I own so many solid-colored blazers — black, navy, gray, light blue, white, ivory — the colors go on forever and ever, amen. But sometimes a solid won’t do. Enter, plaid. It’s colorful without being overwhelming. You can choose a big print or a small print. Bold colors are available, so are neutrals. It’s a stylish way to do something different without blowing up the box.
Blazer. A plaid blazer can be one of the hardest-working pieces you own, but only if it goes with what’s already in your closet. Before you buy, open your closet and look at what you actually wear. Are your pants mostly navy, black, camel, or gray? Are your tops cream, burgundy, navy or forest green? Pick a plaid that has those colors in it. That way, it pairs easily with what you own instead of becoming one more orphan you never wear.
I chose this Veronica Beard plaid blazer because it has shades of blue and espresso, which will pair well with the chocolate brown pants I already own and the blue tops that fill my closet. For a bolder color palette, this Boden blazer fits the bill. I also found this more neutral blazer with a hint of rust. And this dark, extremely neutral blazer from Mango. But my favorite is this Goldilocks blazer with shades of hunter green that comes inclusively sized for the misses, petite, plus, and petite plus ladies.
Top. Pulling the pale blue from the blazer, I chose this poplin blouse from H&M (that I also immediately purchased). It’s selling out in a hurry, so I also pulled this chambray-look blouse from Nordstrom and this Aritzia blouse without the bow. For something more neutral, go dark brown or dark blue.
Jeans. Admittedly, the cuffs are a bold choice. Dramatic, cool, a definite statement. Wear them with any top and a cool shoe and the look is instantly elevated. I chose this cuffed pair from Banana Republic for the price and the style. Stick with dark denim here for a super cool look, skip the lighter washes. For a more inclusively sized option, try Good American.
Shoes. The other start of the show are the shoes. These chunky loafers were everywhere at the 2026 Legislative Session in WA. I didn’t need a black pair (because I like my office looks sleek), but a brown pair to wear casually, you have my attention. I bought this pair from Franco Sarto same day I wrote this post. I also bought the even chunkier Sarika loafers. I will report back on which ones I keep. But a chunky shoe just feels like a cool, casual, non-sneaker option for a business casual office.
Accessories. Simple earrings don’t have to be plain. These ones from Mejuri are really cool without being dangly or overly feminine. I also added a pair of simple, dark sunglasses. The dark shoe, with the dark bag, plus the dark sunglasses gives us a very chic “sandwich look” that looks incredibly intentional, but also effortless. Speaking of the bag, Cuyana has the best mid-price basic bags. I own three, and they are the perfect option for when you need a work bag, but you don’t commute on foot. I can get by with so much less because I have a car now, so I only need room for essentials.
Styling. Hair up with this is going to look overly school marm. I suggest down and natural. Same with the makeup. Though, if you choose a very neutral blazer, you’re going to need cheek and lip color to liven the look.
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