While the terms are often confused with one another, men’s blazers and sport coats do have one thing in common: they are both worn without matching pants that would qualify them as a suit. The difference in terms lies in their origins. Men’s cotton, linen and wool blazers have a preppy, nautical heritage and are recognized by crested metal buttons and smooth fabric – usually navy or black. Men’s sport coats, on the other hand, are the more earthy counterparts of this genre. Made from stout wool tweeds, houndstooths and herringbones, men’s sport coats trace their beginnings to the English countryside, where they evolved into the official uniform of the hunt. Both sport coats and blazers are casually tailored with patch pockets. Modern versions are often “deconstructed,” meaning sewn with a more natural shoulder. Discriminating shoppers can find an excellent selection of men’s sport coats and blazers from Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Kroon and Jack Victor.
