What’s the difference?
First, what’s the difference? Well, the sports jacket and the blazer are jackets that don’t have a matching pair of trousers. It’s a stand-alone piece just like a bomber jacket or a leather jacket. The sport jacket is usually made of a thicker material like wool, tweed or flannel. And it usually has more texture and pattern than a suit jacket which makes it more casual.
Sport Coats
Sport jackets are incredibly versatile because they come in so many different colors, patterns, and fabrics made for year-round use. They pair up easily with nice trousers or even a nice pair of denim. The sport jacket can be easily dressed up or dressed down, and it’s a great go-to jacket for tons of different situations.
Blazers
The sport jacket is often called a blazer, but it’s not technically the same thing. The one way to tell if it’s an actual blazer, are the shiny metal buttons in either a silver or gold color. That’s the real difference. Most Blazers are gonna come in a solid color… most likely navy blue, with no pattern, unless it’s some sort of country club blazer or regatta blazer.
Suit Jackets
Now, suit jackets are the most formal of the three and they’re manufactured with a matching pair of trousers that’s cut from the same exact material, so they match perfectly. Suit jackets are gonna be more fitting to your body and they’re made from a finer material then a blazer or a sport jacket, Like wool or silk.
So, can you wear a suit jacket in a casual setting like you would a sport jacket? Technically… it’s considered sort of a faux pas to wear a suit jacket as a sport jacket. The reason is, because most suit jackets are made with finer material, you can tell it’s a suit jacket and it just looks a little off, especially when you try to pair it up with denim. It’s basically too nice. It’s like wearing shiny patent leather shoes with cotton chinos. It just doesn’t look right.
