The way we need to dress for work and for play has shifted markedly in recent times. Long gone are the days of suits being mandatory for the office, and with more people than ever working from home, comfort is invariably the number one priority. But, there will be occasions when smarter, tailored clothing is required. Whether it’s for a big meeting, a job interview or an evening out at a bar or restaurant, a sharp blazer and trousers are a worthy wardrobe addition.

The Casual Wool Blazer is, in short, arguably the most versatile piece of tailoring you could own. It firmly falls on the casual end of the spectrum, yes, but for 80% of scenarios, it’ll work every time. You wouldn’t, for example, wear it to court, and it may be too laid back for groomsmen to wear at a wedding, but for everything else it’s more than appropriate. And it’s comfortable. Like, knitwear comfortable. Throw it on and it feels more like your favourite old cardigan than it does a tailored blazer. This can be attributed to two things. Firstly, the construction, which is almost entirely unlined and features no padding anywhere. The shoulders are soft and follow the natural contours of your upper back, while the chest is all fabric, with no canvassing at all. This means the blazer drapes well and allows for plenty of movement. It doesn’t shape the wearer like something more built up; it compliments your body, rather than defines it.

It’s understandable though that you might not want to invest in a full, office-ready suit, when it might only get worn a handful of times throughout the year. Enter, The Casual Wool Blazer in our exclusive UK-woven Basket Weave. This is the adaptable, do (nearly) anything jacket you can wear for work, play and everything in between. It’s super-soft, totally unstructured and made from a beautiful basketweave wool, which moves with you rather than against you. It might well be the only blazer you need.

The Casual Wool Blazer is, in short, arguably the most versatile piece of tailoring you could own. It firmly falls on the casual end of the spectrum, yes, but for 80% of scenarios, it’ll work every time. You wouldn’t, for example, wear it to court, and it may be too laid back for groomsmen to wear at a wedding, but for everything else it’s more than appropriate. And it’s comfortable. Like, knitwear comfortable. Throw it on and it feels more like your favourite old cardigan than it does a tailored blazer. This can be attributed to two things. Firstly, the construction, which is almost entirely unlined and features no padding anywhere. The shoulders are soft and follow the natural contours of your upper back, while the chest is all fabric, with no canvassing at all. This means the blazer drapes well and allows for plenty of movement. It doesn’t shape the wearer like something more built up; it compliments your body, rather than defines it.

Thanks to its unstructured design and soft, comfortable fabric, The Casual Wool Blazer has something of an Italian feel to it. This is also furthered by its relatively short length and the patch pockets, which are often favoured by the great Italian tailoring houses for their informality. This is a jacket that would be right at home on the Riviera, and it certainly wouldn’t stifle the wearer under the heat thanks to its comfort and breathability. But, when finished in navy, it’s equally at home in the city, slotting effortlessly into your weekday rotation, replacing more traditional jackets. Indeed, once you try one of these on, you’ll find it difficult to go back to something more structured, such is its ease and the softness of its fabric. Speaking of which, let's delve a little further into it for a moment.

The fabric is a mid-weight basketweave wool, woven with both dark blue and black threads. This gives it plenty of texture and a rich dark blue colour that has a soft sheen in certain light. It’s a fairly open, breathable fabric, so while it feels robust and thick enough to keep you warm in changeable conditions, it also won’t overwhelm you. As for the overall design itself, we’ve purposefully kept things classic, going for notch lapels, a single vented rear and handy patch pockets up front. The pockets feature subtle rounded edges, mirroring the curve on the jacket’s hem, while the top corners of each one have been double stitched for added security. There’s also a hidden pocket within the pocket on the right hand side, perfect for storing a wallet or passport if you’re travelling.

Turn the jacket inside out and the same attention to detail is present. Every seam is bound, ensuring there are no rough or unfinished edges on show, resulting in that familiar clean, minimal look that we pride ourselves on. The rear vent is even double folded and overlocked to help achieve this. This is an entirely unnecessary detail, and far more time consuming than leaving it unfinished, but it demonstrates how far we’re willing to go to achieve perfection.

Elsewhere, the arms are lined with a silky viscose in our signature copper colour, making it easy to slip the jacket on and off. A buggy lining at the collar houses the label, while the hanger loop hides under the collar itself, its two copper rivets flashing gold when it’s turned.

This jacket may be casual in its style and finish, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be dressed up. Far from it. For smart casual occasions where a full suit isn’t required; say, the office, a wedding reception, party or dinner, it’s perfect. Wear it as part of a tonal look and combine it with navy tailored trousers, a midnight roll neck and black leather derbies or loafers. Or, go the whole hog and pair it with a chambray shirt and knitted tie for a look that’s sophisticated and sharp, yet comfortable. The beauty of this blazer though is the fact it can easily be dressed down. Its cardigan-like credentials ensures it wears just as well with jeans or utility trousers, a T-shirt and trainers. Layer it under a larger overcoat or parka, or wear it on its own. It really can do it all.