dressier style for a wedding, make a restaurant or date night feel more special, bring out a fashion blazer for a casino or jazz club, or experiment with velvet and fancy patterns at a party or special celebration.

A good blazer also gives you tremendous freedom to create new outfits. Change the shirt, pants, shoes, tie, and accessories, and the same jacket can look completely different.

At ContempoSuits.com, you can shop men's blazers in classic and fashion-forward styles, including plaid blazers, velvet blazers, double breasted blazers, solid-color jackets, and fancy patterned designs. Pair your blazer with dress pants, a French cuff or knit shirt, stylish dress shoes, and a Fedora when appropriate to create a polished head-to-toe look without always having to wear a complete matching suit.