In the interest of learning how our clothing can be styled in many different ways, I thought I would have us give examples of what to wear under a blazer.

Quote of the day: “The way to help someone is not to critique what makes them smaller, but to encourage what makes them larger.” James Clear.

The casual edition.

Because as professional women, we’ve all worn our blazers in the work environment.

Heck, many of us purged most of them when we retired.

But I find that they can be just as fabulous in our Retirement Lifestyle.

My crew came up with 3 ideas for what to wear under a blazer that gives off a fun vibe and lends itself to a casual day.

I would venture to say that each of these layering choices has its own personality. And that should be the goal of each and every one of our outfits.
Does your outfit tell people about your personality?

Pro shopping tip: I find inexpensive blazers while thrifting and/or at Marshalls and TJ Maxx always have great options.

1. Jodie-The Solid T-Shirt: The Details Add Whimsey

If you love a no-fuss, easygoing vibe that still looks put-together, a solid t-shirt under a blazer is your best bet. This is one of the easiest ways to create a polished, casual outfit with minimal effort.

Insider tip: The best way to take this from ho-hum to outstanding is to add in a bunch of extras/accessories.

How I styled it:

• Brown and orange are hard for me to style because they are my high school colors. So the addition of the silver jeans made it seem modern. Notice how the silver jeans almost look like a shiny white or light grey.
• The shoes are bronze yet work wonderfully with the silver jeans. Yes, it’s good to pair metal colors.
• The belt adds interest since the t-shirt is plain.

Insider tip: These elastic-type belts are easy to wear because they have stretch.

Details:

• I used a collection of orangy brooches to add spice to the blazer.
• My newest Target earrings add a ton of whimsy to the look.
• Finding a purse where I can change out the straps has been a no-brainer.
• Rolling up the blazer sleeves makes the item seem more casual.

Insider tip: Both v-neck and crew neck t-shirts would be a fabulous option of what to wear under a blazer. Don’t obsess about one over the other.

2. Valerie-The Striped Button-Down: A Play on Patterns

For those who love a bit more structure but still want a casual look, a striped button-down is a great layering piece. Stripes add a touch of pattern without overwhelming the outfit, and they work beautifully with blazers for a polished-meets-relaxed look.

How Valerie styled it:

• Let’s give a standing ovation for Valerie mixing prints this way and with such creative layering. I absolutely ADORE how she wore the crochet vest over the striped blouse and under the striped blazer.
• These “joggers” from my favorite local boutique, Just Be Youtiful, are incredible. She has similar types of them every season because they work for women of all sizes and are super duper comfy. AND they are reasonably priced. Because they can be cuffed, they don’t need hemming if you’re on the short side and the waist is a pull-up type. Visit her FB page, reach out to ask her what sizes/styles she has, and use my code, JTOUCH15, for a discount. She does ship in the US.
• Another fabulous aspect of Valerie’s look is how she added a completely different color for her accessories and even footwear.

Details:

• To continue the intention with the bright pink necklace and earrings, Valerie added a bright pink scarf to her purse.
• The reason the 2 striped tops work so well together is they are different sizes (just like she styled with different sized polka dots recently).
• Light pink sneakers keep the bottom half light yet still add color.

Notice how Valerie’s pants are more of a tan/ivory while the white in her blue and white striped pieces is white. It’s very modern to mix white and ivory that way. It’s no different than how you can combine navy and black.

And if you’re not a fan of button-up shirts, there are many vertical striped tops that have no buttons.

3. Cathie-The Graphic Tee: Fun and Playful

Want to add a little personality and fun to your blazer outfit? A graphic tee is the way to go! It’s the ultimate cool-girl move that gives your outfit an edgy, modern twist while still keeping it casual.

How Cathie styled it:

• Cathie was in a pink mood for this outfit. The pink on the graphic tee, the purse, and the sneakers pull everything together fabulously.
• The style of her blazer is more relaxed just like the boyfriend blazers we’ve styled in the past..
• Jeans and a T-shirt get an upgrade as part of what to wear under a blazer. There’s no sloppiness here!

Details:

• Choose a graphic tee with a fun design, meaningful quote, or vintage-style print.
• Keep the tee untucked for an even more casual approach.
• Make sure the jeans are short enough to showcase the cute sneakers (Cathie has 4 different colors of these sneakers…they are that comfy and fabulous).
• Even with a graphic tee, necklaces are a good idea. Layered delicate necklaces are very trendy.

This is the ultimate way to take a blazer from serious to playful in an instant. If you love adding a touch of fun to your outfits, a graphic tee is a must-try!

Final Thoughts: What to Wear Under a Blazer for Retirement

A blazer doesn’t have to be reserved for office wear. No sense in throwing out clothes when we retire. I always think it’s best to figure out ways to wear them for our laidback lifestyle. In fact, it’s been a popular theme on my site where Lesley wore a blazer, I wore a pencil skirt and my mom wore a button down shirt.

There are many casual options of what to wear under a blazer that will feel perfect for your non-working life.

Whether you’re opting for a classic solid t-shirt, a structured striped button-down, or a fun and edgy graphic tee, there’s no wrong way to do it.
And heck, there are more options besides these.

The key is to experiment and have fun with different combinations to see how you can get creative with your closet and make sure you LOVE your clothes.
How you dress is a tool for a wonderful life.

As much as I love my site, Jodie’s Touch of Style, I really enjoy putting together my daily emails. I consider my emails an extension of my blog that is chocked full of positive inspiration that one friend calls a “Variety Show.”
I include articles, videos, and posts that strike my fancy and since I have no siblings to share with, I share with you.

Insider info: If daily emails are too much, you can opt into just getting them on Saturday. I appreciate any support.

Photo credit: Rob Filogomo

Did you like what you just read?

Consider buying me a coffee as a thank you. The best gift you can give a content creator is the gift of sharing or supporting. You could share this article on Facebook, or Pinterest or even email it to a friend. Thank you so much for your support!!

Thank You

 I hope I thank you enough because your support allows me to continue this journey which I LOVE!!!
Supporting a blog can be easy and free. Just visiting my pages, clicking my links (especially for Small Businesses and sponsored posts), and sharing the things you like on your social media make a huge difference. Spreading the word is how I can reach more wonderful people like you!  

Welcome to Jodie’s Touch of Style. I’m here to prove that it’s never too late to look great. Clothing and style are meant to showcase your inner personality. So let’s have fun and try new things.

It’s not just about me on this blog, but also my crew. We get to showcase not only different decades of life but also different body shapes and unique personal styles.

The post What To Wear Under A Blazer-Casual Options appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.

Jodie Filogomo Fashion Stylist

Jodie's Touch of Style showcases how it's never too late to look great including other older women and myself talking about fashion, beauty, and lifestyle issues.

As a retired dentist, Jodie takes her love of clothing and shopping and has come to find her superpowers in styling the same item in many ways. She is also a huge advocate for embracing our age and bodies. Getting old is a wonderful thing and learning to love ourselves while it happens is very freeing.

Looking great can happen no matter what age, shape or budget, as we show on Jodie's Touch of Style.