No, a suit jacket is generally not considered a blazer, although they share some similarities.
Here's why:
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Formality: Suit jackets are more formal than blazers. A suit jacket is part of a suit, designed to be worn with matching trousers. Blazers are more versatile and can be paired with various types of pants, including chinos, jeans, or dress pants.
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Construction: Suit jackets are typically more structured, with padding in the shoulders and a full lining to maintain their shape. Blazers often have a softer construction, with less padding and sometimes being partially or fully unlined, making them more comfortable and casual. The reference even mentions that blazers often have un-edge-stitched lapels which further contributes to their less formal appearance.
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Fabric: Suit jackets are made from fabrics that match the suit trousers. Blazers come in a wider variety of fabrics, including wool, linen, cotton, and even more casual materials like tweed.
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Buttons: While both can have metal or plastic buttons, blazers more frequently feature distinctive buttons (often metal, like brass or gold) as a stylistic element, whereas suit jackets usually have buttons that blend in with the fabric.
Essentially, while a blazer resembles a suit jacket, it's intended as a separate garment with a more relaxed feel and greater flexibility in how it's worn. Think of it this way: all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Similarly, a suit jacket can potentially look like a blazer in some limited instances (plain, dark color), but it is not intended to be worn like one.
