Men's Style Guides
How to Wear a Double-Breasted Blazer: Fit, Buttons and Outfit Ideas
A double-breasted blazer is one of the most versatile pieces in a man’s wardrobe. How it should fit, which buttons to fasten and five ways to wear it, from weddings to weekends.
The double-breasted blazer has shed its old boardroom image. Cut slim and worn with confidence, it is one of the most useful jackets a man can own: smart enough for a wedding, relaxed enough for a weekend lunch. Here is how to get it right.
How it should fit
- Shoulders: the seam should finish at the edge of your shoulder, with no dent or overhang.
- Chest: fastened, the front should lie flat with no pulling across the buttons.
- Length: the jacket should cover your seat. A slightly shorter, modern cut still needs to reach the base of the zip.
- Sleeves: show roughly a centimetre of shirt cuff.
Because the front panels overlap, a double-breasted jacket shows a poor fit more clearly than a single-breasted one. Measure your chest carefully with our size and fit guide before you choose a UK chest size.
Which buttons to fasten
A double-breasted jacket is designed to be worn fastened when you are standing. On the common six-button layout, fasten the middle button — and the inside “anchor” button if there is one — and leave the bottom row open. Unfasten it when you sit down to avoid creasing the front, and fasten it again when you stand.
Five ways to wear it
1. Wedding guest
A navy or dark grey blazer with contrasting trousers, a white shirt and a silk tie is smart enough for many weddings with a relaxed dress code. If the invitation says “lounge suit”, choose a full suit instead.
2. Business
Black or dark grey with grey trousers and a pale blue shirt gives a sharp, modern office look. Keep the tie simple.
3. Dinner and evening
Swap the shirt for a fine-gauge black or navy roll-neck. It is a confident evening look that needs no tie.
4. Smart weekend
A beige or green blazer with dark jeans or chinos, an open-collar shirt and loafers or clean leather trainers.
5. Summer events
A lighter colour with cream or stone trousers and brown shoes keeps the formality without the weight of a dark suit.
Choosing a colour
Navy is the most versatile, followed by dark grey and black. Green and beige are more distinctive and pair especially well with denim and earthy tones. Our double-breasted 100% wool blazer is offered in black, navy, dark grey, green and beige, in UK chest sizes 36–48.
Blazer or full suit?
If you want the double-breasted look with matching trousers, choose a full suit rather than a blazer. The slim-fit double-breasted wool suit gives you a matching jacket and trousers in Bordeaux, royal blue, dark green and olive. Read our guide to three-piece versus double-breasted suits if you are deciding between the two.
Browse men’s blazers to compare colours and sizes.
