Q&A: How to Wear a Tweed Jacket
September 17th, 2008
Q: I’ve seen some tweed sports jackets in fashion magazines for men. Is this something that will be in style for Fall? I’ve been looking for a tweed jacket and haven’t had any luck. 
Wool Plaid Tweed Jacket | $328 at J Crew.
by John Liu
A: Yes, tweed does seem to be back, but take care in how you wear it. The tweed jacket can be refreshing and cool, but it needs to be done right.
I think tweed gets a bad rap from old school professors who wear it with patches on the elbows. It can be worn with style, but I’m a bit more classic than the folks at GQ and Esquire, who seem to be pushing tweed as a trend for Fall. I tend to think of tweed as “country” wear, where sophisticates sip on cognac and smoke pipe tobacco while wearing a fine tweed jacket. Maybe that’s just me.
If you want to do tweed in the city at night, you may be able to pull it off with the right fit and complementary clothes. If I had to make one outfit with a tweed jacket, I would start with a medium to charcoal gray tweed jacket (with a slim silhouette, lapels and no patches, of course). Under that tweed jacket, wear a sweater or button-down. And finish the outfit off with a pair of dark denim jeans (navy or black, if you like this Fall’s black jeans trend) or even pinwale cords.
Whatever you do, keep your outfit simple; you’ll already be attracting attention for wearing tweed. Let people admire the cut of your jacket—don’t distract them with a complicated pattern. Oh and contrary to the pictured J Crew example, skip the t-shirt under the tweed blazer look. The wool and the rich tweed texture make this jacket more dressy, and the t-shirt tends to make the look immature, not young. The J Crew guys saved the look by layering the cardigan over the t-shirt.
Style Tip? Or perhaps more precisely, “comfort tip” – the heavier material of tweed makes the jacket both warmer and more formal than, say, a canvas blazer. I’d recommend wearing tweed on cool Autumn and Winter evenings. Also, stick to structured blazers, which will complement the formality of the fabric.
Have a great tip about how to wear a tweed jacket? Share it with us in the comments!
6 Comments Add your own
1. RoddyJones | September 17th, 2008 at 2:51 am
Thanks for this tip! It’s been sometime since I last saw anyone do tweed. I’ve always liked it but it’s one jacket that is very difficult to carry off and get away with.
2. Mel Marcelo | September 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I’ve loved my tweed jacket from 2004 (A&F!!!). I do need to update it to a more fitted-2008 style.
T-shirts do look nasty alone with tweed but I enjoy wearing my jacket with a tee and a nice simple colored or striped buttoned up shirt layered over the tee.
Lately I’ve been layering with some of the thinner cardigans I have from last spring.
Tweed does get a lot of attention–I get comments from tweed admirers. What I like about the material is it separates your jacket from the bargain $49 blazers that are available in mass market stores.
3. Trisha | September 18th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Layering with a thin cardigan - what a great fall transition look. Thanks for sharing, Mel!
4. topher | March 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Tweed is country wear. Not fashion, although it does dress up nicely. In parts of Ireland, tweed jackets are worn on top of overalls by farmers. This is done for warmth. The same tweed jacket may well be worn to services on Sunday, then off to the pub after. No need to clean the pig s*** off, it’s just what people wear.
5. colin sherwood | July 31st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
i ve just bought a harris tweed its like a grey-blue check pattern,it dosent go with anything i have in the wardrobe…i need help
6. Squishy | February 10th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I love the Tweed Jacket look. Im Irish so its not quite just country were. most people have a nice dress jacket and a thicker one as far as fasion goes i have always sported mine with a Vest with a complimenting color or pattern over a grey or black T-shirt and at age 19 it seams to be a very good look and really shows style ……
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