How to Match Trousers with an Odd Blazer?

One of the most versatile and classic combinations is trousers and an odd jacket.. However, the question for many is: How do you do it? Here, we provide some thoughts and tips on how to combine these garments.

Text: Mikael vallin
Photo and video: Leo Prim

Published 2025-02-04

To begin with entire columns could be written on this topic, covering combinations of warm and cool colours, accent colours, materials, fabric weights and surface textures. We will try to summarise some fundamental aspects that will hopefully help someone combine an odd blazer with trousers.

As a starting point, it is worth mentioning that there are some well-tested and reliable combinations of odd blazers and trousers, with the navy blue blazer taking centre stage. In summer, it pairs well with beige chinos. In more Autumn- and winter-oriented weather, the navy blue blazer is best matched with mid-grey flannel trousers. Generally, the plain navy blue odd blazer works with a wide range of trousers in different colours and materials. It is hard to go wrong.

Combining Colours

The most important factor is colour, and we have already established that navy blue pairs well with many other shades. Broadly speaking, colours can be divided into warm, earthy tones and cooler, greyscale shades. Colours such as navy blue, brown, beige, moss green, and various tones of these harmonise well with each other. Blazers in these shades often pair well with trousers in another of the previously mentioned colours.

The cooler palette consists of shades of grey, black, and white. Blue, brown, and green also often complement a lighter shade of grey.

Choosing an odd blazer and odd trousers in the same colour but slightly different tones can work well, for example, a dark blue blazer with dark blue jeans. Often, the look appears more balanced when the blazer is slightly darker than the trousers rather than the other way around. Similarly, a darker grey blazer pairs well with lighter grey trousers.

A beige blazer with beige chinos in a different fabrics is rarely a good combination, it does not resemble a suit. Another myth worth dispelling is that "black blazers go with everything." Not quite. Black creates a very stark contrast with most other colours. Additionally, there are nearly as many shades of black as there are black garments, so avoid trying to match black trousers with a black blazer unless they are part of the same suit. However, black and washed denim jeans work well with most black wool blazers because the texture contrast is sufficiently noticeable.

Blue jeans in light to mid-blue or white pairs well with a vast range of blazer colours and patterns.

Fabric Structure

Several aspects should now be considered: What type of fabric is the jacket made of, thick or thin? What is its surface texture, matte and smooth or more rugged and coarse? What season is it? For example, combining a pair of corduroy trousers that are usually associated with autumn with a summery linen blazer can be unbalanced and somewhat like a style mismatch.

If the jacket you buy is made of tweed, flannel, or corduroy, it is best paired with trousers made from similarly heavier fabrics, such as denim, flannel, heavier cotton twill, or corduroy. Wearing a coarse wool jacket with super fine wool dress trousers can create a visual imbalance, as the trousers drape differently. But it can also give the opposite effect - a tweed blazer can pair well with a pair of thinner trousers, allowing it to shine more.

In the end it all depends on your personal preferences, and whether it harmonizes or not varies between models.

Patterned Blazers

Many people struggle to figure out how to wear a patterned blazer. Refer back to the principle of colour harmony. Then, also consider the colours within the pattern.

According to this approach, a patterned blazer should theoretically work well with:

1. Trousers in a colour that harmonises with the blazer's main colour.
2. Trousers in a colour found within the pattern of the blazer.
3. Mid-blue trousers or grey jeans.

And remember, this is a highly simplified way of looking at it. There are far more possibilities to explore.

Lardini Cotton/Linen Checked Blazer Beige

Good luck with your future attempts at pairing odd jackets and trousers. Remember, we are always happy to answer any questions or concerns. Contact our style advisory service to book a consultation or ask a question here.

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