It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself the king of casual and think you have no room or need for formalwear in your closet – we’re here to tell you that no matter what, you should be prepared for any event life may throw at you, and that means you gotta have a few formalwear options in your wardrobe. While we’re not telling you to run out and purchase enough suits to fill Barney Stinson’s closet, we are telling you that it’s important to have options when it comes to formal jackets, like sport coats and blazers. 

To the untrained eye, it may seem like blazers and sport coats are essentially the same garment; however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there are many subtle differences between sport coats and blazers, and knowing the differences can totally save your ass when it comes to putting together a stylish and sophisticated outfit for any event. 

What is a Sport Coat?

A sport coat is a jacket that is considered the least formal when it comes to dressing up for an event, and ironically, they were once considered a luxury item. Sport coats can now be worn in place of a traditional suit coat and are often patterned, but can come in a variety of solid colors as well.

Historically, men wore sport coats while they were hunting or doing other sporting activities, as sport coats are designed to be less structured than your traditional overcoats, meaning you can move a bit more freely while wearing them. A sport coat will not only streamline your silhouette by making your shoulders appear a bit broader and your waist appear smaller, but it will also keep you warm. Plus, if you’re stepping out to a business casual event on an extra-cold day, you can layer a sweater and a long sleeve button down underneath and not feel like you’re suffocating.

What is a Blazer?