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Last month, a red carpet look at the BET Awards caught my eye that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
Actor Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick) showed up wearing a peak lapel, double-breasted tuxedo jacket, black leather boots, and light wash jeans.
Whew! When I tell you I swooned.
I took to Instagram like a millennial Sherlock Holmes and quickly discovered that Ellis had worked with one of my favorite celebrity stylists, Courtney Mays, on the awards show ‘fit.
What worked so well? The outfit felt dressy and special — definitely red carpet-worthy — while at the same time, Ellis looked totally at ease and confident.
After that, I kept noticing this “high-low” outfit mix of a dressy jacket with light wash jeans — even at the same awards show! — so I started to save them to a folder on my phone.
Finally, I thought to myself, Let’s share this trend on Style Girlfriend so men know it’s one women love to see them wearing!
I DM’d Mays — because that’s what you do when you have the password to the @styleGF Instagram account —and she graciously answered my questions about the look, and how you can achieve the style off the red carpet.
Learn how to pull off a blazer and jeans outfit for yourself:
For this look, Mays took “a bit of inspiration from the iconic image of Ralph Lauren, as well as the icon that is ’90s Denzel Washington street style.”
The result? An outfit that landed the actor on more than one best dressed list.
“I think in a space where a lot of fashion feels performative,” said Mays, “we wanted Jay’s look to feel timeless, nostalgic and effortless.”
Lady Gaga and Kevin Jonas follow the formula
More recently, Kevin Jonas and Lady Gaga put their own spin on the dark jacket and light wash jeans look.
Mays says, “A pair of vintage denim is a great way to break up a suit or tuxedo jacket. I’m also a huge fan of using the trousers from your suit as the foundation for a look. Styling back to a tee or crewneck sweater always works.”
Feel free to skip Gaga’s platform stilettos and stick to a black leather boot à la Jonas and Ellis.
Andrew Scott in a blazer, white tank, and light rinse denim
Actor Andrew Scott put his own spin on the trend with a checked blazer and white tank.
How to pull this look off in your own life? Mays points to an accessible tip that too many guys ignore.
“Fit is paramount! No matter the brand or price-point of the suit, make the extra investment to get the necessary tailoring. Dry cleaners can be a great, cost friendly resource for this.
Some people found Team USA’s opening ceremony uniforms too preppy in 2024, though I loved them, and thought flag bearer LeBron James looked especially sharp in his outfit.
James (and fellow flag bearer Coco Gauff) wore a classic, tailored single-breasted wool blazer with red and white tipping was paired with a striped oxford shirt, tapered light wash jean and a classic suede buck shoe.
Usher in a white dinner jacket and jeans
Also at the BET Awards rocking a blazer and jeans combo? Usher, there to receive the ceremony’s lifetime achievement award.
Below, shop the blazer and jeans outfit formula:
Crosby Classic-fit dinner jacket in Italian wool, $550
A tuxedo jacket can be repurposed for a more casual look when worn with light wash jeans.
Make sure your jeans fit well — not too snug, but not too loose and baggy, either. A straight-leg fit is a safe, yet stylish, bet.
bLAZERs
A tuxedo jacket isn’t necessary to pull off the blazer and jeans look. A double-breasted sport coat, in fact, may feel like an easier entry point into this trend-forward outfit formula.
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