I know that in continental Europe a blazer and a pair of flannel trousers are seen as elegant clothing for a formal dinner which doesn't require Black Tie or anything higher. The same would probably be true in the United States. However, when is it acceptable to wear a gold button marine single breasted blazer with tie, shirt, flannel trousers and handkerchief in the UK? I don't ever recall seing any member of the Royal family wearing a Blazer nor did i ever see any of my British friends wearing a Blazer except one, when we were sailing in Bexhill. For instance would it be acceptable to go to an event such as an accolade ceremony given by the Queen (occasion to which men seem to dress in suits), to come dressed in your favorite Blazer, flannel trousers, your best shirt and tie? I think that to some extent a well cut blazer with the right trousers can be far more elegant than a suit.
The Dandy
I think a Blazer is perfectly acceptable for Clubs and Club events. It may be acceptable for a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace but I am not sure whether it would be appropriate to wear for an awards ceremony with the Queen. However I agree with you that a Blazer looks much better than a suit if worn with the right shoes and trousers. Obviously a Bart Simpson tie would ruin everything. Anyway, I don't know why people see Blazers as casual or semi-casual because their origin comes from the HMS Blazer, they started off as military uniforms, and what is more formal than a uniform? On the other hand double vents may turn out more appropriate in most situations as it is how they originally were, but a single vent (which purpose it is to make the wearer look good while sitting on a horse) can be quite classy in an outside environnement. It also depends on the number of buttons and whether it is single or double breasted. Buttons should obviously always be golden, two buttons are ideal for single breasted, three is too much. Generally a red tie and a red handkerchief can look very elegant with a blazer, shirt colour should be either plain white or white with blue stripes. This could indeed be considered formal, I believe that things and trends are changing; the Blazer, originally a victorian piece of clothing is coming back and may evolve into something more formal just like the three piece suit has which used to be considered less formal than it is now, indeed a three piece is more elegant than a single breasted two piece which is still less elegant than a double breasted two piece. Sorry about the lecture! :teacha:
I agree, a chap in a nice blazer with nice slacks and a good pair of shoes, tie and PS will often look far better than a chap in a cheap suit who doesn't usually wear suits. I've encountered it numerous times in the UK and Sweden, both at work and at play.
There's the old London police joke: What do you call a man in a courthouse wearing a suit and white socks? .....the Defendant! :icon_smile_big:
There's the old London police joke: What do you call a man in a courthouse wearing a suit and white socks? .....the Defendant! :icon_smile_big:
Hi Rambler, generally a blazer in the UK is finer and lighter in weight than a blazer in the US i.e. cut and quality of material. Also blazers in the UK tend nearly always to be black or navy....sometimes you'll see scarlet and green...but mostly navy.
The striped jacket is reserved for the Henley Regatta, Lords, Wimbledon and other such "time-to-put-on-my-silly-jacket-and boater" events. :icon_smile:
I've never seen anyone in a stripped blazer (appart from my time at a boarding school when I was little), but even though the Navy-Gold-Button-Blazer is less popular in England we should remember that it is where it originally came from. I believe Blazers as long as they are worn with grey flannel trousers can be quite acceptable for "smart" UK events. However one should wear a shirt with french cuffs and avoid to wear gold cufflinks (it may seem a bit strange if you are allready wearing a wedding ring, a signet ring, gold buttons and maybe even golden spectacles!), a little bit of contrast is nice. Most of the time a stripped shirt will do, the stripes should be thin and blue, never ever black. White stripes on blue are also ok. You could also wear a plain blue or white shirt. As for the tie yellow is acceptable but I would rather advise wearing a red or a blue one. For the handkerchief choose either a red or a white one. Do not match your tie's pattern to your handkerchief! Obviously you should leave the braces at home and wear a belt. In the summer or in warm ex-British colonies you may replace the flannel trousers by chinos and exchange your tie for a scarf cravat.
I thought that story was now widely considered apocryphal? Besides, just because it's military in origin doesn't make it formal. It wouldn't wash if you turned up to dinner wearing a set of DPMs!
It is certainly true that one can look smarter in a blazer than in a suit, but all anyone is actually saying here is that well-dressed men look better than badly-dressed men. It has no bearing on the propriety of your clothes to the occasion. The fact remains that today the blazer is still less formal, and generally sportier, than a suit.
You're preaching to the converted here, I assure you!
I don't know about Europe, but, when combined with an optimo, it is quite nice for the yacht club in California.
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