It is now well into sweater weather, and while the majority of your sweater collection should be made up of staples such as basic v-neck and crew-neck options, as well as some shawl cardigans, we recently stumbled upon something that we really love as well. It’s this sweater-blazer from Charles Tyrwhitt ($169). There are a bunch of companies doing something similar these days as these new knit blazers are seemingly all the rage. But — and we have tested a few of these things — we really like the Charles Tyrwhitt one the best.
Style & Design: We really like this whole sweater blazer thing. It’s a way to both perfectly dress up and dress down outfits. Add a little extra, unique, class to an outfit with dark denim and a button down shirt. At the same time, throw this guy on instead of a classic blazer and perfectly dress down a pair of dress trousers and dress shirt/tie. It’s available in a few colors, and the grey seems to be on sale. Both it and the navy are super versatile and go with just about anything. (Grey will go better with black, if you know you wear a lot of that color.) The design of the thing is perfect, too. With patch pockets, and a perfectly proportioned lapel. Unbuttoned, it almost looks like a standard cardigan. As soon as it’s buttoned, though, it elevates the whole look. It really is super versatile and fun to wear. The website promises you’ll wear this thing everywhere, all the time. And, honestly, they’re right. A super fun — and useful — piece. (Bonus detail: the backs of the buttons are super cool. Almost missed this detail, and no idea what the point is, but it’s cool!)
Quality: This is typical CT quality. Nothing to blow your mind, but, for the price, more than respectable. The same thing you would expect from Banana Republic or J Crew. Indeed, if you are familiar with CT shirts, then the level of quality in their knitwear here appears to be much the same. Solid, in other words, but nothing unusually amazing.
Fit: (Note: I am 6’1” and 165 lbs. and usually wear a 15.5” / 34 shirt in a slim or extra slim fit.) Went with a medium, and, out of the box, was somewhat boxy. Threw it through a wash cycle, though, and it now fits perfectly. Nice and trim through the arms. Perfectly length in the torso so as not to be too long to look normal as a sweater, nor too short to work as a blazer. The waist could come in a touch, but I think the bit of extra room adds nicely to the overall laid-back aesthetic here.
Conclusion: This sweater-blazer from Charles Tyrwhitt ($169) is a great deal, and a unique and versatile option for the cooler months this year. Highly recommended purchase.