What it is:
The blazer is a garment with a number of differing origin stories, however
the term itself was said to have been coined by a Cambridge university
rowing club back in the early 1800s. Over its lifetime, the blazer has
remained as a wardrobe staple for both men and women, often appealing to
the latter as a sign of both femininity and power. While it has also gone
through periods of becoming simply a generic piece of office wear, the
oversized blazer specifically is currently having a resurgence in
popularity due to the rise in vintage shopping and alternative tailoring.
The fit is often of a softer silhouette and provides a more casual take on
the workwear item, making it suitable for occasions both in and out of an
office environment.
Why you’ll want it:
While the current reincarnation of the oversized blazer is often credited
with the rise in thrifting, a regular complaint from shoppers is that it
can be tricky to find a preloved oversized blazer that is the perfect fit.
Brands have taken this feedback on board, offering up blazers that take
into account both the trend and the silhouette shoppers are looking for.
Additionally, many oversized blazer options provide customers with the
perfect transeasonal garment, allowing them the option of both a summer
evening jacket and an added winter layer. The blazer also fits in with the
ongoing trend that has seen workwear become increasingly casual, an offset
of working from home restrictions from over the past two year.
Where we’ve seen it:
The oversized blazer was spotted on multiple runways for the AW22 season,
including Louis Vuitton and Acne Studios that each presented deconstructed
versions of the silhouette, giving it a whole new look and feel through
twisted proportions and abstract fastenings. Burberry, Prada and Michael
Kors, on the other hand, offered up more clean-cut iterations, each showing
styles with prominent shoulders and paired with matching bottoms or similar
coloured garments layered underneath. Naturally, Balenciaga took oversized
to all new lengths in its snowstorm presentation, during which it displayed
knee-skimming blazers, with dramatic proportions and elongated sleeves. A
similar look was adopted by Lemaire, evident in the brand’s gender-bending
blazers with rounded silhouettes.
How to style it:
There are a multitude of ways to sport the oversized blazer, many of which
involve layering and experimenting with this versatile garment. For cold
days, the blazer can be worn under thick, long-line coats as an added boost
of warmth. Under the blazer, pair the look with a cropped t-shirt for
casualwear or layer it up with a sweater vest and loose-fit shirt. An
oversized blazer can also be worn with both skirts and trousers, either in
a co-ord set or mix-and-match. Alternate materials like faux leather can
help bring a bit of an edge to the style or take it one step further with
contrasting prints if you are looking for something a little more daring.
The oversized blazer is a genderless, seasonless piece that holds
significance for a wide customer group and presents a lot of styling
opportunities for both fashion-savvy and safe shoppers. Its resurgence
falls in line with current lifestyle trends as it continues to storm
runways worldwide.
