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How To Wear Black Blazers With Blue Jeans (Outfits, Tips)

December 22, 2022
How To Wear Black Blazers With Blue Jeans (Outfits, Tips)

Blazer combos can be simple and effortlessly stylish. They’re an easy way to up the stylishness of even the most basic of outfits. But can you wear a black blazer with blue jeans? 

A black blazer can easily be worn with blue jeans in casual and smart-casual settings. In dressy settings, dark blue jeans often work best here, while light and medium shades of blue are better suited to more very casual events. 

That may be the short and sweet answer, but you’ll probably need a whole lot more. 

Ultimately, there are so many different ways of wearing it. 

After going through 3 great outfit ideas, we’ll run through some key tips for wearing a black blazer with blue jeans in the most effective way possible. 

Let’s get to it. 

how to wear a black blazer with blue jeans
Image From Deposit Photos

3 Black Blazer And Blue Jeans Outfits

Here are a few you should really consider. Let’s go through them, from the most “dressy” option, down to the most casual one. 

Dressy

Example:  Black Blazer, Dark Blue Jeans, Dark Brown Derby Shoes, White Shirt, Dark Brown Belt

Black blazer + dark blue jeans + white casual shirt + dark brown dress shoes
Images From Deposit Photos

While a pair of jeans could never really be considered “formal”, there are always going to be certain pairs that look dressier than others. 

The darker the shade of the blue jeans, the dressier they’ll look. 

When wearing a black blazer and blue jeans combo to a smart-casual setting where there’s a risk of underdressing, consider a dark blue pair of jeans as opposed to a light or medium shade. 

In addition, consider a pair of dress shoes in a shiny grain of leather such as calfskin. While Oxfords are likely to be too formal to sync well with even the dressiest pair of jeans, a pair of Derby shoes would often be perfect. 

Monk straps would work well too. 

In terms of the shirt, go for a light and neutral color. White would be best, although light blue or light grey would also be reasonable. 

Dress shirts work well when dressing up, but an OCBD would be reasonable too. 

More Casual

Example:  Black Blazer, Dark Blue Jeans, Turtleneck Sweater, Suede Boots

Black blazer + dark blue jeans + grey turtleneck + suede chukka shoes
Images From Deposit Photos

Here, we’re dressing down a little. 

White dress shirts are likely to be too much, as are dark brown leather dress shoes. 

A dark blue pair of jeans would still usually be best, but you’d get away with a light or medium shade of blue if the other items you wear are “smart” enough to compensate. 

During the winter or fall months, wearing a turtleneck sweater under your black blazer would be a great option here. 

If the time of the year happens to be warmer, an OCBD or linen shirt would be a great option instead. 

Go for a neutral color such as grey, beige, cream, or tan. 

A pair of suede shoes would work a treat in this outfit. You can find dress shoes of all varieties in suede, but loafers work especially well in the summer. 

During the colder months, a pair of suede Chelsea or chukka boots would be ideal. 

Most Casual

Example:  Black Blazer, Medium Blue Jeans, Maroon T-Shirt, All-White Sneakers

Images From Deposit Photos

Finally, it’s time to let loose. 

When you’re really looking to dress down your black blazer and blue jeans pairing, you’ve got plenty of room for experimentation. 

A light or medium blue pair of jeans would work especially well here. 

The contrast between the blazer and the jeans would be striking and attention-grabbing, but when you’re dressing down that’s often appealing. 

Add a pop of color to this casual outfit by wearing a vibrant and warm-colored T-shirt under the black blazer. 

It’ll add a great sense of contrast to an outfit that’s otherwise pretty neutral. 

A maroon T-shirt has been used in the image above, but there are plenty of other options to choose from. 

Finally, sneakers are perfect here. All-white sneakers would be the easiest to pull off. 

5 Tips For Wearing Black Blazers With Blue Jeans

Here are some essential tips for wearing this classic combination in the most stylish way possible. 

Consider The Dress Code

Let’s face it. There are certain dress codes where a blazer and blue jeans pairing just wouldn’t be appropriate. 

It should only be worn in casual or smart-casual settings. 

It shouldn’t be worn in business-casual or formal settings where the jeans would always come across as too casual. 

In business-casual settings, you’ll want to go for a blazer and chinos/dress pants combination instead. In formal settings, go for a 2-piece suit at the very least. 

But in casual and smart-casual settings, a black blazer and blue jeans combo would often work well. 

The dress code will often determine what you choose to wear with these two items. 

In more casual settings, T-shirts and sneakers would be ideal. 

While in more “smart-casual” settings, OCBD shirts, dress shirts, dress shoes, and turtlenecks would be ideal – as you’ve seen from the outfit ideas above. 

Consider How Much Contrast You Want

Here, we’re talking about how much contrast there is between the black blazer and the blue jeans. 

A high-contrast combination would be a black blazer with a light blue pair of jeans. There’s an attention-grabbing contrast between light and dark here. 

A low-contrast combination would be a black blazer with a dark blue pair of jeans. There’s just less difference between the two items. 

In general, the dressier the event is, the more likely it is that a low-contrast black blazer + dark blue jeans combination would be a better option. 

The more contrast you’ve got between the two, the more casual it’ll usually look. 

If an event is truly casual, feel free to go for a light or medium shade of blue jeans. The contrast would work well. 

black blazer and jeans
Image From Deposit Photos

Go For A Casual Looking Blazer

A casual-looking black blazer is a lot more likely to work with a pair of blue jeans than a formal-looking one. 

Blazers are a great way to dress up even the most casual of outfits. However, it’s important to ensure that the blazer syncs well with the other items. 

Ever tried wearing a blazer and sweatpants combination? It’s bound to turn some heads (for the wrong reasons). 

There’s a clear formality mismatch here and it would never work. A blazer would always be too formal to wear with a pair of sweatpants. 

The same could go for a blazer and jeans pairing if you’re not careful. 

You need to pick the right black blazer and the right pair of blue jeans for it to work. 

Pick a blazer that’s casual enough to pair well with a typically casual and rugged pair of blue jeans. 

Casual features of blazers to look out for include: 

  • Rugged or wrinkly fabrics/weaves such as linen, tweed, seersucker, flannel, and serge. 
  • Relaxed fit and construction
  • Minimal shoulder padding 

Avoid shiny and wrinkle-resistant blazer fabrics such as worsted wool. They’ll almost always look too formal to be worn with even the most dressy-looking pair of blue jeans. 

Avoid Distressing

“Distressing” is a manufacturing process where features such as rips and frays are intentionally added to jeans to make them look more worn out and vintage. 

Distressed jeans might not be as popular as they were a couple of decades ago, but they’re still a great casual look. 

However, as you’d expect, distressed jeans shouldn’t really be worn when you’re looking to dress up. 

They often look a little awkward and out of place when wearing a more formal item such as a blazer with it. 

light blue jeans
While stone washing and rips/frays can look great, it’s often too casual for a black blazer

Image From Deposit Photos

So, when wearing a black blazer, choose a pair of jeans with little to no distressing. 

In addition, avoid jeans with acid washing or stone washing. These are also features that often just look too casual to make sense when wearing a black blazer. 

Slim-Fit Blue Jeans Work Best

Slim-fit, tapered pairs of blue jeans work best when wearing a black blazer. 

This is yet another way to make a pair of jeans look dressy enough for the blazer. 

Slim-fit jeans just have a more formal look to them than skinny, wide-leg, straight-leg, and bootcut jeans. 

They’re more likely to sync well with an item as dressy as a black blazer. 

Conclusion 

As you can see, it’s a versatile combination that can be worn in a variety of different ways but should be reserved for casual and smart-casual settings. 

Get the right colors, the right fabrics, and the right fit, and you’re well on your way to wearing a black blazer and blue jeans combination in the most stylish way possible. 

Enjoy.