THE VELVET BLAZER:

Let me tell you a truth. Every well dressed man has a velvet jacket in his wardrobe, period. Any given evening look you are trying to achieve will only be enhanced and made better with a velvet blazer. A velvet blazer takes its heritage from the smoking jacket. A modern velvet blazer, like the smoking jacket, is still constructed out of silk and velvet and can have a shawl collar. But that is where the similarities end. We don't want the turn up cuffs, toggles, and embroidered detailing anymore. You are not Cary Grant. A velvet jacket offers a louche look to any evening occasion. Buy your velvet blazer in black. Once you own black, midnight navy and maroon are the next best choices. The velvet blazer pictured is by Yves Saint Laurent. It is perfect in every way; double breasted, double vents, and silk peak lapel. If your velever blazer is not a shawl collar then it must be a peak collar. A velvet blazer should be relatively unstructured. You do not want to look like an ironing board. With any item of clothing you want to take a lot of care when buying. Once put on forget about it and enjoy yourself. Lastly, spend big on this jacket. You will probably be able to count on one hand the number of velvet blazers you will own in your lifetime. Be a cut above, wear a velvet blazer. JB