Come rain or shine, there is one wardrobe staple that every gentleman needs when he heads out of his castle into the volatility of a British summer; the blazer. If, like me, you choose to mix up the basics with a staple piece, then a statement blazer is a great addition to a wardrobe; layer it up over block colours to look effortlessly smart for any occasion. Just remember to shop summer rather than winter and to choose your brands carefully.
Hardy Amies are no strangers to producing excellent tailored pieces for almost any occasion, and this Grey Herringbone Cotton Blazer is no exception. The brand will always pay respect to the heritage of the name in their choice of material and craftsmanship, but try to steer clear of conformity in their production of standout pieces. Doing away with the lining, all of the focus is on the beautiful crafted panels, which carry enough weight to fit well to the body, but not too much to bother you should the sun come out. It is quite rare to find a double-breasted blazer that is suited for the summer months and, as a big fan of the double rather than a single, I jumped at the chance to wear this one both outside and inside the stately Cliveden House. The jacket may be unstructured, but the Slim Heddon fit ensures a smart silhouette and the Italian-woven fabric gives the piece that luxury feel.
In terms of what to pair the Grey Herringbone Blazer with, it is unsurprisingly very versatile and can be worn with the majority of the remaining colour palette. For me, a subtle shade of pink was a no brainer and, when paired with white jeans and black shoes, it completed an understated, yet smart, look. I may even keep it on rotation through to Autumn and Winter; a tee being subbed out a block colour roll-neck, of course.
You can shop the Hardy Amies collection here with a number of amazing pieces, including this blazer, currently on sale. Alternatively, head down to their flagship store on 8 Savile Row if you want to see just how good they are up close and in person.
