How to Wear a Blazer When You’re Not Going to Work (5 Outfit Ideas)
Five Blazer Looks That Don’t Scream ‘Office’
The second you say “blazer,” most people picture a smart suit, a boardroom, or a power-dressed woman striding into a meeting. For years, that’s been the default image: blazers as workwear, as symbols of authority and professionalism.
But how YOU see a blazer really depends on how you use your wardrobe. When I’m working with clients, I usually see two camps.
On one side are the people who like their wardrobes to have clear boundaries: work clothes, weekend clothes, going-out clothes. Everything has its place and purpose.
Then there’s the other camp, the free spirits who are already mixing things up, wearing their “best” pieces on a Tuesday, pairing something sparkly with something sporty, and not worrying too much about whether it’s technically appropriate.
Neither approach is wrong, but one of the first things I encourage everyone I work with to do is to remove any mental labels about what clothes are for.
Because the minute you stop assigning strict roles to your clothes, your wardrobe becomes infinitely more versatile, and getting dressed instantly becomes a lot more interesting.
A blazer doesn’t have to mean work.
A sequinned skirt doesn’t have to mean going out.
A floaty dress doesn’t have to mean holiday only.
Most things can be dressed up or down once you understand how to play with styling tools like contrast, texture, proportion, and finish level to make them feel right for the occasion you want to wear them for.
So here are five ways I wear my blazers in completely non-traditional, non-officey ways! Hopefully, something in here will inspire you to remix how you wear yours!
I chose these 3 blazers to remix for my examples. To the left is a 2nd hand man's suit jacket. The other 2 are both vintage.
Look 1: The Boho Blazer
I was recently looking at the layered, drapey, floaty dresses on the Chloé runway, which reminded me I had a vintage lace wedding dress that hadn't seen the light of day for a while, so out it came, and this look was born!
When I looked at the finished outfit in the mirror, the denim, plaid, western boots and baseball hat mixed with the lace and pearls reminded me of that Ralph Lauren kind of tension, romantic, rugged, with a twist!
Why it works for me
Combines soft, feminine textures (lace, pearls) with rugged, casual elements (denim, plaid, leather).
The baseball cap instantly modernises the look and prevents it from feeling too romantic or literal.
Tension between “country romantic” and “urban casual” makes the outfit feel effortless rather than themed.
💡Stylist tip, so you can try it yourself
Take your blazer and pair it with something floaty or overtly feminine, a dress, blouse, or skirt, then depending on your personal style, you might lean more into the boho feel with soft leather or earthy accessories, or break it up completely with something sporty or structured to create tension.
Either way, it's defo not giving traditional office vibes!
Look 2:The Oversized Slouchy Look
I went for two oversized elements in this outfit, the jacket and the balloon trousers.
Underneath, I layered a polka-dot blouse with a loose sports jersey, both tucked in to stop the outfit from wearing me and to create a bit of shape against the wide trousers and oversized jacket.
For accessories, I added a tie and pearls and finished it off with structured shoes and glasses. I also experimented with braces on this day, but I’ll probably leave them out next time. (My boobalinas are too big for them to sit right on me!)
When you’re styling oversized pieces, balance and contrast are everything.
Because these trousers have such a dramatic shape, tucking the layers adds enough structure to break it up, and the sharper details, the shoes, glasses, and tie, stop it from feeling like I’m a walking clothes pile!
💡 Why it works
Balance and contrast stop the oversized proportions from feeling shapeless.
Tucking adds definition to the silhouette without changing the relaxed mood.
Structured details like shoes, glasses, and a tie create tension against the softness of the fabrics.
💡Stylist tip, so you can try it yourself
Take your blazer and pair it with something oversized, wide-leg trousers, loose jeans, or a roomy shirt, then look for one or two details that give contrast.
That could be a defined tuck, a belt, sharper shoes, or some structured jewellery (like bold earrings) to draw the eye upward. It keeps the look intentional rather than soft or shapeless (which is also totally okay if that's the vibe you want to go for.)
Look 3: The Blazer + Track Pants Look
This look is a perfect example of what happens when you stop worrying about what clothes are for!
Track pants come with certain associations: gym wear, lazy Sunday wear, school-run wear, etc, but pairing them with tailoring instantly gives them a style makeover.
My outfit is the most maximalist joy: It’s loud, playful, and fun! But you defo don’t need to go as bold as this to make it work!
You could start with a full sports outfit, track pants and a sweatshirt, then throw on a blazer, swap your trainers for pointy shoes or boots, and add a pair of statement earrings.
Instantly, you’ve changed the story. It’s no longer “you’re in gym gear,” it’s “you’ve got great style! ”
💡 Why it works
Combines relaxed, sporty pieces with structured tailoring to create contrast.
Mixing fabrics and finishes keeps the outfit interesting and full of personality.
The contrast between casual and polished removes the “boardroom” association from the blazer and gives it a new, modern energy.
💡Stylist tip, so you can try it yourself
Pair your blazer with track pants or another sporty piece, joggers or a sweatshirt, then swap your usual trainers for something that contrasts, like pointy shoes, boots, or chunky loafers. Add a contrasting bold accessory, like statement earrings or necklaces, to finish. Eh, Voilá, one non-office energy blazer outfit!
Look 4:The Blazer + Sheer Look
Sheer fabrics can feel intimidating. They’re often associated with nights out or dressier occasions, and they can be one of those things that make people think, “I could never pull that off.”
I firmly believe that with the right styling, anyone can pull anything off, as long as it genuinely feels like you when you put it on!
But there’s a difference between something being to your taste and something fitting your personal style. You might love the idea of a sheer dress, but if it doesn’t align with your style, it’ll always feel slightly off.
The outfit inspiration came from something I saw Leandra Cohen wearing. I loved the colour play of the sheer fabric paired with red tights.
The longer-length blazer makes this look work for me. It keeps the outfit from being cut in half and lets me wear tights underneath without needing trousers or another layer for coverage. The pearls add contrast against the more minimal base, which stops the look from feeling too pared back. (Which we know ain't really me!)
💡 Why it works
Pops of red and silver prevent it from feeling too minimal or serious.
The masculine cut of the blazer contrasts beautifully with the floaty sheer dress, creating balance and a bit of tension.
The longer length of the blazer means I can style it with tights alone, which is a little unexpected, which is what I'm all about!
💡Stylist tip, so you can try it yourself
If you’ve got something sheer in your wardrobe, a dress, skirt, or blouse, try pairing it with a blazer to play off against the feminine nature of the floaty sheer item. Add bright or patterned opaque tights or trousers underneath, depending on the length of your jacket!
This is an easy way to wear sheer pieces in a way that feels confident rather than exposed!
Look 5: The Denim Cargo + Blazer Look
This look sits somewhere between preppy feminine and workwear. The pink cardigan, pearls and Mary Janes are giving a feminine, prim & proper energy! The tie is giving, don't eff with me vibes, and the cargo denim brings in a more workwear buildingsite feel!
💡 Why it works
Blends polished, preppy pieces with practical workwear for contrast.
The cargo denim tones down the sweetness of the pink and pearls.
Repeating touches of colour, pink and purple, make the mix feel cohesive rather than random.
💡Stylist tip, so you can try it yourself
Take your blazer and pair it with something that contrasts in mood or texture. For example, if it feels smart or feminine, add a piece like denim, cargos, or another workwear fabric to contrast it out!
To bring everything to a close, I want to leave you with this thought:
The thing about blazers is they only feel office-y when everything else you’re wearing agrees!
By simply choosing one element that contradicts that office feel, whether it’s the trousers you pair it with, the shoes, or your accessories, something unexpected always throws the blazer off its usual track and takes it firmly out of the boardroom!
That one twist is what gives it new life. Clothes don’t know what they’re “for.” You get to decide that!
So if you’ve got a blazer hanging in your wardrobe that only ever sees daylight on workdays, it’s time to pull it out and experiment by remixing it with pieces you wouldn't normally pair it with and see what lands for you.
👉 If you want to learn more about how to remix your wardrobe and create new looks from what you already own, check out this blog on outfit remixing.
Have a great week, and I'll see you next time.
Sarah xxx
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Author Bio
Sarah Duff: Visibility Style Coach, founder of The Holistic Personal Stylist & creator of F*ck Yeah Style. I help ambitious women find their Fck Yeah personal style so they can show up magnetically everywhere — from big life moments to everyday magic. ✨ Your Fck Yeah Style is calling. Come say hi on Instagram @theholisticpersonalstylist or explore the style tools above.
