A leather blazer carries two moods, the political and the polished. The Globe and Mail wrote in 2019 that dark leather blazers gave the Black Panther movement a commanding visual presence fifty years earlier, and credited Jean Patou and Gabrielle Chanel with bringing the blazer into high fashion. Here is how to choose a leather blazer that looks sharp and not stiff.
Leather Blazer: From Jazz Age Knits to Power Dressing
A jacket with a double life
In a 2019 history of the blazer, The Globe and Mail wrote that dark leather blazers gave the Black Panther movement a commanding visual presence fifty years earlier. The article credits Jean Patou and Gabrielle Chanel with bringing the blazer into high fashion through their androgynous Jazz Age knit blazers, connecting them to Victor Margueritte's 1922 novel La Garconne. It also names the 1988 film Working Girl as an iconic reference for women's power dressing, when oversized blazers and shoulder pads reached epic proportions. A leather blazer borrows from all of it.
Leather that behaves
Real leather and suede soften and mold to the body. Faux leather is lighter and easier to care for. Check the lining, which should be smooth and full. A soft, matte leather drapes like cloth, while stiff leather looks like armor. Try a size that allows a sweater underneath.
Cut and color
A single-breasted cut is the most flexible. A double-breasted one is stronger. A cropped leather blazer sits neatly over high-waisted trousers. Black is classic, brown is warm and oxblood is rich. Picture her in a brown leather blazer over a cream knit and wide jeans, walking through a flea market with a coffee.
Styling it
A leather blazer looks good over a slip dress, a tee or a silk shirt. Push the sleeves up to show a cuff. Keep the rest of the outfit soft so that the leather does not take over. Hang it on a wide hanger and keep it away from heat.
What I would skip
I would skip a leather blazer with shiny, plastic-like leather and a boxy cut that restricts your arms. You should be able to hail a taxi without a struggle.
