Blazer

 The jacket that woman blatantly stole from the boys and then wore it better, as is so the case. Women wear it with sleek white pants or on top of little black dresses: we wear it with skinny black jeans or khakis (Google Balenciaga Fall 2007). Girls most often wear it with heels instead of the standard prep-school penny loafers. The beauty of the blazer is that it does a tango between the masculine and the feminine, the formal and the casual, and the preppy and the trendy, the smart and the sexy. You can’t quite pin it down, and therein lies its charm. A chic untraditional way to buy a blazer is to buy it unconstructed or oversized (Google Ann Demeulemeester) or shrunken (Brooks Brothers boys’ department) for a dramatic and fashionable look.

The key to the blazer is making sure each element is tailored just for you:

 

The Buttons: Make sure they’re working buttons with real buttonholes. It is a sign of a quality blazer.

The Sleeves: Should be straight and crisp. The seam where the arm and body meet should be at the outer edge of your shoulder. Should fall at the heel of your hand for a traditional and timeless look. If you want to take it in a trendier direction, you can go about an inch longer than the traditional sleeve length, or choose a three-quarter length.

The Shoulders: Should be straight and crisp. The seam where the arm and body meet should be at the outer edge of your shoulder.

The Front: Should lie smooth when buttoned. Even if you never button your blazer, make sure you can button it at the tailor so you can make sure there are no bumps and bulges. (In fact, check for bumps and bulges everywhere, too.)

The Length: It is all a matter of preference. The classic blazer will fall at your hip, but it can be longer or cropped, depending on your personal style. 

Final Test: While you are still at the tailor, life your hands above your head, reach out in front, etc. The blazer should move with you, never pulling or bunching.

The One Hundred a Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia