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Melanie Griffith in the 1988 film Working Girl, wearing a black power suit with white lapels, holding a phone and cigarette—an iconic image of 80s office fashion and power dressing.

(EN) EFFORTLESS AND POLISHED WITH A BLAZER

Écrit par : The Second Edit

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Temps de lecture 6 min

There are mornings when you need your outfit to speak before you do. Enter the blazer: one piece, infinite moods. It doesn’t just complete a look—it sets the tone.


WHAT FASHION EDITORS WEAR: 10+ EFFORTLESS OUTFITS IDEAS

=> For those "I have nothing to wear" mornings

Minimal effort, maximum presence. A soft-shouldered check blazer is casually draped over a sleek black midi dress, letting movement and simplicity do the work. Chunky gold chains add structure, while the clean lines and flow echo pure Parisian polish—no o
Pattern story, editorial mastery. An oversized houndstooth blazer meets layered tailoring with graphic gray knits for a look that’s equal parts precision and play. Oversized glasses, a structured tote, and quiet neutrals anchor the layering—proof that max
Oversized neutral blazer meets Italian street flair. A sand-hued oversized blazer is effortlessly draped over a graphic tee, paired with wide-leg monogram trousers for a bold nod to logomania. Yellow pointed flats and tinted aviator frames inject playful
Preppy ease, editorial twist. A pale plaid oversized blazer is thrown over a white tee and caramel trousers, with a navy knit casually knotted at the shoulders. Rounded frames and a natural smile make this look feel lived-in and genuinely effortless—proof
A camel oversized blazer sharpens the lines of this tonal city look, layered over muted trousers and paired with a crisp structured tote. Statement shades add editorial polish, while the relaxed tailoring keeps the look unfussy.
Pearls, pop culture, and polka dots. An oversized polka-dot blazer effortlessly elevates a printed tee featuring an iconic 80s star. Styled with layers of bold pearls, dark denim, and statement sunnies, the look bridges retro kitsch and editorial cool.
The Copenhagen contrast. On the left, a bold statement shirt-dress in electric orange steals the spotlight—cinched and confident. On the right, a pastel plaid oversized blazer softens the mood, worn over a white tee and mini skirt.
Blazer + Leopard = The New Neutral Formula. This visual series proves one thing: when in doubt, start with wide-leg leopard trousers and layer on a blazer.

WHY THE BLAZER IS THE KEY PIECE TO AN EFFORLESS LOOK

=> 5 truths & reasons to wear yours or to invest

1. The one piece that never fails


Thinking about wearing a blazer? Go for it—eyes closed, no second thoughts. It’s the one piece that never fails, and with so many cuts and finishes available, there’s always one that fits you—elegant, effortless, and precisely because it does the work for you.

Blazers are often misunderstood, reduced to office uniforms, when in fact they open up infinite styling possibilities—from athleisure to relaxed ensembles. At Vogue HQs around the world, the blazer is one of the most-worn staples—undeniable proof of its elevated status.

Original sketch by Yves Saint Laurent for Le Smoking: hand-drawn womenswear tuxedo design with fabric swatch and handwritten notes.

2. It adds that layer of sophistication


The blazer was one of the first garments designers borrowed from the masculine wardrobe. In the 1920s, Gabrielle Chanel introduced jersey jackets and tweed suits—faithful to her vision of “elegant yet practical, simple yet accomplished” clothes.

Today, the blazer reigns as the holy grail of effortless chic. It’s more than a garment—it’s a mood. Paired with distressed denim or a pleated skirt, it adds that crucial layer of sophistication—even to a tracksuit. Yes, really.

3. Confidence Meets Style


The blazer isn’t just fashion—it’s a statement. Slip into your favorite black version and you’ll feel it: the power, the poise. No wonder so many women call it their modern-day armor. With its sharp structure and clean lines, it frames the body, commanding attention with grace.

Victoria Beckham wearing a blazer while presenting her resort 2026 collection.
Victoria Beckham presenting her resort 2026 collection. Picture from voguemagazine and voguerunway

4. It's versatile: From Desk to Dinner


What makes the blazer truly magic is its versatility. It’s boardroom-ready by 9AM, layered over fluid trousers—and by sundown, it becomes your dinner-date hero over a slip dress. It’s the cornerstone of every refined minimalist wardrobe.

5. A Classic Reinvented Every Season


Despite its classic roots, the blazer keeps evolving. Designers love to play with volumes, fabrics, and detailing. This season, the return of strong shoulders and oversized cuts is especially striking.

The EDITORS' CURATION of PRE-LOVED BLAZERS

=> Our Weekly selection. No stock, it's HOT second hand

Oversized neutral blazer meets Italian street flair.

An oversized blazer thrown over a white tee and caramel leather trousers, with a navy knit casually knotted at the shoulders. Rounded frames and a natural smile make this look feel lived-in and genuinely effortless— cool comes with comfort.

Preppy ease, editorial twist.

An oversized blazer thrown over a white tee and caramel leather trousers, with a navy knit casually knotted at the shoulders. Rounded frames and a natural smile make this look feel lived-in and genuinely effortless— cool comes with comfort.
An oversized blazer WITH JOGGING PANTS

Minimal effort, maximum presence. 

An oversized blazer thrown over a white tee and caramel leather trousers, with a navy knit casually knotted at the shoulders. Rounded frames and a natural smile make this look feel lived-in and genuinely effortless— cool comes with comfort.

Tartan & Leopard: The Clash That Works

An oversized blazer thrown over a white tee and caramel leather trousers, with a navy knit casually knotted at the shoulders. Rounded frames and a natural smile make this look feel lived-in and genuinely effortless— cool comes with comfort.

FASHION INTEL

Milestones: The Blazer's Style Evolution

Long before it became a staple in every fashion editor’s wardrobe, the blazer was a rebel. Borrowed from the boys, redefined by women with vision, it has moved from rowing clubs to suffragette marches, boardrooms to fashion weeks. Its strength lies in the tension it holds—between structure and fluidity, tradition and reinvention.
The oversized blazer, once a men’s uniform, has been hijacked by icons of every era.

From Chanel’s jersey jackets in the 1920s to Yves Saint Laurent’s sensual tuxedos in the '60s, from Princess Diana’s belted slouch to Hailey Bieber’s high-low street edits.

1870s:   John Redfern, a Victorian British couture sportswear pioneer introduced tailored jackets for aristocratic outdoor  activities—early move toward feminine blazers.

1910s : Suffragettes adopt the blazer.  Practical, assertive; the blazer became a feminist symbol in marches and activism.

1914:  Coco Chanel launches her tweed suit.  Liberates the female body with jersey and tweed—blazer as freedom wear. Game changed.

1966  : Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking rewrites the dress code.  Feminine reinterpretation of the tuxedo; revolutionary mix of power and sensuality.

ictorian fashion illustration from Harper’s Bazaar featuring autumn and winter gowns by Redfern, circa late 19th century—showcasing structured jackets, puffed sleeves, and corseted silhouettes that prefigure early women’s tailoring.
Image from The Fashion Tour London
Picture from Sotheby's collection

"For a woman, the tuxedo is an indispensable garment in which she will always feel in style. Fashions fade, style is eternal."

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent Tuxedo skecthes. Picture from The Musée YSL Paris
Picture from The Musée YSL Paris

1980-1990s:   Blazers = Power Dressing & Working girl.  Oversized, padded shoulders become the uniform of the working woman. Princess Diana: The Princess of Wales routinely mixed slouchy sweatshirts or white tees with oversized blazers—often belted—to craft approachable, modern ensembles that still spark reinterpretation today.

2020s:   Infinite reinventions. Runway & Street-Style (2020–25)  Cinched, oversized, pastel, minimal or statement—blazers suit every silhouette and persona. From Copenhagen to Paris, editors and influencers alike have cemented the “mega blazer” as fashion week essential.

Melanie Griffith in the 1988 film Working Girl, wearing a black power Blazer with white lapels, holding a phone and cigarette—an iconic image of 80s office fashion and power dressing.

Melanie Griffith in the 1988 film Working Girl, wearing a black power suit with white lapels, holding a phone and cigarette—an iconic image of 80s office fashion and power dressing.

Melanie Griffith in Working Girl (1988), sitting at a trading desk in an office, wearing a grey blazer, polka dot tights, white sneakers, and voluminous 80s hair—capturing the essence of power dressing meets street style in the corporate world.

Melanie Griffith in Working Girl (1988), sitting at a trading desk in an office, wearing a grey blazer, polka dot tights, white sneakers, and voluminous 80s hair—capturing the essence of power dressing meets street style in the corporate world.
Original sketch by Yves Saint Laurent for Le Smoking: hand-drawn womenswear tuxedo design with fabric swatch and handwritten notes.
Picture from Harper Bazaar India.

Scandi street-style, redefined.

A camel oversized blazer sharpens the lines of this tonal city look, layered over muted trousers and paired with a crisp structured tote. Statement shades add editorial polish, while the relaxed tailoring keeps the look unfussy, cool, and ultra-composed.

The Blazer Cuts Glossary

Oversized Blazer: A blazer intentionally cut with extra room for a relaxed, exaggerated fit. Often features broad shoulders and long lines—perfect for layering or belting.

Tailored Blazer: A close-fit blazer designed to follow the shape of the body, often structured at the waist for a sharp, feminine silhouette.

Double-Breasted Blazer: A blazer with two parallel rows of buttons, usually associated with traditional tailoring, now reinterpreted in modern oversized styles.

Longline Blazer: A blazer that falls below the hips, often mid-thigh, elongating the figure and adding an elegant silhouette.

Houndstooth Blazer: A blazer featuring a jagged, broken-check woven pattern—traditionally black and white, associated with classic British tailoring.

Hourglass Blazer: An hourglass blazer is a tailored jacket designed to accentuate the waist and highlight an hourglass silhouette —broad shoulders, defined waist, and balanced hips. 

Famous examples:

  • Dior’s “Bar jacket” (1947) — the original hourglass blazer.

  • Alexander McQueen — known for razor-sharp hourglass tailoring.

  • Balmain — strong shoulders + cinched waists for a power hourglass look.

Further Readings

→ L'Art de la Superposition : Un Voyage à Travers l'Histoire et la Pratique de la Mode. (written in French) READ NOW

→ Guide d’Experts : Comment s’habiller à la Mi-saison. (written in French). READ NOW

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a blazer and how is it different from a suit jacket?

A blazer is a structured jacket that stands between a casual and formal piece. Unlike a suit jacket, it’s not sold with matching trousers and is more versatile—perfect for smart-casual looks.

Can women wear oversized blazers without looking “swallowed”?

Absolutely. If you are hesitant, pair your oversized blazers with slim bottoms or a belt to define the waist.

What’s the best blazer cut for a petite silhouette?

Cropped or tailored blazers work well for petite frames. Look for slightly cinched waists and minimal padding to avoid overwhelming the figure.

Are blazers still on-trend in 2025?

More than ever. From Paris to Copenhagen, the blazer remains a fashion week staple—especially in oversized cuts, neutral tones, and bold shoulders.

How do I style a blazer for a casual look?

Layer it over a white tee and jeans, or pair it with wide-leg trousers and sneakers. Add contrast accessories (like a knit scarf or vintage brooch) to create visual interest.

Which materials should I look for in a quality blazer?

Opt for wool, tweed, or structured cotton for fall/winter. In spring, linen or lightweight blends bring a relaxed elegance without losing polish.

What does “power dressing” mean, and how does the blazer fit in?

Power dressing refers to assertive, structured clothing that signals confidence—popularized in the 1980s. The blazer, with its sharp shoulders and masculine-feminine mix, is its emblematic piece.

Where can I find second-hand designer blazers?

Platforms like Vestiaire Collective, The RealReal, and our curated selections offer authenticated, timeless options—often at investment-worthy prices.

How do I care for my blazer to make it last?

Air it after wearing it. Always hang it on a structured hanger, steam gently (never iron directly), and dry clean only when needed. A blazer should age gracefully—like a good glass of wine.

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