The Dinner jacket

If the event you’ve been invited to doesn’t specify black tie, then the world truly is your oyster. That doesn’t mean though that you shouldn’t still look to dress to impress. There’s no better way to make an impact than to don the dinner jacket and the options are almost endless.

Midnight Blue Dinner Suit

Let’s put it this way, if the midnight blue dinner jacket is good enough for Edward VII, then it’s definitely good enough for us. If the dress code is a little more relaxed, feel free to play around with a more casual look and maybe pair with black trousers. It’s best to opt for either a waistcoat or lose the waist covering altogether if you’re attending a less formal event.

White Dinner Jacket

For a classic James bond look, pair up your white jacket with a black pair of trousers, add a black cummerbund and bow tie to create a white and black tuxedo look, which is smart but also striking. Alternatively, plump for white trousers and a neck scarf to create a far more modern look.

Black Velvet Dinner Jacket

Another modern take is to wear a black velvet dinner jacket with trousers made with an alternate fabric. If you really want to dress it down, you can even opt for jeans. To keep it relatively formal, pair with a different coloured trouser or check print trouser.

Double Breasted Dinner Jacket

Double breasted dinner jackets are back, not that they ever really went away! They represent something different to their stuffy banker, 1930s gangster reputation. A double breasted blazer can be paired with anything from smart trousers to jeans or even shorts and look great with a shirt and tie or a jumper and even a T-shirt. They're so versatile you have to have one in your wardrobe.

Sport Coat vs Blazer

We’ve covered a number of ways to wear a blazer and some of the different types. There's also the option of the sports coat. The main difference between a sports coat and a blazer is that the sports coat is less structured than a blazer, giving a looser fit and also comes in a wider range of patterns and colours. The sports coat would probably be well suited to a less formal occasion and is extremely comfortable and versatile, as well as being on the less expensive end of the spectrum, compared to a good blazer.