Women's Blazers

A blazer is built on its shoulder line, and everything below follows from there. Single-breasted styles run cleanest, one or two buttons closing at the natural waist, while double-breasted cuts overlap the front and hold the torso square. Oversized and boyfriend shapes drop the shoulder past the joint and lengthen the sleeve; cropped versions stop at or just below the waist, and fitted cuts follow the body through to the hip. Longline versions carry past the seat, closer to a coat than a jacket.

Notch, peak and shawl lapels set the register, from the everyday to the evening. Wool crepe and gabardine hold a pressed edge, linen and cotton blends relax as the day goes on, and tweed, boucle and velvet bring texture to a plain shape. A structured, padded shoulder holds its own shape; an unlined, soft-tailored jacket takes yours.