How to Wear a Sleeveless Blazer in Classic and Unusual Ways

A sleeveless blazer will help you keep your cool during spring and summer business events.  But it can also be layered during cold weather, and it doesn’t have to be restricted to business.  It is really quite versatile.  There are so many ways to wear it that age doesn’t matter.

Treat this piece as you would your favorite jacket with sleeves.  Look for one in a neutral hue, like khaki or black, that hits mid-hip.  It should be tailored at the shoulders but cut away from the body.  Then layer a fitted top underneath — a simple tank or blouse with a high neck works best.  Finish with slim trousers to play up the menswear vibe, or opt for a sleek pencil skirt for a feminine contrast.

The sleeveless blazer is chic, refined and elongated. You can mix it with sweatshirts, sweaters, shirts, blouses, turtlenecks, etc.

The following outfit combinations are based on a black sleeveless blazer.  As much as possible, I will refrain from calling it black so that it can be a formula you can easily translate.  But if yours is not black, simply substitute the colors of your choice.

There are three categories of outfit ideas below.  First, there are outfits for business; then there are casual outfits; and finally, there are evening outfits.

Business

• Add structure to a loose dress by wearing a sleeveless blazer over it.
• A black sleeveless blazer + a little black dress .
• A sleeveless black blazer open over a basic black dress.  Add a leather belt, hoop earrings, flats, and opaques if the weather is cool.
• A sleeveless black blazer buttoned over a basic black dress.  Add a flower pin at neckline.  Tuck a pocket watch and chain into the blazer pockets (across the front).   Add flats, and tights if the weather is cool.
• A sleeveless blazer + a printed blouse tucked into pants.  You might want to belt it and add booties.

  

• Wear a printed blouse with your sleeveless blazer.  Add any bottoms.
• A sleeveless blazer + a patterned blouse + skinnies.  Add flats.  You might like to top it off with a fedora.
• A sleeveless blazer + a blouse tucked into trousers.  Add a belt, booties, bangles.
• A sleeveless blazer + a short-sleeve blouse or top + any bottoms.
• A metallic blouse + a sleeveless blazer + skinnies in a color to match the blazer.  Add pumps + jewelry of choice + sunglasses if sunny.

• A black sleeveless blazer +  a white shirt/blouse tucked into slim black pants.  Add black or brown shoes.
• A black sleeveless blazer + a white shirt over slim gray pants.  Roll sleeves and add a big scarf loosely around your neck with the ends in front.
• A black sleeveless blazer open over a short-sleeve white shirt tucked into gray trousers.  Add a black necklace + a black printed scarf.  Tie the scarf with one end in back and the other end in front.
• A sleeveless blazer belted over a sleeveless shirt + wide-leg trousers.
• A white dress shirt + a black sleeveless blazer + trousers.  Add a gold bracelet or statement necklace.

• A sleeveless blazer belted over a long-sleeve t-shirt + a pencil skirt.  Add tights and ankle boots.
• A sleeveless blazer as a top + a pencil skirt in a matching color.
• A black sleeveless blazer + a long-sleeve gray top + a short gray skirt.  Add black stockings + black booties.
• A sleeveless blazer worn as a top, belted over trousers.
• A black sleeveless blazer (use as a jacket) + a black tank top tucked inside navy pants.  Add some long chains + a long red scarf looped around with ends in front + black pumps.

• A sleeveless black blazer + ivory trousers.
• A sleeveless black blazer + a short-sleeve red sweater + white pants.  You may want to add a tan belt, a scarf, earrings (see above).
• A sleeveless blazer + a short dress in a color to match the blazer.  Belt the blazer and add skin-tone shoes and stockings.
• Fall/Winter:  A sleeveless blazer over a fall or winter-weight dress (such as a sweater dress or a long-sleeve dress) or over a body-con dress.  Add tall boots, ankle boots, pumps, oxfords, loafers, high-top sneakers or flats.

  

• A sleeveless blazer worn over a billowy blouse will reign in the top.  Then add black leggings or jeans or pencil skirt.  You might like to add ankle boots + a bracelet.
• A sleeveless blazer belted over a slip dress or dress extender in a matching color.  You might also like to layer a printed long-sleeve top and ankle boots.
• A sleeveless blazer + leggings.  You might like to add a long top + boots over the leggings.
• A black sleeveless blazer over a column of white (white top + white skinnies + silver or gold footwear).
• A white, ivory, tan or colored sleeveless blazer over a column of black (black top, black skinnies, black footwear).

• A t-shirt dress + a sleeveless blazer.  Add a long pendant + dangling earrings + matching or toned bracelets/bangles.
• A sleeveless blazer + a long, draping tank top over skinnies.  Add flat sandals + a long pendant.
• A sleeveless blazer + pants matched to the color of the blazer + a long-sleeve t-shirt.  Add a belt + pumps.
• A short-sleeve gray t-shirt + a black sleeveless blazer belted over tan trousers.  Add a cuff or two + pumps.
• A sleeveless blazer worn as a top + skinny jeans.  Add gladiator/wedge sandals.

• A sleeveless black blazer + a white graphic tee + red trousers.  Add black heeled sandals + a big gold watch with a red tie-on bracelet and delicate gold ring + a big ring on the other hand + a red fedora.
• A sleeveless blazer + a long white tee + any jeans.  Add booties.
• A white collared blouse + a sleeveless black blazer + skinny jeans.
• A sleeveless blazer + a long-sleeve top + faux leather pants.
• A turtleneck + a sleeveless blazer + skinnies.

• A sleeveless black blazer + a long-sleeve red t-shirt + blue jeans.  Add a gold & black bangle + a black studded or fringed purse.
• A sleeveless black blazer + a long-sleeve charcoal t-shirt + any bottoms.
• A sleeveless black blazer + a long-sleeve black t-shirt or sweater + any bottoms.
• A sleeveless black blazer + a long-sleeve red t-shirt over white pants.  Add a tan belt over the t-shirt and twist a scarf around your neck.  Add large teardrop earrings + a tan bag.

  

Day to Evening

1. A black sleeveless blazer unbuttoned/open over a sheer black blouse + a black lace tank top + slim black or charcoal pants.  Add playful, colorful shoes.
2. A sleeveless black blazer + a sheer black top + a black pencil skirt.  Add a choker + black sheer stockings + black pumps.
3. A sleeveless black blazer + black pants + a black velvet top.  Belt it.
4. A navy velvet dress + a sleeveless black blazer.  Add tall black suede toots + nude stockings.  Belt it.
5. A sleeveless blazer buttoned over a sequined or party dress.  Add opaque stockings + tall boots.
6. A sleeveless black blazer belted over black pants.  Add a blonde faux fur scarf as collar.

Bonus Find!

Here’s something new and different that I thought you might find interesting:

Do you have other ways you wear a sleeveless blazer?  Let us know in the comments below. 

Like this post?  You might also want to read…

• Here are 45 Sure-Fire Ways to Rock a Kimono!
• 101 Ideas for How to Use Scarves in Your Outfits
• How to Get a Sleek and Interesting Monochromatic Look

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Outfit Combinations, Ways to Wear It

Black Dress, Business Wear, Casual Wear, Evening Wear, Fashion, Sleeveless blazer, Style, Transitional Weather