How To Wear A Coat Over A Blazer (Essential Tips)

The blazer is a workhorse of the wardrobe and a staple of both smart-casual and business-casual attire. Layering it, however, can sometimes be tough. The question is, can you wear a coat over a blazer?

You can wear a coat over a blazer by ensuring the fit is comfortable with both items layered. Neither should be too tight or too loose. Make sure you select the right coat and the right blazer after taking the formality of the setting into account. 

That’s just the short answer. So, keep reading to learn the essential tips that will help you wear it properly, each and every time. 

3 Tips For Wearing A Coat Over A Blazer

Consider all of them before wearing this classic combination. 

1. Pick the Right Fit

Getting the right fit for both the blazer and the coat is essential to ensure that you’re both comfortable and stylish, while also protecting yourself from the cold.

To make sure the fit is correct, you need to ensure that neither item restricts your range of motion or creates tension lines across the fabric.

The best way to do this is by going up one size for the coat and making sure the blazer fits your body’s contour.

How The Blazer Should Fit

You should try on your blazer with whatever you wear underneath the most often, whether it is a cotton t-shirt or a dress shirt.

The shoulders are the most critical place for the blazer to fit properly as it’s almost impossible to change the tailoring and can be very expensive to alter.

It should fit squarely on your shoulders and not be too tight or too loose. It should frame your shoulders in a flattering way.

The collar of your blazer should rest cleanly on top of your shirt collar without a gap between the two garments. It should leave about half an inch of the shirt exposed.

Though the length can often change with shifting trends, you shouldn’t go too long or too short so that it looks appropriate regardless of the season.

The best length is when the end of the blazer is in line with the bottom of your fly. Going longer is better than shorter as you can tailor it to be shorter if necessary. 

The best fit across the body is when it doesn’t crease or cling to you too tightly. You know it’s too tight if it cuts into your armpits or has too many wrinkles or divots.

How The Coat Should Fit

It’s essential to make sure that your winter coat fits well to ensure that you’re properly insulated from the cold. 

Moreover, you should make sure there’s enough room for your blazer to fit underneath.

To make sure that you can move in your jacket, you can do the hug test or mimic the range of motion that you’ll likely do throughout the day.

However, you should also be aware that when there’s too much space (i.e the coat is too big), you won’t be insulated from the cold.

The perfect fit will also be determined by the type of coat that you wear. We will explore these further below. 

2. Pick the Right Coat Style

Picking the right coat is essential as you should choose the one appropriate for the situations you will be in and the weather conditions.

No matter which coat you choose, be prepared to size up to ensure a comfortable and stylish fit. We recommend trying on the coat in-store with a blazer underneath.

The Long Business Overcoat

The long business overcoat is a suitable option to wear over a blazer in the colder months; its length will give you proper protection from the cold while still looking stylish.

You have the option of wearing it in many different colors and looks best in autumn/winter tones such as burnt oranges, gray, black, and navy.

Sizing up is the best option when wearing the long business overcoat with a blazer and will help ensure that it’s a comfortable and stylish fit.

As mentioned, going in-store wearing your choice of blazer should ensure that the fit is not too tight and doesn’t restrict any motion.

Double Breasted Coat

Some coats, such as the pea coat and trench coat, are always double-breasted.

Double-breasted coats look better when they’re buttoned up rather than leaving them open, and you should consider this when deciding which type of coat to wear.

Here’s an example of a pea coat on Amazon: 

The double-breasted coat is also the most formal coat to wear and is more commonly worn with a suit jacket but can still be worn with formal blazers underneath.

This coat makes you look broader and shorter, so those with shorter frames should avoid this style where possible. You should look for balance and a flattering v-shaped silhouette. 

Trench coats have a belted midsection and can look coarser around the middle, so we advise that you stick to darker colors and heavier details.

The Single Breasted Coat

The single-breasted coats can be worn in both formal and casual settings and though they can be single buttoned, they are most commonly double.

The lapel of these coats can have a notch, peak, or shawl, and the decision will depend on personal style and the particular coat.

The coat should be long enough to cover the blazer in both cases. It should also be streamlined to ensure that it is not too boxy or unflattering.

While overcoats and topcoats offer versatility in this regard, it’s best to go for the single-breasted option when you can. 

Just for the purpose of illustration, here’s an example of a single breasted coat over a blazer on Amazon: 

3. Pick the Right Color

Although blazers are an alternative to the more formal suit jacket, they are still considered proper in their own right and are typically worn in formal settings.

You must choose the right colors for both the blazer and suit jacket to ensure that it matches the formality of the setting.

Formal Work Settings

If your employer allows you to wear blazers instead of suit jackets, it’s still important to look respectable and presentable. 

It’s best then to still wear the same colors you would if you wore a suit jacket by wearing dark and neutral colors such as gray, black, and navy.

You can still go for a lighter coat on top of your blazer, especially if you’re wearing a trench coat where a light beige is most widely accepted.

Unless your work setting allows casual wear, we recommend steering clear of bright or bold colors to uphold professionalism.

Your coat should complement your blazer so try ensuring that the tones of your jacket fit appropriately with your blazer by sticking to either the darker or lighter shades.

Casual Settings

While the blazer resembles a jacket more commonly associated with formal settings such as the workplace and business meetings, you can still wear it casually.

When wearing blazers in casual situations, you have more freedom in the way you’d like to express your identity, creativity, and personal style.

While some may choose to explore more neutral, tonal palettes such as khaki greens, dark beiges, and lighter blues, you can also push the boundaries a little more.

On casual occasions, you can choose a blazer with prints, bold colors, and even one with an exciting contrast with the collar. 

Additionally, the coat you wear does not have to be a formal coat such as a peacoat, trenchcoat, or overcoat. 

You can opt for a more casual coat to wear over your blazers, such as a puffer jacket, a raincoat, or a parka coat. You can even wear a leather jacket for an edgy contrast.

The best colors would complement the blazer; however, you can opt for the warm, comfortable coat that you wear daily, regardless of color compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions on the topic to really round things off. 

Can You Wear A School Coat Over A Blazer?

You can wear a school coat over a blazer by ensuring that the blazer fits comfortably around your body and by perhaps going a size up on the school coat so that there is enough room for the blazer.

The best way to do this is by going in the store to try on the school coat with the blazer on underneath to make sure that it will fit. 

You don’t want the school coat to be too big either as it will not provide proper insulation. The top priority should be warmth. 

Can You Wear A Winter Coat Over A Blazer?

You can wear a winter coat over a blazer as a range of styles, fabrics, and colors will be suitable to wear. You should ensure it is not too tight and appropriate for the situation while providing insulation from the cold.

You should choose a coat that fits your body stature and flatters the blazer underneath in color and style.

The fit is important too, as you don’t want to restrict your range of motion. It’s best to try on a range of coats in-store to determine the best one for you.

Can You Wear A Trench Coat Over A Blazer?

Trench coats are best suited for fall-spring seasons as they are not designed to keep you warm enough for the winter period. However, they can keep you dry and pair well with a blazer underneath. 

You can wear a trench coat over a blazer by making sure the fit allows room for the blazer to fit underneath, which may mean going one size up. This may mean trying the coat on in-store.

Trench coats also have a more classic and traditional look and have a more recognizable style because of their iconic tan color, belted midsection, and double-breasted design. 

Can You Wear A Pea Coat Over A Blazer?

You can wear a pea coat over a blazer by choosing one with a slim fit and choosing details that pair with the formality of the blazer. You should also make sure there is enough room for your blazer to fit underneath.

Pea coats are considered the least formal jacket style, so you should bear this in mind when considering the occasion you will wear.

You should also remember that they are not very long and may not provide you with much warmth on colder days.

Conclusion

You now have the information that will best help you know how to wear a coat over a blazer, considering both style and practicality.

I hope this helps. Enjoy.