There was a time when a suit came as a set — trousers (or skirt) and a blazer, coordinated and inseparable. But somewhere along the way, fashion loosened its grip on that rule, a rule I rarely really followed anyway.
One of the joys of secondhand shopping is discovering great pieces that weren’t originally part of a pair but still work together beautifully. It’s a reminder that style doesn’t have to be predetermined — sometimes it’s the mix, not the match, that makes an outfit interesting.
For this Reuse•Reclaim•Recycle edition, I’ve taken a classic pair of gray trousers and styled them with two very different blazers that were both purchased secondhand. The idea of an “unsuited” post has been sitting on my editorial list for a couple of years, but seeing Julia Roberts’ recent menswear looks with loosely knotted ties adorned with brooches was the final spark that brought that idea to life for this post. Her look is both polished and yet undone in all the right ways. I was certain that I could recreate the look with my own twist.
Look 1: Tailored Twist
This first outfit leans into the trousers’ traditional roots: structured, classic, and a little bit old-school. When I bought them at a thrift store earlier this year. In fact, all of the pieces in this look are secondhand purchases. I’d been looking for a non-jeans option, and these seemed like a good candidate. They wound up being a bit too snug at the time; however, now they fit me (yay!). Paired with the trousers is a charcoal wool-blend blazer that has a definite menswear vibe (Eddie Bauer circa mid 2000s, in a petite size no less). The patterned button-down shirt is Merona, dated Q4’16. My boots are the moto-style ones by Miz Mooz that are in my Fall collection.
The tie, while not truly ‘secondhand’, is a classic that I borrowed from my husband. It’s one of about 20 that he’s kept from days gone by when he was a suit-and-tie guy. I’d originally thought to try the DIY folded-tie-on-a-necklace styling hack I’ve seen creators on social media sharing, but first, I did a quick Google search to see if I could find a unique knot style instead. That search led me to How to Tie a Necktie, and I found the Eldredge. It’s one of the knots listed under the Adventurous Knots section, and included in its description is “..Not for the faint of heart, this knot must be worn with caution.” Sounds like a winner to me.
It was the use of brooches that really sold me on the look. In the past decade or so, I’ve amassed quite a collection of them, most of which were bought second-hand. Besides Hanukkah-themed ones, I’m particularly keen on snowflake motifs with six points as well as florals with six petals (IYKYK). With four snowflakes on the tie and a flower on my lapel, the overall look certainly echoes the inspiration but still feels very much like “me.”
Look 2: Pattern Play
The second outfit couldn’t be more different and is definitely an instead-of-jeans look. Rather than leaning into tailoring, I headed in a relaxed, almost weekend direction by pairing the trousers with a patterned thrifted blazer and a sequined pineapple tank that’s one of my longtime favorite pieces. The blazer’s muted palette and subtle geometric weave add visual interest without overwhelming the outfit, and the sparkling pineapple graphic keeps the whole ensemble from feeling too serious. Rounding out the look is another flower brooch and a pair of olive green suede boots.
I love the contrast in textures here — the softness of the wool-blend blazer, the shimmer of sequins, and the smooth drape of the trousers — all playing off one another in an easy, effortless way. The combination gives the outfit a lively, unexpected charm, like something you might throw on for brunch, a casual afternoon out, or simply because it makes you smile the moment you put it on. It’s a reminder that the same pair of tailored trousers can shift personalities entirely with just a few creative swaps.
Side-By-Side Details
Don’t worry, I wasn’t about to leave you without a good look at the details that really count. Up close, you can see how each styling choice contributes to the overall mood: the structured lapels, crisp shirt, and intricate Eldredge knot in Look 1 versus the mixed textures, relaxed neckline, and playful sparkle in Look 2.
These close-ups highlight exactly why secondhand styling is so rewarding, especially when you take notice of the small things. The grain of the wool, the glint of sequins, the pattern mixing, the way a blazer’s shape changes the whole silhouette. When you pull together pieces collected over time, each one brings its own character and history, resulting in looks that feel personal rather than prescribed.
Being unsuited isn’t just about breaking things apart; it’s about bringing pieces together in new ways and giving secondhand finds a fresh purpose. Mixing pre-loved treasures gives each item a fresh role while creating something uniquely cohesive. My gray trousers have proven themselves endlessly versatile, working just as well with menswear-inspired layers as they do with a playful dose of pattern and sparkle. That’s the beauty of this kind of styling: nothing has to match, but everything can still come together. It turns out that mixing thrifted trousers and blazers is one of the easiest ways to give older pieces a new story.
Isn’t it funny how re-imagining old favorites — especially secondhand ones — can spark new ideas? Which look speaks to your style more: Tailored Twist or Patterned Play?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Photo credit: MMPerez
Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program, where I earn a small commission for each click at no additional cost to you.
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. The featured post from last week’s link-up, Scarves As Statement Pieces, was contributed by Nicole, who shares her fashion insights and all the facets of life in Alaska at High Latitude Style.
26 Comments
Love a “suit look”…
Thank you 😊
I love all the brooches sprinkled on the tie, and I think the tailored look is very sharp. I lean towards the boho vibe and while I am attracted to other styles I just don’t feel like myself unless I am looking more earth mother than business-like or, as a friend of mine used to say, “ladies who lunch.”
Kathy, so nice to hear from you. It truly was the use of brooches that had me wanted to give this look a try. I’m also much more into a boho vibe these days as well.
I love both of your looks! I have been into the blazer and brooch look lately! In the 90’s I thrifted men’s suit pants -bigger but took them in at the waist to make wide legs-I’ve been looking to do that again. Great post but yours always are.
Thank you, Carol. If you ask me, blazers and brooches are a match made in heaven. How I wish I’d had been into thrifting long ago.
I am loving how you put together these outfits and I think my favorite is the addition of the brooches!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille. I’d say that brooches are my favorite accessory so articles showing how to wear them in unique ways always catch my attention.
I love both of the looks!
Jennifer
https://curatedbyjennifer.com
Thank you!
Great examples of how versatile seperates and a mismatched suit can be! Love your creative addition of the brooches. I have been seeing a lot of inspiration of different ways to fashion ties on women lately, as necklaces, etc. But that knot is pretty incredible. Thanks for sharing and hosting the link up and hope you have a good week!
Thank you so much! It’s amazing how much personality separates can have when you mix them up a bit. The brooches were such a fun detail to play with, and that knot was definitely an adventure.
Absolutely fabulous! I love the menswear look, but the broaches you added are the icing on top of the cake! Great idea!
Laura, thank you! I’ve been having a great time playing with mismatched suiting, and the brooches were just too fun to resist.
I’ve noticed how hard it is to find suits now. Even the athletic jacket/pants sets are almost impossible to find except online. It’s clever how you have learned to work around this.
How true it is that the options in stores are so awful these days.
I think this may be my favorite look ever, Rena! I did have a suit (uncollared jacket) that I wore for teaching interviews. One day, I did wear the jacket with a pair of grey pants (I think). You would have thought I’d discovered the cure to cancer! One teacher had never thought to do such a thing. To me, it made perfect sense. But, I love the way you took the first look a step farther and added the intricate knot with a tie. I need to get out the box of remaining ties Mike has. I’ve been wanting to make an obi belt from them. But, I might give this a try. The brooches are really strong this year, and I’ve been adding to my collection as well. Thanks for the link up!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you, Marsha. That truly means a lot! Your story about swapping suit pieces made me smile. You should definitely explore Mike’s ties; an obi belt is a great idea, and the knots are surprisingly fun to play with, too. And yes, brooches are everywhere this year and I’ve been adding more to my collection as well.
Such a great look on you. Love those pins.
Aw, thanks Gail. 😊
Both of these menswear inspired looks are fabulous! I love the brooches on the tie! Such a fun way to accessorize!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks so much Jill! Mixing separates is always so fun, and the brooches really made the look for me.
A very interesting post. Longer ago than I care to remember I liked to do the shirt, tie, and vest look (rarely a blazer), but usually with jeans.
I’m sure you looked fabulous! Thanks for stopping by.
I love the tie with the brooches, it’s such a cool look! I have some ties, including a couple on necklace straps which are great because I struggle to do a proper knot. Thanks for linking!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
You’re welcome, Emma. And I’m glad you liked this styling idea.