A white blazer is a tricky item of clothing. It's perhaps the most challenging piece in a man's closet - or at least in mine. Pick one that doesn't fit right and you could be mistaken for a mental case in a straitjacket. Wear a version that's the wrong shade and you could be a dental assistant. And for those who are carrying some extra weight, Michelin Man comparisons aren't far away.
I have three white blazers in my wardrobe that I've bought in the past few years. They range from the high street variety to the designer kind. None of them have gone past my front door. I like the idea of them, but I haven't been brave enough to wear them out in public.
Last weekend, I thought a lot about how to make white blazers work. Having the right fit is very important, of course. It cannot be too tight or loose, and needs to be snug without obvious crunch marks. It should not wrinkle around the upper chest area, because that would mean that it's not the right size. And there should also be enough wiggle room for the arms without the fabric bunching up on the shoulders.
Gucci has a white suit in its spring 2009 collection that you can wear from top to toe or in parts. If you choose to wear just the jacket, pair it with a shirt in a solid colour such as navy, pink or my personal favourite, brown. Not a lot of people like to wear white with brown, but it's a stylish alternative to nautical white and blue. Skip hibiscus print shirts as they will ruin the look. Finish it with well-worn jeans, a ribbon belt from Ralph Lauren and brown or chocolate loafers. Avoid wearing your white blazer with a black button-down shirt, jeans with whiskers and white accessories, otherwise you'll look like a mafioso reject.
Calvin Klein also has a number of well-cut white suits that will never be mistaken for a lab coat, including a style speckled with paint.
I like Tommy Hilfiger's double-breasted white sports jacket, paired with navy trousers on the runway. It reminds me of a young Gianni Agnelli or Lapo Elkann, depending on one's generational reference.
