Grey Blazers for Women: How to Wear the Most Versatile Jacket

The short answer: a grey blazer goes with more of your wardrobe than any other colour, because grey sits comfortably next to black, white, navy, camel, brown and every pastel. Choose a mid grey for the office, a charcoal for evening and a grey check, herringbone for texture. Wear it with black trousers and a white shirt, with jeans and a camel knit, with a matching skirt as a suit. The grey checks of Blazé Milano are a good place to start.

Black blazers get the attention, but a grey blazer is the one that does the work. It is softer than black, so it suits more skin tones, and it hides the wear of daily life better. Grey also takes pattern well, which means a grey check, herringbone can be the only jacket you pack. This guide covers shades, styling and the grey blazers worth knowing in Coveti’s blazer edit.

Which grey is right for you?

Cool skin tones suit clear, light greys; warm skin tones suit greys with a little brown in them, such as a herringbone, a grey and brown check. Charcoal suits almost everyone.

The Blazé Milano grey blazers

Bravado Grey. A grey virgin wool with a check motif and tortoiseshell-effect buttons. It comes in two cuts: the straight, regular-fit Blazé Milano Everyday Blazer and the slim, hourglass Blazé Milano Charmer Blazer. The matching Blazé Milano Fox Pant and Blazé Milano Lundy Pants make it a suit.

Corinthian Grey. A refined wool, silk and cashmere blend (55 percent virgin wool, 27 percent silk, 18 percent cashmere) with a light grey check, cut in the hourglass Blazé Milano Charmer Blazer with matching Blazé Milano Fox Pants.

Kasif. A grey herringbone in wool, alpaca and polyamide, cut as the oversized Blazé Milano Everynight Blazer, with a matching coat, trench and skirt in the same cloth. Our herringbone blazer guide has more.

Blazé Milano sizes 00, 0, I, II, III and IV convert to UK 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 (US 2 to 12, Italian 36 to 46). The brand recommends your usual size in the Everyday and Charmer and one size smaller in the Everynight, which is cut oversized.

What to wear with a grey blazer

Black and white. Grey blazer, white shirt, black trousers, black loafers. It is the most reliable office outfit there is.

Camel. A camel knit under a grey blazer is warmer and softer. Try the Blazé Milano Highland Polo in Highland Camel; our knit polo guide explains how to layer it.

Burgundy. Grey and wine is one of the best colour pairings for autumn. A burgundy knit, a burgundy satin trouser, a burgundy bag. See our burgundy outfit ideas.

Denim. A grey check blazer over a white T-shirt and straight blue jeans is the classic weekend look; see our guide to wearing a blazer with jeans.

Tonal grey. Grey on grey in different textures (a melange knit, a check blazer, a flannel trouser) looks expensive and is very easy to put together.

The grey suit

A grey suit is softer than black and more modern than navy. The Blazé Milano Bravado and Corinthian cloths come as blazers and trousers, so you can buy a matching suit and wear the pieces separately. For an oversized suit, the Shona Joy Asher Oversized Tailored Blazer in Steel Grey has a looser line; for a grey trouser on its own, the MM6 Wide-Leg Tailored Trousers in Grey. See our edit of Blazé Milano suits and our guide to women’s trouser suits.

Other grey blazers worth knowing

For a shawl collar and a softer line, the Magda Butrym Shawl-Collar Tailored Blazer in Grey. For a boxy, cropped shape, the Frankie Shop Helna Boxy Cropped Blazer in Grey. For grey with brown, the Versace Wool-Mohair Blazer in Grey and Brown.

A grey blazer through the seasons

Autumn: grey check with a camel polo, brown loafers and a burgundy bag. This is the season grey tailoring was made for. Winter: charcoal and herringbone over a black roll neck, under a long coat; the Blazé Milano Kasif cloth comes as a matching Blazé Milano Noma Coat, so the blazer and coat can be worn together as one look. Spring: a light grey check with white jeans, a pale blue shirt and white trainers. Summer: a light grey blazer over a white slip dress for evenings, carried over the shoulders by day. Grey works in every month, which is the best argument for buying one before any other colour.

How to make a grey blazer look modern

Grey can look corporate when everything around it is grey too. Three fixes: change the proportion (an oversized cut over slim trousers, a slim hourglass cut over wide trousers), change the texture (a chunky knit, a satin trouser, denim) and add one warm colour (camel, burgundy, rust). Push the sleeves up slightly, leave the jacket open and swap the office shoe for a loafer and boot. A grey blazer worn this way looks like a choice rather than a uniform.

Caring for a grey blazer

Grey hides lint and dust better than black, but brush it after wear anyway, hang it on a shaped hanger and steam rather than iron. Our guide to wool blazers covers fabric care in detail.

Frequently asked questions

What colours go with a grey blazer?

Almost everything: black, white, navy, camel, brown, burgundy, pastel pink and pale blue. Camel and burgundy are especially good in autumn.

Is a grey blazer better than a black blazer?

For daily wear, often yes. Grey is softer, suits more skin tones and pairs with more colours, while black is sharper for evening.

What shoes go with a grey blazer?

Black loafers and boots for the office, white trainers with jeans, burgundy and brown leather for warmth, a black heel for evening.

Can you wear a grey blazer with black trousers?

Yes. Grey blazer and black trousers is a classic pairing; add a white shirt for the office and a black knit for evening.

What is the Blazé Milano Bravado Grey?

Bravado is a grey virgin wool with a check motif, used for the Everyday and Charmer blazers and the Fox and Lundy trousers this season.

Does a grey check blazer count as a neutral?

Yes. A small grey check reads as a neutral and goes with the same colours as plain grey, plus it adds texture to a simple outfit.