The Modern Twin Set. Put Away Your Cardigan.
What’s more classic than a twin set? (A twin set is a cardigan with a coordinating sweater or top underneath.) Sure, a twin set is polished and simple. But, if you are looking for something that feels elevated, polished, current and easy, there’s a new duo in town.
As a personal stylist for women, I’m all about helping each woman feel like her authentic self in clothes that work for her real life. My favorite twist on the twin set right now is a blazer with a top of the same color. Here we go!
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The Modern Twin Set: A Baker’s Dozen of the Best
Blazer + Top Combos
Sophisticated White Blazer + BLoUSE
A white jacket is never wrong. It will elevate any look and shows incredible confidence. A bold suit or a white jacket are two of the most confident, powerful selections. If you have broad shoulders, be sure to go with a deep v, like the one below and something that doesn’t bulk up your shoulders. Pair with a wider leg pant or another pant with visual interest to balance your frame. If you carry your weight in your bottom half, this jacket does all the work for you. I also like to pair white jackets over print dresses and finish with a nude shoe.
Short jacket. Available in a zillion awesome colors.
Cropped blouse available in a zillion colors (to go with all those blazers!)
2. Blazer with an unexpected detail that says spring + A silk cami
Feminine, fresh and sophisticated, this will take you right into summer.
With an unexpected detail just right for spring.
With a silk cami.
3. Long line blazer + a Tee that Shows Off Your Waist
There couldn’t be a more of the moment look than this one. Pair it with a high waisted skirt or pant if you’d rather not show your mid section. Remember, crop tops don’t have to mean that your stomach shows. In fact, they can minimize your stomach by giving the impressing that your waist is actually higher. Just wear a high or super high waisted bottom. An a-line skirt or wide leg pant will minimize your stomach even more, if that’s desirable for you.
One of my client, Natasha’s, outfit photos illustrating how she can pair her long line blazer with either blue crop top and two pairs of pants. Everything on this photo works with everything else, making packing for weekend trips or figuring out what to wear each day easy. Her blazer is also the same blazer shown in the product shot below. Her photo shoot is coming up soon!
Longline jacket. Available in a zillion colors.
Cropped Tee available in a zillion colors.
4. Menswear Inspired Print + a Lightweight Cashmere Textured Sweater
If you appreciate a good menswear inspired, classic look, this is for you. I love putting the texture with the print because it adds visual interest without being too loud. And, of course, you’ll be nice and cozy in your cashmere sweater.
Double Breasted Blazer.
5. Jacket with One of a Kind Embroidery + a Sheer Lace Top
A like to think of this as the more is more approach. Some folks are into minimalism right now. And others are all about the maximalism. Go big or go home with this combo. Try a black bra underneath for going out or for a work appropriate option, go with a black or nude cami.
With one of a kind embroidery.
And a sheer lace top. More is more.
6. The blazer of your choice + a bikini top
This is going to be a love it or hate it combo. I hate to say it, but those feelings will likely have to do with age or body confidence. First off, if you love this jacket. There are other tops that match that aren’t bikini tops. Second, remember that when you pair a bikini or crop top with a high waisted pant, you are minimizing your stomach and this makes bikini tops not only possible, but flattering. As a personal stylist, I’ve noticed that minimizing the stomach is the number one request after babies and as we age, which is why I bring it up so much. So, again, yes, you can do this combo and here’s a photo of my client, Ashley, who has an inverted triangle body type and does not carry weight in her stomach, doing it masterfully.
See more of Ashley’s style on the Client Stories Page and hear all about her experience with Poplin. P.S. Ashley is wearing one of my favorite blazers available in tall, petite and regular fits.
Single breasted jacket. Available in two colors.
Bikini Top. Don’t worry. If this isn’t for you, there are lots of other tops in this color.
7. Asymmetrical Blazer + A Slip Dress
You know I love dresses, so I had to sneak this one onto our list. Pair a dress with a blazer of the same color. For some of you, you’ll be reminded of the Casual Corner days with a tailored sheath and a long blazer to match. This is the modern, sexy, practical version of that. Wear the dress for a night out or turn it into your loungewear.
Satin Cowl Back Slip Dress.
8. Tweed Double Breasted Blazer + Knotted Blouse
When you love tweed, you love tweed. Textured jackets like tweed or boucle introduce a vintage vibe, so you want to balance them with modern pieces. I just created outfits the other day with a long time client who adores tweed. Here’s a photo of one outfit that pairs a dark burgundy dress with a multicolored tweed jacket. The jacket contains all the colors in the outfit- burgundy for the dress and pink for her handbag. Coordinated, intentional, lady boss. Knotted tees give the impression of a crop top without exposing your mid section. They make life easy, because you can skip tucking things in.
Tweed jacket.
Flowy knotted blouse.
9. Blazer with leather detailing + Knit Asymmetrical Top
Leather and leather detailing remain a real favorite of so many of my clients. And why not? Leather (or vegan leather) bring an edge to any outfit. When you are opting for a jacket with leather details, remember that you are directing where the eye will go. So you are looking for a piece that draws the eye to your favorite places. The placement of the leather on this jacket draws the eye to her hands and also her midsection when her hands are down. This is great for women with rectangle shaped figures. Here’s a photo of a longtime client, Tarah, from our first photo shoot way back in 2014. She did her own hair and makeup back then and my husband took the photos. How’s that for a flashback? You can see new photos from 2019 and hear more from her on the Client Stories page.) Anyway, if you have a diamond shaped figure, you’ll be happier with a jacket that has the entire sleeve made of leather, rather than just the ends, as that will draw the eye to your slim arms. As for asymmetrical knit tops, they are great for drawing the eye up and for dressing up (hello triangles!) an otherwise super comfortable and casual top.
Blazer with leather details wherever you want to draw the eye.
Asymmetrical top.
10. Your Spring Neutral Jacket + Print Blouse
Wait. I thought you said neutral? I certainly did. To be more specific, I said, YOUR spring neutral. A neutral doesn’t have to be tan, brown, black, grey, navy, white or cream. The unexpected neutrals are burgundy, teal, rose and olive green. Believe it. Remember, the stem never clashes with the flower. Green goes with everything in nature, it’s just introducing the right green. And blue? You guessed it. The ocean and the sky work with all colors in nature. It’s again about which blue you choose. Teal is a big win as it pulls in blue and green and just feels sophisticated. As for burgundy and rose. I don’t know why. I just know they work. You’re looking for colors that are in the same family as your new neutral. Go with cools or go with warms, for example. And when you are thinking about your neutral for spring, go with something that brings you joy. A little Marie Kondo never hurt anyone.
In YOUR unexpected neutral for spring.
With a print.
11. Knit Blazer + Breton Tee.
I am a HUGE fan of knit blazers for women who struggle with sleeves that are too tight or shoulders that are too snug. You don’t have to give up on jackets or feel like only masculine styles work for you. A knit blazer gives your body room to move and you a new opportunity to try a style that seemed out of reach. This is my favorite. There’s a slightly different version offered every season. Having one in black and another in navy is especially helpful if this style appeals to you and blazers are tricky because of fit. If you don’t struggle with either issue but often feel that blazers are too dressy for your workplace or your lifestyle, a knit blazer is a useful and comfortable alternative to the traditional options. Few things are as useful as a Breton Tee, depending on your personal style, of course. If the classic striped shirt aligns with your authentic personal style, you’ll want to stock up.
My favorite ponte blazer available in three colors including black and navy.
My favorite Breton tee. Available in a zillion color combos.
12. Blazer of your Choice + Hip Graphic Tee
First of all, shout out to my client Emily who introduced me to this website with an array of very cool tees for less than $10! Secondly, a great graphic tee paired with a blazer can have an 80’s or 90’s feel, depending on the cut of each. Be sure to opt for an image that is authentic to your personal style (I recently recommended a Noam Chomsky tee for a client who works on the Alexa Team at Amazon), and if your pairing has a retro vibe, finish off your outfit with something very current like a modern high waisted jean and ankle boots or cool sneakers. (I’m wearing Addidas regularly with a blazer, wide leg pants and a print blouse or tee.)
Welcome to a zillion cool tees for $6-10!
Who needs just a blazer when you can opt for a bold suit? Finish this look off with a heel or sneakers.
13. Print Blazer + Print or solid top or dress
I’m currently obsessed with print blazers, especially floral print blazers. Floral is all the rage right now and just in time for spring, if you ask me. Here are outfit photos from two different clients that I created earlier this week. Each one has a different style and body type, but print blazers are just right for each. I’m wearing mine with a striped Breton tee or with a bright top. So many options….
During Ann’s recent client photo shoot. Does that jacket look familiar? When I picked it out for Natasha I became obsessed and went back a week later to get my own. It was on sale! Sadly, they are sold out. But, you get the idea. Print jacket + spring shirt.
Natasha’s style is modern, sophisticated and fun. She lives and works in the city, so everything needs to be functional for her lifestyle. She also works in technology, so we’ve made a point to find ways to keep things from getting too dressy or conservative. A tee with heels or a blouse with sneakers, for example.
Longtime client, Lisa, runs a company. So she has flexibility in the dress code, but also needs pieces to feel elevated, especially for external meetings and speaking engagements. She loves feminine pieces and edgy options, too. She can go with the edgier heels or boots or choose a more classic route with the pumps. In the spring, the pink bag will pull out the pale pink in the jacket and feel more seasonally appropriate without her needing to wear pastels or bright colors that don’t speak to her.
This one’s on sale!
Selecting a top from the same brand and the same season helps you make sure the colors match.
A few other ideas: an animal print jacket + a solid top, a striped jacket + a floral top or a suede blazer + a silk or cotton top. As always, I can’t wait to hear how this works for you. For more pieces based on your personal style or your body type, check out the Poplin Pinterest boards. They are updated daily.
Make sure to sign up for the Poplin newsletter to get all this and more in your inbox. Right now we’re giving away the clutch or tote of your choice designed by local artist George Jennings. Enjoy! And as always, thanks for being here. Look good. Do good. Feel good.