The Herringbone Blazer: What It Is and How to Wear It

The short answer: a herringbone blazer is a jacket woven in a broken zigzag pattern that looks like the skeleton of a herring. From a distance it reads as a quiet texture, close up as a subtle pattern, which makes it one of the most versatile tailoring cloths there is. Grey herringbone goes with everything; wear it with plain trousers, jeans and fine knits, and match it with a herringbone trouser for a suit.

Herringbone is the menswear cloth women borrow most happily. It has more depth than a plain wool and less noise than a check, so it looks expensive with very little effort. Here is how to choose one and how to wear it.

What is herringbone?

Herringbone is a twill weave in which the diagonal lines reverse direction at regular intervals, creating a V-shaped zigzag. It can be woven in rugged tweed for a countryside jacket and in fine smooth wool for a city suit. That range is why it works in every season and for almost every occasion.

Herringbone, chevron, tweed and houndstooth

The best herringbone blazers to buy now

Blazé Milano: the Kasif herringbone

For Fall Winter 2026 Blazé Milano cut a whole wardrobe in Kasif, a grey herringbone in virgin wool, alpaca and polyamide, the alpaca adding softness and warmth. The pieces are made to be mixed:

• Charmer Blazer in Kasif Multicolor: the hourglass double-breasted blazer, true to size. The brand describes the menswear-inspired fabric as a refined play on contrasts against the feminine shape.
• Everynight Blazer in Kasif Multicolor: oversized and double-breasted with black loden-effect buttons. Take one size smaller.
• Fox Pants in Kasif Multicolor: high-rise, straight, pleated trousers that make either blazer a suit.
• Coci Mini Skirt in Kasif Multicolor: a slim high-rise mini for a short suit.
• Noma Coat in Kasif Multicolor and Chausie Trench in Kasif Multicolor: the same herringbone as outerwear, so the coat can match the suit.

Beyond Blazé Milano

• Toteme Herringbone blazer in Dark grey mélange
• Gabriela Hearst Leiva Blazer in Charcoal Multi Cashmere Wool Herringbone
• Erdem Herringbone Blazer
• The Frankie Shop Aubin Herringbone Belted Jacket in Black Melange

How to wear a herringbone blazer

As a suit

Herringbone suits look polished without the severity of a plain dark suit. The Blazé Milano Kasif Everynight and Fox Pants are a ready-made example; the brand pairs them as a polished, sophisticated suit, and suggests the trousers with knitwear for a more relaxed look. See every matching set in Blazé Milano suits.

With jeans

A grey herringbone blazer with mid-blue denim and a white shirt is a modern classic. The texture lifts denim.

With black

Grey herringbone with a black roll neck and black trousers is sharp and urban, and the pattern stops the look from going flat.

With colour

Because herringbone reads as neutral, it carries a bright knit well: camel, burgundy, cobalt.

Why herringbone works for women’s tailoring

Plain dark tailoring can look severe on a woman’s frame, and loud patterns can overwhelm it. Herringbone sits between the two. The zigzag catches the light as you move, so the jacket looks alive rather than flat, and the texture softens the strong lines of a structured shoulder. It also hides the small creases of a day’s wear better than a plain cloth, which is why it has always been popular for travel and for long working days.

Herringbone by occasion

Choosing the right herringbone

Scale. A small, tight herringbone reads as a solid from across the room, which makes it the most versatile. A large, open herringbone is more casual and more countryside.

Contrast. Low-contrast grey on grey is the most refined. High-contrast black and white is graphic and modern.

Fibre. Pure wool herringbone is crisp. A blend with alpaca, like the Blazé Milano Kasif, is softer and warmer. Cashmere herringbone, like the Gabriela Hearst Leiva, is the most luxurious and drapes the most.

Weight. A heavier herringbone holds structure and suits outerwear; a lighter one wears comfortably indoors as a blazer.

Pattern mixing with herringbone

Herringbone is a low-contrast pattern, so it mixes more easily than most. A fine stripe shirt under a herringbone blazer works because the scales are different. Avoid pairing it with another tight textured weave in the same colour, which can look muddy; the safest rule is one patterned piece close to the face.

Caring for a herringbone blazer

Brush it after each wear, give it a day off between wears so the fibres recover, and steam it rather than pressing it, which can flatten the weave and leave a shine. Hang it on a broad, shaped hanger. Always follow the care label.

Sizing a herringbone blazer

Buy for the shoulder, as with any jacket; our guide to how a blazer should fit has the checklist. Blazé Milano sizes 00, 0, I, II, III and IV convert to UK 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14. In the Kasif herringbone the brand advises your usual size in the Charmer and Fox Pants, and one size smaller in the oversized Everynight, Chausie Trench and Noma Coat.

Frequently asked questions

What is a herringbone blazer?

A jacket woven in herringbone, a twill weave that forms a broken zigzag pattern. It reads as texture from a distance and as pattern up close.

Is herringbone formal?

It can be both. Fine wool herringbone suits are smart enough for the office; rugged tweed herringbone is casual.

What colour goes with a grey herringbone blazer?

Almost everything: black, navy, white, camel, burgundy and denim blue all work.

Is herringbone the same as tweed?

No. Herringbone is a weave pattern; tweed is a type of rough woollen cloth. A tweed can be woven in herringbone.

Can you wear a herringbone blazer with jeans?

Yes. A grey herringbone blazer with blue jeans and a white shirt is a classic smart casual outfit.

What is the difference between herringbone and chevron?

In herringbone the zigzag is broken, so the V shapes are offset where they meet. In chevron the V shapes meet in a clean point.

Keep reading

The tweed blazer. How to wear a check blazer. Blazé Milano coats and jackets. Browse the Blazé Milano edit.