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A gray and white blazer doesn't have to look boring. With the right accompanying pieces, it can look pretty bangin'. Just consider color and shape when sizing up potential pairings for your blazer, and you'll blaze — get it? — brightly and stylishly in no time.
Top-notch Tops
When deciding what to wear beneath your blazer, stick to slim-cut tops that open up the neck area. Anything too high, like a turtleneck or a high crewneck, can make your blazer look stuffy, not stylish. Try a scoop neck, square neck or V-neck instead to keep the look modern. Also avoid thick sweaters underneath, which will only make your figure look bulky.
Blazer-friendly Bottoms
The key here is balancing shapes and sizes. If your blazer is on the slim and fitted side, feel free to sport it with either slim-fitting pants — think skinny jeans or leggings — or wide-leg or trouser-cut pants. Even boot-cut or flared pants will do; because your top is slim, you can play with extra volume on the bottom. If your blazer doesn't fit close to the body or has a boxy look, then steer clear of wide or loose-fitting bottoms, because the look can get sloppy pretty quickly. Instead, balance the bulkier shape — and show off your legs — with a pair of skinny jeans or leggings. Dress shorts, because they show skin, can work well even if they're a bit baggy, as will a skirt that hits a couple of inches above the knee. A knee-length or longer skirt with a boxy blazer risks looking schoolmarmy.
Cues for Color
If your blazer is on the pale side, you'll want to work with light shades that won't overpower it. Pastel pinks, blues, purples — and pretty much any other pale colors — will look cute peeking out beneath a light gray blazer. If you're donning a darker shade of gray, you'll need shades that can stand up to it; think rich autumn shades, such as burnt orange, burgundy, mustard yellow and mossy green. Shades like this will complement the gray in your blazer, while super-bright electrics or neons can overpower it.
Nothin' But Neutral
Of course, you can never go wrong with a good neutral. Because your blazer is gray and white, it will work well with black and various shades of brown. Even a light gray blazer will be set off, not overpowered, by a pair of slim black pants, because it's technically a noncolor — as is white, which is why there is less of a focus here on coordinating with it than there is on gray. Turn light gray lovely with the addition of a cream-colored top or khaki bottoms; because cream has a hint of yellow, it will warm up the gray of your blazer. Coffee- or chocolate-brown pants will make deep gray look delicious, as will shades like chestnut or ginger.
