Prime
Blaze in a blazer
What you need to know:
Every man needs at least one blazer in his collection as it is one piece of clothing that does not go out of style.
A blazer is one of those things that can be best defined by what it is not. It is not a sport’s jacket. And it is not a coat that is part of a suit, although this too can be thrown over your ensemble if it fits well. Problem is that it is easy to tell a suit coat from one that was originally made as a blazer. Secondly, it is easy for your suit coat to wear out quickly from dry cleaning as a result, looking different in shade the next time you pair it with its matching trousers.
That aside, every man needs at least one blazer in his collection as it is one piece of clothing that does not go out of style and yet comes to your rescue when you most need it. Picture your casual Friday at work. You’re already getting into the weekend mood when a serious client calls for a meeting.
You just can’t saunter in wearing your button-down shirt and denim. Even if it is on short notice, you would want to boost your confidence as well as give off a businesslike air. And this is where a blazer hanged on a hook behind your office door may come in handy.
Pull off the look
It is unsightly, however, seeing many men on the streets swimming around in blazers half way the thighs. To avoid being part of the sore sight, there are a few tricks you need to master in choosing a blazer. Lydia Baita of First Fashion, a shop on Zainab Aziza that deals in men’s apparel, emphasises that fitting above everything else is the most important aspect in choosing a blazer. However, she has noted that some of her customers insist on a size or two bigger.
But, a perfect fit, however cheap, will instantly transform your looks according to Martin Buyinza, who sells second-hand blazers in Owino. He adds that for a perfect silhouette, similar to that say of David Beckham, a good fit should hug your shoulders without feeling uncomfortable. Secondly, it should end somewhere about the middle of your butt and not all the way down.
Do not get bothered if a bit of your shirt’s cuff shows when you bend or raise your hands, that is okay. He also helpfully encourages that “whether you are a little on the large side, or have a pot belly, you do not have to hide in an over-sized blazer. Actually, a good fit will give you a much better silhouette.”
At St Balikuddembe Market (Owino), a blazer can go for between Shs5,000 and Shs30,000, while the same blazer will go for up to Shs60,000 in a second-hand clothes’ boutique upmarket. At Turkish Fashions located opposite Equatorial Hotel, a good blazer costs Shs300,000.
So as you blaze the trail, do it with a fitting blazer.
