How to Wear Sport Coat and Dress Pants
If you've ever wondered how to wear a sport coat, you're not alone. A wonderfully versatile garment with a variety of designs, every man's wardrobe needs one or two for regular use.
In this article, you will learn all about the sport coat, how to wear one, and the best brands. We will therefore break it down with the following topics:
- What Is A Sport Coat?
- Difference Between Sport Coats & Blazers
- Single Breasted Vs Double Breasted Jackets
- How To Wear A Sport Coat
- Sport Coat Styles & Formality
- Where To Buy The Best Sport Coats
Simply use the link above to jump ahead or scroll down to read it all!
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What Is A Sport Coat?
A sport coat (or sport jacket) is, for all intents and purposes, any jacket that resembles a suit jacket butis not made with matching trousers . This lack of matching pants is one of the key differentiators between sport coats and suit jackets.
We sometimes use the term "odd jacket" to refer to such a coat. More on the word "odd" as it relates to clothing is below.
Sport coats are typically made in wool, flannel, wide-wale corduroy, cotton, or linen. They can be solid in color but are often made in bolder plaids, windowpanes, and stripes.
Sport Coat Vs Blazer Difference
Although they look very similar, sport coats and blazers are not the same thing. With that said, one could make the argument that every blazer is a sport coat, but not every sport coat is a blazer.
The difference lies in the history of the two garments and their modern applications.
What Is A Blazer?
The blazer has two Creation stories, either with the British navy or from British rowing clubs. We'll start with the British navy.
In this story, the blazer is based off of the reefer jacket, worn by British sailors in the 1800's. which is a now-defunct 8×4 double-breasted jacket that hit at the hips.
The classic blazer we now wear that was influenced by this is a 6×2 double-breasted jacket with peaked lapels, side vents and gold buttons. It is said that the term "blazer" is derived from the ship on which the jackets were first worn, theHMS Blazer.
The other story is that the blazer was originally a bright scarlet jacket worn by student members of the Lady Margaret Boat Club at Cambridge University in the late 1880's. These boating jackets were also made in bright, bold stripes and were referred to as a "blaze" of color.
No matter what creation story you believe, (menswear historian and tailor Alan Flusser claims that the latter story is accurate and that the sobering of the style in the 1930's brought the comparison to the reefer jacket), it is common nowadays to find a navy blazer in most men's wardrobes.
They can be single- or double-breasted and may take any kind of metal buttons: gold, silver, pewter, and the like.
Although it is possible to find blazers in bright colors such as green and red, they are far less common than navy. Blazers are typically made of worsted wool, flannel, serge, and hopsack. They fit just as a suit jacket would.
Sport Coat Specifics
Example of a wind tab on a sport coat
The sport coat, on the other hand, has a history that's land-based as opposed to water-based. The term derives from the original use of such clothing: they were made for sportsmen in the English countryside: horseback riding, fox hunting, and other stereotypically Anglo-Saxon activities.
The Norfolk jacket is widely considered to be the first sports jacket (more on that specific jacket below).
Though they seem dressy by today's ultra-casual standards, sport coats are, in fact, casual wear. The odd jacket and trousers combination is a rung or two down the formality ladder from a business suit.
The reason for its casual wear is in the aesthetic details we see on sport coats, such as:
- Elbow patches
- Wind tabs
- Belts
- Pleated backs & pockets
- Sleeve cuffs
- Flapped breast pockets
Sport jackets are offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Plaids, windowpanes, bold herringbones, houndstooth, and other such patterns are typical.
As far as material is concerned, sport coats are commonly made in flannel, tweed, cotton, linen, Shetland wool, corduroy, and others.
Sport Coat Terminology
- Bi-Swing Back: A sport coat feature in which there is an inverted pleat extending from the shoulder to the waistline on each side. This allows for greater freedom of movement, which is helpful during sportier pursuits. It's typically paired with a half-belt in back, but not always.
- Bellows Pleat: A deep fold in the side of a jacket. Provides comfort and ease of movement.
- Bellows Pocket: A patch pocket with three sides, which allows the pocket to expand. Also known as a "safari pocket."
- Odd: Clothing term that refers to an item not made with a matching garment. There are odd jackets, odd trousers, and odd vests.
- Yoke: Fabric fitted over the shoulders and joined to the lower part of a garment at the chest or, more often, the back. Quite common on dress shirts, yokes are sometimes found on sport coats.
Single Breasted Vs Double Breasted Coat
The terms "single-breasted" and "double-breasted" get used a lot. Just to make sure we're all on the same page, we've outlined the differences below.
Single Breasted
Single-breasted jackets have a single row of buttons in front, and the jacket's front panels do not overlap. This is far and away the more popular jacket model nowadays and has been for about twenty years.
The most common models are 2-button and 3-button. There is a particular style of 3-button jacket called a "three roll two" (written out as "3×2"), in which the lapel is rolled to the middle button as opposed to the top one. The top button is technically functional but not meant to be buttoned on a 3×2; the buttonhole is for show and the top button is hidden behind the lapel. This was common on early American sack suits.
One-button single-breasted jackets are necessary for tuxedo jackets and also happen to be the house model at Huntsman, Savile Row's most expensive tailoring house. Four-button single-breasted coats exist but are really only appropriate for safari jackets and similarly casual coats.
Single-breasted jackets may take any style of lapel: notched, peak, or shawl collar.
Double Breasted
Double-breasted coats have two rows of front buttons, the jacket's front panels overlap, and they never take notch lapels. The last time this model was ubiquitous was in the 1990's, and those were not well done by any stretch of the imagination.
Still they are a tiny bit dressier than their single-breasted counterparts.
There are two main types of double-breasted jackets: 6×2 ("six on two") and 4×2 ("four on two"). The first number refers to the total number of buttons, while the second number refers to the number offunctional buttons.
There is a particular four-button double-breasted model referred to as a "Kent," named for the Duke of Kent, a notable wearer of the style. It's defined by its longer lapel that rolls to the bottom button as opposed to the top.
Double-breasted coats should only take peak lapels or shawl collars. Notched lapels aren't dressy enough for these jackets.
How To Wear A Sport Coat
Though they're relatively simple items, sport coats can present a lot of confusion for men. Below we offer some general tips for wearing sport jackets to full effect.
General Tips
- Proper fit is still essential. Just because it's not a suit doesn't mean that you can skimp on alterations.
- Keep them casual. If you're going to a funeral or a job interview, you're better off in a suit. If you're a guest at a wedding or have a business casual dress code at work, sport coats and blazers are perfect.
- They tend to fare better in cool weather. While it's true that lightweight sport coats exist, when you're in the dog days of summer, it's unlikely that you'll want to wear one. If you're just starting to build a sport coat wardrobe, try a fall weight first.
How To Wear A Sport Coat With Jeans
For men who live a sartorially casual lifestyle, a sport coat with denim is an excellent way to stay comfortable while maintaining a tailored, polished look without overdoing it.
No matter the season, there are two extremely important criteria that your jeans must meet:
- They must fit well. Baggy jeans look terrible anyway, but they look ridiculous with a sport coat. Skinny jeans are overly trendy and physically uncomfortable. Aim for a straight fit or a slim straight fit (if you're a thinner guy).
- They must be free of rips, holes, and general "distress". Though sport coats are technically casual wear, they are still prime examples of tailored clothing. While the phrase "dress denim" is a bit of an oxymoron, it's a useful term as it relates to wearing sport coats with jeans.
Light Vs Dark Denim
There's conflicting opinion as to whether or not your jeans must be dark in shade to be paired with a sport coat. While we certainly agree that dark jeans are always a smart move with a sports jacket, it's not necessary for your jeans to be dark for the look to work.
Light denim works well in spring and summer, grey denim pairs wonderfully with navy sport coats that would otherwise look off with dark denim, and so on.
There's a formality continuum with the denim-and-sport-coat ensemble. At its most formal, it involves dark denim with a tie, a dress shirt, and dressy shoes. At its least formal, it can be light denim, cotton jacket, lightweight sweater, and moccasins with no socks.
A great day-to-day middle ground is sport coat, denim, brogues or boots, and a dress shirt.
Finally, we would recommend that you wear a belt with your jeans. Not only does a belt help break up your outfit, its absence will make the belt loops appear empty.
How To Wear A Sport Coat With Dress Pants (Odd Jacket & Trousers)
Sport coats and blazers with non-matching slacks is a classic sartorial trope referred to as an "odd jacket and trousers." In the menswear world, "odd" refers to any jacket, trouser, or waistcoat that doesn't have matching garments. You can wear a suit with an odd vest, for example.
The key to a successful odd jacket and trouser combination is color contrast. More to the point, you want a discernible degree of contrast to occur between the jacket and trousers.
This allows the viewer to see that you are clearly not wearing a suit, whereas a low contrast combination would make you look as if you tried to cobble a suit together from mismatched items.
It's also important to contrast patterns. A surefire way to look good is to make either jacket or trousers patterned, while the other stays solid. More often that not, the jacket will be patterned while the trousers are solid.
Odd jackets and trousers look particularly good on tall men, as they break up height.
Different Types Of Sport Coat & Their Formality
There are many different styles of sport coats, all with differing formality levels. Listed from dressiest to least dressy, here are some of the most common styles.
Blazer Sport Coat
The blazer is the most formal of all the non-suit jacket jackets. When structured in the shoulder, they'll have a greater level of formality. However, unstructured blazers that don't provide padding are more casual.
- Classic colors & patterns: Navy or midnight blue solid, red & green bold stripes (uncommon, but the original mode)
- Archetypical mode(s): 6×2 double-breasted with side vents and peak lapels, 2- or 3-button single-breasted with notched lapels and gold buttons
- Ideal pairings: Grey trousers, white trousers in summer, cotton khaki pants, dress shirts, dress shoes, ties (for a more formal look)
- Best for: Casual Friday in a business professional office, evenings out at places like cigar lounges or high-end cocktail bars, networking events
Hacking Sport Coat
Elbow patch on plaid sport coat
The hacking jacket is really what most sport coats today are based on. "Hacking" is a British English term for "riding," and these jackets were made specifically for equestrian endeavors.
They were cut a bit longer than normal and have slanting pockets (also known as "hacking pockets") so that supplies could be easily reached by a rider while on horseback.
Other than that, they generally resemble suit jackets in cut and style and are a step below blazers in formality.
- Classic colors & patterns: Various dogsteeth, windowpanes, solids, and plaids in Earth tones such as brown, green, and blue with hints of orange and red
- Archetypical mode(s): 2- or 3-button single-breasted stance (often a 3×2), with a deep (often 12″) center vent, notched lapels, wind tabs, elbow patches
- Ideal pairings: Denim, corduroy, flannel trousers
- Best for: Business casual offices,
Norfolk Sport Jacket
A belted back on a Norfolk-style sport coat
The Norfolk jacket is widely considered to be the first sport jacket.
Originally paired with trousers to create what one could call a sport suit, the Norfolk jacket has box pleats in the front and back, a yoke, and and an all-around or half belt.
It was first designed as a shooting coat that wouldn't bind as the elbow was raised to fire, it's a very informal coat compared to other jackets.
Made popular by Edward VII in the mid-1800s (at that time he was the Prince of Wales), it is a rarity nowadays.
The name comes from either the Duke of Norfolk or the county of Norfolk in eastern England; the historical record isn't clear.
- Classic colors & patterns: Tweed in Earth tones like brown and green
- Archetypical mode(s): 3- or 4-button single-breasted closure, leather buttons, wind tab, patch pockets, center vent
- Ideal pairings: Moleskin or corduroy trousers, thick brogues, boots, collared shirts and / or sweaters
- Best for: Outdoor activities in typically British conditions such as cold, damp days
Safari Sport Jacket
Safari jackets (also known as "bush jackets") are lightweight cotton jackets with belts and four outside patch pockets. Sporting a shirt collar and epaulets, it's extremely casual but a great option for casual springtime day wear.
- Classic colors & patterns: Solid khaki, olive drab, or navy
- Archetypical mode(s): 4- or 5- button single-breasted closure, shirt collar,
- Ideal pairings: Denim, light cotton trousers
- Best for: Extremely casual outings or very casual offices
Parting Thoughts
A good sport coat or two are key wardrobe pieces that any man can turn into workhorses if his lifestyle allows. Start with a solid grey, blue, or brown for maximum versatility, and build your collection from there.
Where To Buy The Best Sport Coats
Looking to equip your wardrobe with some quality sport coats? We recommend the following top 10 brands for finding the best sport coats:
- Indochino: Affordable made-to-measure sport coats.
- Black Lapel: Premium made-to-measure sport coats.
- Hawes & Curtis: Excellent value for money Jermyn Street brand.
- Suitsupply: Contemporary sport coats.
- Turnbull & Asser: Ultra-premium English-made sport coats.
- Ted Baker: Modern British sport coats.
- Brooks Brothers: Classic American heritage sport coats.
- Charles Tyrwhitt: Alternative Jermyn Street brand.
- Kenneth Cole: Very affordable sport coats.
- JC Penney: Cheap and convenient sport coats.
If you have any favourite brands that you believe are worth featuring, feel free to leave us a comment!
What Next?
Now you have read our detailed shirt guide, you should be better informed on how to choose the right one for you. If you still have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment! If not, we have more resources at your disposal:
- Top 10 Best Business Casual Shoes
- Best Dress Shirt Brands For Men
- How To Wear A Pocket Square
- Bespoke Unit Suits Homepage
22 Comments
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Source: https://bespokeunit.com/suits/jackets/
Hi
My name is Glen, I wonder can you wear sport coat, collar shirt with causal slack pants, guy see me in park, he think it Business causal it not business causal it is smart causal I love to wear anywhere I wear it all time occasion can you wear sport coat with collar shirt pattern, with causal slack pants?
Hi Glen,
Smart casual and business casual are very similar. In fact, they're almost identical except that smart casual is slightly dressier. This isn't necessarily in the choice of garments but their cut, quality, presentation and they way they're thrown together.
So, yes, a sport coat, collar shirt and casual slack pants could be either business casual or smart casual depending on their style individual formalities.
Best,
CP
When I call store somewhere in central Washington, whatever name it, I talk guy on a phone he is fashion style, I talk him about you can wear sport coat with casual, jean, in general I wear a sport coat with casual, jean, all time, like go for walk to park, store, anywhere else, no matter what you heading, you could wear it whatever you want.
Hi Glen,
I entirely agree. I have a couple of tweed sport coats that I wear with pretty much anything (within reason) for going to the shops or running errands. Whilst they can be worn with or for anything, it's important to remember that they're still quite smart in comparison with a lot of other styles.
Best,
CP
I've seen a belted double sport coat once and was wondering if they are still available.
Hi Guy,
Sounds like you're thinking of a Norfolk jacket! Yes, these are hard to find but there are some out there. I have one but it was a vintage item that I picked up from a market.
All the best,
CP
Hi Charles,
I am a young professional in the financial planning industry. I am 21 years old and will start a business in the near future to help others with finances. Since my field it so dependent upon experience, what can I do to make myself look more sophisticated and older. It is hard to find clients to trust you with money when you are fresh out of college.
I currently wear golf polo shirts with business slacks. However, I want to stand out and look more intriguing and trustful. The hard part, I live in West Texas so it is pretty conservative. So do not want to get outlandish, but more rather more professional? My wife and I are going shopping within the next week to update my wardrobe. Here is a list of items that I am going to hunt for. From what I have read, they are "must own" or "beginner" or even "start here" items.Do you have any recommendations?
-Brown oxford straight cap shoes
-Multiple chino pants (khakis, greys, navy, maybe maroon?)
-Leather belt that matches shoes
-4-5 sport coats
-what shades do you recommend for a "newbie"
-Basic Black cotton t-shirts
-Solid color button downs (light hues and colors???)
I know this is congested, but I do not know what I am doing and since this is a hefty investment, I want to make sure I get the foundation pieces right the first time.
Thank you for any and all feedback.
Evan Smith
Hi Evan,
Happy to help! We actually cover a lot of these around Bespoke Unit so this comment will feature a few links to help you on your way.
For the shoes, we offer a guide on the best brown dress shoes, which may feature something of interest. However, one of our favourite brands right now is Beckett Simonon. They offer excellent value for money and we have an exclusive discount code for them. You can learn about them and the code via the Beckett Simonon brand guide.
Beckett Simonon also make quality leather belts so they might be a good option for that too.
For your sport coat and chino needs, may I suggest that you consider either Hockerty, Black Lapel or Indochino?
These made-to-measure tailors can create chinos and custom blazers for you based on your measurements. While Hockerty will be the most affordable, Indochino and Black Lapel provide better quality material. If you head to the links above, you'll learn more about the brands as well as exclusive discounts that we offer for our readers.
As for sunglasses, we'd recommend Wayfarers for a first pair. They're very versatile and easy to wear before expanding a collection of different frame styles.
With regards to T-shirts, I confess that I don't buy many for wearing out. However, as long as they fit well and they stay quite clean, it's hard to go wrong with brands like Gap or Old Navy.
Finally, it's always best to start with white and blue button down shirts and then expanding to other colours like lilac or pink. You could probably use our capsule wardrobe guide for recommendations on building out your wardrobe.
I hope that this helps and feel free to leave comments on the separate guides with any more questions that you may have.
All the best,
CP
Paul,
That is a handsome plaid sport coat! I tend to gravitate towards the vintage tweed and herringbone jackets, especially British made pieces. You wear it well sir.
Regards,
Howard in Durango
Hi Howard,
On Paul's behalf, many thanks for your comment! He's currently abroad on vacation but I'll be sure to get your message across.
All the best,
CP
Hi CP,
I have a Harris tweed jacket (puppy tooth? Pattern) that's a bit old, but hardly worn by me. Tried it on and whilst in the wardrobe has shrunk…. So just purchased an Abraham Moon herringbone tweed RMW Windsor blazer (darkish brown).
It's called a blazer I guess because it has patch pockets, but they have flaps which makes it less blazer-like and more of a sports coat although the distinction is essentially the flip of a coin. It is partially lined with limited padding in the shoulder.
I was looking at a pair of chinos, sand rather than dark blue (that's personal taste, although I think dark blue would work). However, dark brown would look like a badly mismatched suit and denim might be a bit casual. Regardless, nothing more formal than the chinos if possible (I've got suits and more formal jackets if necessary). This to me would be the correct balance between formal and casual?
What do you think?
Regards,
Kevin
Dear Kevin,
I think you should be fine as long as there is a good amount of contrast between the "darkish brown" coat and sand color trousers.
Maybe as a pop of color / pattern with a pocket square and / or tie (but nothing too crazy, say a dark to navy blue, green or maroon).
All the bet – Paul
Looking very pretty information and you are looking pretty wonderful in coat
Thanks, Jack! "Pretty" is an odd choice but we'll take it!
Which brand of straight fit jeans do you recommend?
Hi Mbova,
I'm quite fond of Levi's 502 and their straight cut. Otherwise, Old Navy are great for skinnier fits as well as very affordable.
All the best,
CP
Vests with sports coats? Seems to me a vest is a formal garment, so are they okay if carefully coordinated?
Thanks!
Hi Jon,
Absolutely, a vest is a great complement to your wardrobe even in more casuals environments as long as it is well coordinated with the rest of your attire!
Best,
CP
Are sky blue chinos fine to wear in the spring and summer months or would you recommend staying safe with navy and sand chinos for business casual in software?
Question;
It's prom season, my son is going alone and will most likely meet up with the single girls & guys.
So I'm not renting a tux.
Which should I get him??
Thanks
Hi Suzanne,
I recommend that you head to this guide here to learn everything you need to know about how to dress at prom.
All the best,
CP