“This fall, the piece of clothing I need is a slouchy blazer,” my friend Lina recently texted me. “As a therapist, I want to look relaxed but also professional, and I’ve landed on a T-shirt, blazer, and jeans as my trusted combo. But I want it to look cool, not buttoned up like a riding jacket. Can CoJ help?”
Yes! I love this everyday work uniform. The #1 key to getting a relaxed look is to find a blazer with a soft shoulder and cuffs you can fold up. Here are a few that fit the bill (many of which happen to be on sale):
Madewell is currently holding their Insiders Event, which means these two relaxed blazers are more than 40% off: brown, blue. They’re styled here with tees, but you could mix it up with a striped shirt, thin sweater, or cotton turtleneck.
This ivory Rag & Bone blazer is currently 65% off (!!!), and its easy fit and single button feel effortlessly cool. I really love it. The shoulders on the blue one are a little more structured, but the denim fabric makes it feel laid-back, and how cute are the striped cuffs?
You can also search pre-loved ones, since, as my blazer-loving friend Gemma says, “You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a blazer prince.” Here are two: houndstooth, plaid. (Our editor Kaitlyn actually has the plaid one and wears it all the time.) And Loft’s oversized striped number is currently 50% off.
Plus, Alison’s pro tip: “Try to size up, if you can — that’s one way to look casual, not stuffy.”
Thoughts? Which would you wear? Any other blazer recs? If you’re someone who likes a little more structure, this sculptured blazer is beautiful, too.
P.S. Women share their weeks of outfits, and do or don’t: ghost lashes. Plus, more reader shopping questions (and please ask yours below!).
(Top photo from Paris last year.)
This story originally appeared on Cup of Jo
