My Hunt for a Smart, Tailored, Working Girl–Fantasy Blazer
Since watching Working Girl for the first time around a decade ago, I have wanted a blazer like Melanie Griffith’s or Sigourney Weaver’s. (More than I wanted to tell a stranger who reminded me of Harrison Ford about my “head for business and bod for sin.”) Not necessarily a shoulder-padded blazer exactly as worn by Tess McGill or Katharine Parker, but one that was tailored to perfection. I’d like nothing more than to look as smart and capable as they did.
I came to understand the limitations of something “tailored” off-the-rack during this hunt. I’m curvier and shorter, and anything described as “slim” or “fitted” required me to size up to a 12 or a large (rather than my usual size 10 or medium). I was looking for something with a little bit of a nipped-in waist too. As I learned, the amount of tailoring you’re getting can vary by price — but J.Crew and Buck Mason alike offered flattering darts and back seams. Generally, you’re dealing in more synthetic blends when buying cheaper. There’s a range of blazers from $100 to $575 below — and I considered prices when deciding between favorites. Here’s everything I tried. For reference, I’m about five-two.
My top picks
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I felt like my best self in this blazer, thanks to it hugging me in all the right places.
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Brownie points for the rollable, buttonless sleeves and functional pockets.
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Glorious is the twice-boiled merino wool. It won’t read like a dreaded sweater-blazer, either.
The not-quite rights
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I let out a sigh of disappointment the minute I slipped an arm into this. It was so tight in the sleeve that any slight arm movement pinched. For someone who talks with their hands, it was a problem.
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The Diish Chiara Black Cinched Blazer is better suited for happy hour at 6 p.m. than meeting with your boss at 10 a.m. I can picture Logan Roy telling me I’m not a Serious Person while wearing it. Especially as the buttons kept coming undone.
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We’ve recommended Artizia’s Effortless Pant repeatedly; illustrator Edith Young called it “a work pant for the ages.” Just as promising-sounding was the Standout Blazer — a single-breasted, notch-lapeled wonder. Or so I thought. Aritzia uses its trademarked Eversential, which it describes as a “stretch fabric that holds its form” made with polyester and Lenzing Ecovero viscose sourced from a Portuguese mill. I think I’d prefer the feeling of its Crepette (it’s available in the fabric) — as I found that Eversential wrinkles easily. And I know I don’t have a model’s proportions, but the fit was wildly off. I didn’t even attempt to close it — for fear that a button would pop off.
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Aligne topped our senior Lauren Ro’s hunt for an overcoat last November (passerbys gave her approving once-overs when she was in the George Wrap Coat), so I had high expectations for the brand’s Daphne Double Breasted Blazer and Ponte Blazer. Neither fit me as I hoped they would. Trying to figure out the Daphne’s concealed placket was harder than I imagined — even as someone who’s mastered the art of zipping herself up without needing a wire hanger. I couldn’t get any of the buttons buttoned. If I could’ve, I would’ve gotten a U.K. size 16 (equivalent to a U.S. 12) rather than a U.K. size 14 (equivalent to a U.S. 10), but it was sold out over the course of my hunt. And the Ponte (in a U.K. 14/U.S. 10) did me no favors. The seam at the waistline didn’t hit at my natural waist (it was just an inch too high).
The almost-theres
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Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but I hoped this might be the closest thing to an American Gigolo Armani suit, as it’s inspired by the silhouettes of the ‘70s. Alas, it was not to be. The longer I stared at myself in it, the more questions I had, including Am I really that broad-shouldered? It was just too boxy. If you’re considering, size down (this is the size 10).
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All I kept thinking when wearing the Banana Republic Slim Italian Lightweight Wool Blazer was it’s fine. Not bad by any means. Just something nondescript for your first internship. It didn’t help that it was crushed in my full clothing rack. The fabric showed wrinkles more obviously than others I tried.
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While more waist-accentuating than the Banana Republic Slim Blazer, the Quince Italian Wool Stand Collar Blazer was just okay. This might be a selling point to you: It’s vaguely Rag & Bone-y. Annoyingly, the collar flopped constantly.
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The waist-defining princess seams of Modern Citizen’s Marina Wool-Blend Sculpted Blazer do everything they’re supposed to do. What an hourglass shape they gave me. If only I didn’t feel like an overstuffed grape when fully buttoned up. It would’ve reminded me of Christian Dior’s 1947 Bar Suit otherwise.
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I let out a squeal when I opened the package containing Argent’s Collared Blazer. It’s a painfully beautiful garment. To my great disappointment, it was a smidge tight. Even when I sized up to a 12. It took all my willpower to get through the row of buttons. I usually buy blazers with the intention of wearing them open, but for $575, I ought to be able to keep it closed.
The runners-up
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I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: The inner textile nerd in me appreciates the good old-fashioned craftsmanship of Buck Mason. The quality’s there with the Hollywood Blazer. The Shetland wool it’s made of comes from Yorkshire’s Abraham Moon & Sons (established in 1837). You can’t help feeling like you’ve moved up a tax bracket in it. That said, it reminds me of a sport coat a thoughtful boyfriend would put over your shoulders when waiting for a B train after a wedding. You know, too big. Had I known better, I would’ve called in a size eight instead of the ten.
[Editor’s note: Some sizes are sold out right now, but you can sign up to receive an email when your size is back in stock.]
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Buck Mason’s Felted Wool Shrunken Graduate Blazer harkens back to the tailoring of the 1940s. I worried that the twice-boiled merino wool would have sweater-blazer connotations. It doesn’t! I’m a retired, distinguished linguistics professor in this. It made me want to talk in a Transatlantic accent.
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From the new Uniqlo:C by Clare Waight Keller (Uniqlo’s creative director since 2024; formerly, Pringle of Scotland and Givenchy) comes the Double Face Tailored Jacket. It was delivered at the eleventh hour yesterday. I texted a photo to my mom (who wouldn’t hesitate to tell me if something fits incorrectly) for a second opinion, and she replied with a restrained “looking good.” It’s less relaxed than I imagined in the Medium. It’s officially “unisex,” but available in women’s sizes XXS to XXL. I liked the easily rollable, buttonless sleeves and the functional pockets (only the Buck Mason Felted Wool Shrunken Graduate Blazer has them too).
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Oh, how wonderfully Admiral Crepe (blend of a blend of polyester and triacetate) drapes. It did miracles for me. Never did I feel it was too soft. It held the form of the Cutaway Jacket. Impeccable clean lines. But it ain’t cheap at $495.
The winner
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I can’t remember the last time a mall brand got tailoring this right. J.Crew’s Margeaux Blazer has sharp padding, great nipping at the waist, and it hugged me in all the right places. I felt like I belonged on the cover of a first-edition Dress for Success.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
