What’s the Difference Between a Sport Coat and a Blazer?

Is it a Sport Coat or a Blazer? Most use the two almost interchangeably but there is a difference

Here’s our quick guide to identifying the difference between the two

The Blazer

History:

The blazer started as a tailored garment used as a dress uniform for military use. (Hence the use of metal buttons usually with crests) It eventually found its way into different organizations such as men’s social and leisure clubs, and was the choice of jacket to bridge the gap between a Tuxedo for the clubs formal events and Suits for the clubs formal meetings. The blazer was what one wore to events held during the day time or informal social situations, such as dinners and cocktails.

The Details:

A Blazer was and still is a dressy tailored jacket. Its meant to be formal and structured. The fabrics are a fine wool, usually in an open weave with a matte finish. The crested or metal buttons are a great touch. Our favorite blazer buttons come from Benson and Clegg, its best to select something that has a personal meaning. The Blazer jacket is still a symbol of dress for most clubs and organizations.

The Cut:

A Blazer is tailored just like a suit jacket. Its meant to be dressy. Usually found with constructed shoulders (the example above is made with roped shoulders) and a canvas and padded chest. Today, the modern blazer is one of the most underrated and under used pieces in a man’s wardrobe. It can be worn with khakis and slacks but in our opinion it should never be worn with jeans.

The Sport Coat

History:

As the name suggests the sport jacket or sport coat started as exactly that a jacket one wore while doing sporty things. Usually made of robust materials like Scottish tweed or heavy English worsted wool’s, the sport coat was worn by men during hunts, or horse back rides.

The Details:

A Sport coat was meant to be functional. As previously stated the heavier robust fabrics were meant to keep one warm during the long hours of a hunt. Fabrics like tweed are also naturally water repellent. The fabrics were usually patterned or had a visible weave and mixture of colors. This was the original form of camouflage.

The Cut:

A sport coat tends to be fuller giving it the ability for layering. Its less constructed using less canvas and padding for more range of moment. Today a great sport coat is some thing you can dress down with a t-shirt and jeans or khakis but dress up with slacks for informal events.

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