JOIN THE 'FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS' COMMUNITY →

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Style Girlfriend

Style Girlfriend

Helping guys look, feel, and act their best

Search
  • Women
  • Style
  • Grooming
  • Shopping
  • About
    • Meet Megan
    • Community
    • Contact
  • Friends With Benefits
  • Search
Style 5 Days 5 Ways

How to Wear a Sport Coat: Men’s Outfit Ideas

Make the most of this wardrobe essential
5 days 5 ways, style girlfriend polo ralph lauren, polo ralph lauren sport coat, polo ralph lauren jackets

by Megan Collins Updated: September 24, 2019

Products are curated by Style Girlfriend editors. Purchases through our links may earn us an affiliate commission.

The sport coat is the building block of many a man’s wardrobe, but it’s easy to forget how creatively it can be worn. Sure, it works with a dress shirt and trousers. And yes, you can always “dress it down with jeans and a sport shirt (or t-shirt, if you’re daring)! But this wardrobe workhorse is so much more versatile than that!

What to look for in a sport coat

Especially if you don’t dress up often, it can be easy to think of a sport coat as something you have to wear, rather than get to wear. I don’t know if this still happens, but I think to movies and TV shows where the guy shows up somewhere fancy for dinner and has to wear a borrowed jacket…that’s always somehow at least five sizes too big for him.

Meaning? It’s important to find a sport coat that fits to ensure you feel like a million bucks wearing it. When shopping, look for a style in a slimmer, more modern fit. Think: shorter length, trimmer sleeves, and a higher armhole.

Below, five ways to wear a sport coat:

MONDAY
navy sport coat outfit

Wear it well: Tackle Monday with some color. I love how the green cords play off the purple patterned dress shirt and cozy (but still professional) sweater. A perfectly-battered briefcase completes the ensemble.

Key pieces: corduroy sportcoat | dress shirt | loafers

Tuesday
sport coat with jeans

Wear it well: Sometimes when I’m running late, I default to a monochromatic color palette so I can be sure everything matches.

One of my favorite shades to incorporate head-to-toe? Navy. I love how the knit sweater plays off the deep blue gingham shirt, and creates a nice long line with the crisp dark denim. I dressed it down with sneakers, but it would look just as good with desert boots or a lace-up.

Key pieces: herringbone sportcoat | navy sweater |dark jeans

WEDNESDAY
what to wear with a sport coat

Wear it well: I wanted this conservative sport coat to have some fun, so I paired it with a (slightly) rumpled pair of khakis with the cuffs upturned, a chambray shirt, and topped it all off with a luxe puffer and super-soft scarf. My favorite element, though?

The merino wool mockneck sweater with just the slightest suede detailing. You have to feel it – you could sleep in that thing.

Key pieces: suede puffer vest | chinos

THURSDAY
sport coat outfit ideas

Wear it well: I was thinking of a reader who once asked me what he could wear to the office and to the construction site he managed when I styled this look. Note how at home the textured jacket looks with the chunky sweater, vest, and yes, work boots.

Corduroy pants in a color that brings out the yellow stripe of the sweater completes the “office to outdoors” vibe.

Key pieces: plaid sweater, hiking boots

FRIDAY
how to wear a sport coat

Wear it well: The Prince of Wales check on this sport coat practically becomes a neutral against such a vibrant sweater. The cable-knit cashmere sweater needs no accompaniment – toss a v- or crewneck underneath – and you’re good to go up top.

I love the idea of beat-to-hell jeans with a pair of driving mocassins. With a weekender bag in hand, you’ve got all you need to bid farewell to the work week.

Key pieces: weekender bag | black leather belt

// Shop #SGapproved sport coats //

***

let style girlfriend shop for you

If we’ve convinced you it’s time to level up your sport coat game, but you dread the thought of shopping for them…why not let Team SG shop for you?

Let us rescue you from shopping fatigue and sartorial apathy. With our online personal shopping service, we can promise the kind of dedicated attention that will make you feel like the best, most stylish version of the awesome guy you already are! We’ll also help you figure out how to wear your new sweaters (and whatever else you need) with the things you already own. If you’re ready for a shopping plan that’ll save you time, energy, and your sanity, give us a shout.

***

> For more style inspiration, see here, and here, and here!

(photography: Nathan Kraxberger)

Megan Collins

I started Style Girlfriend to help guys look, feel, and act their best.

More articles by Megan Collins

Twitter Instagram

Primary Sidebar

The Latest

couple holding hands and walking

10 Fun and Affordable Summer Date Ideas to Try This Weekend

stylish man wearing a butter yellow knit polo shirt walking away from a white jeep

This Summer Color Looks Smooth Like Butter

5 Cool Men’s Brands to Know Right Now

close-up of a man wearing white nike tennis shorts

The ’90s Nike Tennis Logo is Back

Trending Now

  • close-up of a man wearing white nike tennis shortsThe ’90s Nike Tennis Logo is Back
  • summer business casual outfit ideas for menGo Sweat-Free in these Men’s Summer Business Casual Outfits
  • feature image for an article on style for men over fifty, close-up image of an older male model getting touched up at a photo shootStyle for Men Over 50: 7 Tips to Know Before You Shop
  • side by side images of men dressed in classically elegant "Italian summer" styleThe Guy’s Guide to Effortless Italian Summer Vacation Style
  • boop valentines day card6 Ways to Impress Women, According to Women
  • stylish men wearing red, white, and blue outfits appropriate for 4th of july4 Subtly Stylish Men’s 4th of July Outfits
Style Girlfriend
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Twitter / X
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

Connect

  • newsletter
  • careers
  • contact
  • advertise

More From SG

  • Friends With Benefits
  • shop our picks
  • read the blog
  • about us

Style Girlfriend may earn commission from products that are purchased through our site.

© 2025 · Style Girlfriend · Terms · Privacy · Accessibility