The Best Tips and Tricks to Rock the Biker Short and Blazer Combo

Some say it can’t be done, but the biker shorts and blazer combo can look absolutely stunning by styling the outfit properly and with the right accessories. Here are some of our best tips on how to rock the biker shorts and blazer look with minimal effort, broken down into three separate categories to help you look and feel your best.

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!

You can never accessorize too much, especially when it comes to the biker short-blazer look

The great Coco Chanel once said that before you step out of the house, you should look in the mirror and take one thing off. But Miss Chanel never lived in the era of the biker shorts and blazer combo, and we say accessorize away! A blazer and biker short look can look great on its own, but you can elevate your outfit by adding just a few simple things to your look.

• Jewelry

Adding a classic gold hoop or stacked earrings can take any outfit from good to great, and it can go a long way in elevating the biker short and blazer look from casual to business casual. This is especially true if a matching necklace or two are added to tie in the look and make for a more cohesive outfit. If you’re feeling experimental, you can play around with contrasting jewelry like stacked chunky and dainty hoops, or thick chains mixed with thin necklaces, or even by combining silver and gold jewelry in the same look.

• The Right Shoes

Finding the right shoes to match the outfit’s vibe can make a monumental difference. If you’re planning on going into the office with your blazer-biker short outfit, maybe opt for a kitten heel or d’orsay heel that matches the color scheme of the rest of the look. If you’re going for more of a streetwear vibe, try out platform sneakers or chelsea boot to heighten the look. And if you’re planning on a night out with the girls and you’re feeling a little bold, go for a knee-high or even thigh-high pair of heeled boots.

• The Belt-Bag Combo

If you’re out to try the Pinterest look, the belt and bag combo is the way to go. Adding an ornate belt is a great way to add some shape back into the look in an extremely flattering way, and matching the belt to your purse or messenger bag can take your outfit to the next level. A belt is also a great way to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral look. Adding a bag can also be a practical addition, as it increases your storage (which biker shorts usually fail to have any of). 

Experiment, experiment, experiment! Trying out different patterns, color combos, and accessories is a great way to try out this outfit trend while not having to sacrifice your personal style. Add staples of your closet, like sunglasses or a favorite purse like Janni Deler in this outfit. Image courtesy of Janni Deler.

Break Out Your Color Wheel

Plan out your color scheme for a more cohesive, chic fit

Remember in grade school when you learned about the color wheel and its complementary and tertiary colors? Well, that info can go a long way in planning out outfits, especially for the blazer and biker short combo. Here’s some of our best advice on how to use colors to make a more cohesive and harmonious fit.

• Avoid clashing colors

While perhaps this hardly needs to be said, avoid wearing combinations of clashing colors or patterns with the biker short and blazer look. For example, if you have a navy blazer, try not to opt for black biker shorts. Other clashing color combos include pairs of colors that sit opposite of one another on the color wheel, including red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange. Of course, there’s a time and place for these color combinations, and if worn with specific patterns or textures, these combos can work. As a general rule of thumb, though, we suggest trying out other color mixtures if you’re just beginning to try out this outfit.

• When in doubt, monochromatic it out

As an extension of the last tip, always go for a monochromatic or neutral look if you can’t decide how to style the biker short-blazer look. A gray or nude blazer always looks phenomenal with a sleek black biker short, but there are a variety of ways to spice up an outfit while keeping the color palette muted.

• Plaid always looks fab

If you’re on the search or are browsing your closet for a blazer to go with a pair of biker shorts, plaid is always an easy and chic option. Plaid patterns add depth and an interesting element to the outfit, and they can also take the outfit from casual to business casual if you plan on going to work in the outfit. Additionally, plaid goes with nearly every color of biker short and undershirt, so there’s a whole world of opportunity when it comes to plaid blazers.

Match the Vibe of the Season

Blazers and biker shorts can be rocked during any and every season of the year, but it can be challenging to find combinations that fit the vibe of the season. There are a few simple things you can do to match the weather and trends of the season with the blazer-biker short combo without having to buy a completely new wardrobe. 

• Bright colors and pastels for the warmer months

Only have dark blazers and biker shorts but want to wear them in the middle of spring and summer? No problem, just wear a floral undershirt and complimenting bright shoes to fit the season. Adding accessories like a bright hat or dainty jewelry can also go a long way in matching the vibe of spring or summer.

• Moody tones for the cooler months

Matching the darker, autumnal tones of the fall and winter can be a less challenging task than matching the tones of the warmer months. A darker cool-toned blazer, or perhaps a brown plaid blazer if you really want to embrace the vibe of cooler weather, combined with black biker shorts and a chunky chelsea or combat boot is the ultimate fall fit. Or, again, if the only pieces you have to work with are a black blazer and black biker shorts, opt for a solid burnt umber or navy green undershirt to fit the color scheme of the time of year.

The undertones of an outfit can make or break an outfit. This outfit by Aimee Song is a perfect example of a blazer and biker short outfit with warmer undertones in the outfit’s blazer, jewelry, and bag. Image courtesy of Song of Style.

With these tips and a little experimentation with the contents of your own closet, you’ll be well on your way to rocking the biker short and blazer combo with ease.