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Six interesting ways to wear a formal jacket!
Corporate etiquette trainer Shital Kakkar Mehra tells us how the jacket can be worn in a variety of ways to suit different occasions.
Being extremely versatile, the blazer can be dressed up or dressed down, depending upon the level of formality and the setting.
1. Business casual (most formal)
Men can wear the blazer with a dress shirt, a tie and formal shoes.
This look falls just a bit short of a business suit and can be used for a corporate or a networking event.
Women can wear a blazer with trousers/ shirt, a scarf or a trendy piece of jewellery to complete the look.
Excerpted from Corporate Etiquette: A Guide for the Indian Professional by Shital Mehra, published by Harper Collins India, with the publishers' permission.
2. Business Casual (toned down)
Both men and women can team the blazer with a collared button-down shirt and chinos.
This look works very well while travelling for business, when visiting somebody's home or for a drink after work.
A blazer can be stored in the office, for last-minute meetings with clients or the boss.
3. Pub Wear (further toned down)
When visiting a pub or when out to a casual restaurant, the blazer can be teamed with dark blue straight-fit jeans (ensure they are washed and well laundered) and a collared tee-shirt.
Wear either brown or burgundy shoes with matching belt to complete the look.
The shirt should be tucked in and this needs no tie.
Women can wear high heel shoes to add to the evening look.
4. The casual look
This is party wear -- blazer worn with the shirt tucked out or worn with a crew neck (collarless) tee-shirt.
This is an extremely trendy and casual look, fit for an evening out at the pub or night club, nothing related to business.
Women can team the blazer with trendy jeans or leather pants and boots.
5. Evening wear
For a play or a visit to an up-market restaurant, team it with a turtle neck and formal trousers.
Women may prefer to wear a blazer over a slim-fit dress, making it look more "dressy".
6. The winter look
In cold winter days, you can wear a sleeveless cashmere sweater underneath the blazer for extra warmth, conveying a "hip" look.
This can be teamed with a muffler or a scarf wrapped around your neck.
A blazer is a wardrobe must-have and increases the wardrobe options manifold.
As it a classic, it's always in fashion and can be dressed up or down, as the occasion demands.