Features: Perhaps the most important detail on a blazer is the shoulders. A structured shoulder will be stuffed with padding to give it a stronger impression. Light padding will give it a softer shoulder and no padding will give a more casual soft shoulder. On the inside, blazers will either be constructed with a full- or half-lining, or no lining at all. A full canvas lining is heavier and stiffer, but will mold to your body overtime. An unlined blazer is lightweight and more casual. While most blazers are designed with a single breast front (a single vertical row of buttons), others are designed with a double breast where the front panels overlap and are fastened with two vertical rows of buttons.

As for pockets, the most common are patch pockets which are sewn directly on top of the jacket. These can either come with or without flaps. Then there are jetted pockets which are sewn more discreetly into the jacket. Finally, the rear of the jacket will include either a single center vent, two vents at either side of the jacket, or no vents at all. Vents help with the drape of the blazer and have origins in horseback riding, FYI. This is just a quick rundown of the most common features to look out for, but dig deeper into the rabbit hole and you’ll find a ton more.

Fit: If you’re not sure how to size, here’s how you can zero in on the right fit. First, measure your chest with a tape measure. That number should get you to your approximate chest size. As for length, guys under 5’8″ will likely need a short size, and dudes above 6’2″ will likely need a long size. Keep in mind these are just guidelines to help you narrow down the right size. What matters more is not the number on the tag, but the actual fit of the garment. Try on as much as you can. Go a size up and a size down. Definitely don’t assume you’ll be the same jacket size between brands, or styles.

How We Test and Review Products

Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.

How We Make These Picks

We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.