Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
Linen! Seersucker! Cotton pique! Eyelet! There are a million varieties on the lightweight summer blazers — we thought we’d round up some of the best. (Here’s our 2016 roundup of summer blazers, 2014 roundup of linen blazers, our 2013 roundup of white blazers, and our 2012 roundup of summer blazers.) Ladies, what do you look for when buying a blazer for a hot summer?
{related: the best blazers for women}
Update: Where to Find Lightweight Blazers Now
Hunting for lightweight blazers in linen and other fabrics? As of 2023, J.Crew’s Parke blazer is available in linen, as is this super affordable Quince blazer. Along related lines (all machine washable!), check out Uniqlo’s Airsense jacket (lightweight and stretchy), Madewell’s Drapeweave line (lightweight and drapey) and Brooks Brothers’ Soft Icons line (lightweight and drapey).
(For my $.02, these kinds of blazers are perfect for casual days at the office, as well as summer associate outdoor events where you know not to wear a suit but aren’t too sure what else to wear — use a lightweight blazer to top a basic sheath dress and look professional at an outdoor cocktail party; bring it along to an event where you’re only 90% sure jeans and a t-shirt are ok.)
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 This bright (bright!) cotton pique blazer from Anne Klein is so fun — it also comes in a white, though. It’s available in sizes 0-16 at Amazon for $70-$80. (If you like the bright colors and pricepoint, this pique Limited blazer comes in similarly bright colors, and has petite and tall sizing available.) Anne Klein Women’s 2 Button Cotton Pique Jacket |
 This lined linen-blend blazer from ASOS looks fresh and cool — the peachy pink color is fabulous. It’s $73 at Asos, available in sizes 1-14. ASOS Linen Blazer |
 Chambray feels like it’s gotten so huge lately — but I guess it was always a (casual) classic. I love this dark blue chambray blazer from Ann Taylor — the color is really fabulous. It’s $159, available in petite and regular sizes 00-14. Ann Taylor Chambray Jacket |
 I always think of Vince Camuto’s stretch cotton blazer as being a summer classic (and I love the light blue color this season, available in regular and plus sizes), but this draped white blazer also looks kind of great for summer (and less wrinkly than the more expensive Becky blazer). The white version is so popular there is a waitlist for it in regular sizes; but it’s still in stock for lucky petite sizes. (It also comes in black in both size ranges.) It’s $169. Vince Camuto Drape Front Blazer |
 I’m not usually a fan of epaulettes, but for Burberry Brit and this blazer, I’ll consider them. I love the texture to this linen blazer — the color is also great. It’s $595 at Saks, but note that Nordstrom has limited sizes on sale for $475. Burberry Brit ‘Bromworth’ Linen Blazer |
| My first reaction to this: OhmygodthisisfabulousIlooooooveit… It’s a stretch linen, I love the tailored look and I think the print would be amazing for hiding the inevitable wrinkles that come with linen. It’s (gulp) $1,890 at Moda Operandi. Nina Ricci Printed Stretch-Linen Blazer |
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Coach Laura
I look for lightweight jackets with a bit of stretch and 3/4 sleeves are nice too. I refuse to wear linen because it looks like a mess after wearing for five minutes and it’s not that hot here in the PNW. But I’ll have to check into linen prints and/or stretch linen as that might ameliorate the wrinkling problem.
bridget
I’ve found that long blazers and ones with bulky pockets are extremely unflattering on me. Maybe I’m just more of a jacket person.
NYNY
Saw this on Cap Hill Style today: Ann Taylor is having a 50% off sale if you use the code SECRET50. Went to the site and saw a 40% off code, but the 50 works. If you’re interested in #3, it’s a good deal.
HSAL
I normally despise chambray, but I actually like this one, and at 50% off, it’s very tempting…
Katniss Everdeen
Kat: Is there any way that you could collect links for these posts without doing the series of description-less links? (e.g., “here, here, here”). I would love to see what you’ve rounded up, but I can’t just click through on all the links in the hopes it’s something I’ll like.
Me, too
Two of the “here” links in the under $100 line are the Anne Klein and the ASOS blazers mentioned in the body of the post. It seems unnecessary to list them both places.
AttiredAttorney
Yes. Could you post little thumbnail pictures instead? Perhaps similar to what you’ve done for Nordstrom roundup sales?
Anonymous Poser
I am not a mom, but I like washable options :-) Sorry to just try to add another category…not sure how much interest there would be…
Anonymous
I found this great white blazer from Target the other day (http://www.target.com/p/women-s-ponte-blazer-merona/-/A-16645151) and I’m trying to decide whether to go for it or the Caslon one for a light summer blazer. I’m a law student and I’ll be summering with a public interest org, but I’m thinking of doing private practice next summer. Which do you think is more versatile for its budge-consciousness?