Are Blazers On Their Way Out? A Millennial Investigation

When I explained this to my fresh-faced (read: Gen Z) colleague Aisha Alvarez, she said, “That's kinda why I love it, but I rarely wear a blazer with its set because it looks too 9-5. I always wear something cute, colourful and fun underneath to kind of break up the whole 'formal' look. I think this winter people will be playing around with what they wear underneath and using a blazer to tie their look together to slightly elevate it. As much as I hate to admit it, wearing a blazer with a really clean-cut silhouette makes me feel very CEO, less broke uni student.” Not ready to let go of your blazer? Breathe new life into your ride-or-die with colourful knitwear, quilted bags and more of-the-moment pieces. Our pick? A statement shoe or shoulder bag from Scandi designer label Stine Goya. 

Head of Style at THE ICONIC Rachel Evans is also prepared for an outerwear shakeup. “The oversized bomber jacket is always going to be preferred to the blazer for my personal style. The versatile silhouette of the bomber jacket offers casual and smart styling – I literally wore one to a wedding in 2022 and lived in it throughout winter.”

“The blazer has definitely had its hero moment and I would say it’s on a slow decline, however it will continue to be a wardrobe staple with its effortless appeal. Leisure blazers are still carrying over to AW23 with a lean towards genderless designs, and we will start to see blazers become more practical with coat-like designs in the seasons to come.”

So are we still wearing blazers? It all comes down to personal preference. Judging by Copenhagen Fashion Week 2023 attendees, who are known to be strong leaders and trend starters in street style, it looks like the oversized blazer look is just as popular as ever (dammit).

Are you team blazer or team bomber?

*Not a real hashtag so please don’t actually bury your blazers. If you’re tired of your tailored jackets and they’re still in good condition, consider donating them through our Giving Made Easy initiative, re-selling via AirRobe, or burying them in the back of your closet until you’re ready to wear them again.