Ask the Editor: Capitol Hill Committee Chic

Like many of you, I am closely following the proceedings of the January 6th Committee.  And like many of you, I watched Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony and thought, “Where did this brave American get those fabulous blazers?”

Oh, we’re going to pretend that was just me?  Not according to my inbox.

Hi!  I know this is not the point, but Cassidy Hutchinson’s blazers are fabulous. Any guesses on brand?

Thanks!! -KR

That e-mail and several more just like it (plus a handful of DMs) hit me by close of business on the day of the hearing.  Because what does Capitol Hill Style stand for if it isn’t the principle that one can be chic and do good for America at the same time?

And while I don’t know the maker of Ms. Hutchinson’s exact blazers, this might be a good time to talk about the hallmarks of a good blazer and where to buy them.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Blazer // Not all jackets are created equal.  I’ve seen impeccable tailoring walking the marble halls of Rayburn and Dirksen, but I’ve also seen blazers that look like an intern pulled them out of the bottom of a hamper after a long night out at the Tune Inn.

First, a blazer should be lined.  Sometimes summer-weight blazers are unlined (“gutted”) or partially lined along the shoulders (“half-back”), but I prefer a full liner.  A fully lined jacket will hold its shape better and won’t wrinkle as easily.  It’s less important what the liner is made out of — most will be a poly material or rayon — but the heavier the liner, the smoother a jacket will lay on the body.

Second, a good blazer should feel a certain way both on the hanger and on your body.  I want the material to be on the thicker side when I hold it between my fingers.  I want it to feel nice to the touch.  I want to look at the stitching and see straight seams that lay flat (puckering and rippling are bad, but a lot of cheaper jackets look that way fresh out of the package or after a few wears).  And I want to put the jacket on and feel the weight of it, the construction of it.

Third, the cut of the blazer should complement the shape the body.  I know the trend right now is toward boxy cuts, but I like a blazer that has some form to it.  And even before tailoring, a well-sewn blazer should have a bit of shape.

As for the cut that works for your body type, this guide by the Girl from Panama is the most helpful one that I have ever seen. This guide from 40+ Style also has some helpful tips.  But try on a few styles to find which one most flatters your body.  As a girl with hips and a small bust, I find one-button styles that fall at the high-hip suit me best.

Fourth, tailoring can make a good or okay blazer a great blazer.  If I buy a really nice blazer, I always buy it one size bigger and have it nipped and tucked to fit.  A few darts, a slight raise in the sleeve length, even the smallest alterations can make a difference. Corporette has an older post on how blazers should fit.

Need a tailor in D.C.?  Cheryl Lofton on T Street was my go-to when I lived there (and for three years after when I traveled there regularly).  If you live in a city with a Nordstrom, they will tailor anything you bring them, but they sometimes charge handsomely for it.

Where to Buy Good Blazers // Recently, I’ve been buying blazers on Poshmark.  Why?  For a time when the pandemic was waning, you couldn’t find blazers in the store, and I was buying old Ann Taylor, J.Crew, BOSS, etc. gently used, sizing up because vanity sizing is real.  (It’s how I’ve gained 30lbs in 10 years and only one dress size.)

I’ve raved about this Double-Breasted Blazer from Banana for months, and I still love it as much as I did when I bought it.  Banana has some lovely blazers right now, including the same cut in camel, black or navy.  They keep trying to sell us linen, which I wish they (and every other retailed for professional women) would stop.

Iris & Ink is the in-house brand for The Outnet.  I own this twill blazer in china blue, and it’s a nice summer weight.  I&I will have great blazers for fall, but Outnet is one of my top places for finding designer pieces for less.  Their blazer section is a bit of an Easter Egg hunt, but I would buy this IRO blazer right this second.

Cinq e Sept makes a phenomenal blazer.  I’m showing their Khloe jacket in hot pink so you can see the details, but it comes in a wide array of colors.  They also make a boucle version, which I own in cornflower blue, and I adore it.  (One of my top five purchases of the past year.)

And now that I see Saks has my size in the off-white boucle, I will be buying that for winter.  Damn, this was an expensive post to write, but some opportunities cannot be passed up.

For a size inclusive, mid-price option, I hear excellent things about Good American.  I haven’t bought one of their blazers yet (I wanted this belted one from the Anniversary Sale, but it sold out), but I hear really good things about them from the right influencers.  You know, the ones who might actually wear a blazer to an office.

Lastly, if you like impeccable tailoring and simplicity, don’t sleep on Reiss.  I have two blazers from there, but I would have 20.

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As for other places to buy a blazer — Ann Taylor is solid, the J.Crew Regent blazer is sublime in every color (runs to size 24) — but for me, I hit the sale sections at that posh retailers.  I want to see what Saks, Neiman’s, Nordstrom have on offer.  I also like to take a trip through Selfridge’s and Harrod’s because the Brits just do workwear better than we do.  And to round out this merry band, I like Rebecca Taylor though she’s not stocking as many blazers as she once did.

My last piece of advice for blazers is this: you should feel powerful when you put on a good blazer.  It should feel like a superhero cape.  If it feels ‘meh’, that’s because it is.

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