How to Wear Velvet

Many men are unaware that velvet does not refer to a specific type of fiber, but rather to a specific weave of any number of different fibers - cotton, wool, silk and synthetic fibers are all used to create velvet fabrics. These fibers are extremely dense and evenly cut, giving velvet its distinctive softness and sheen.

The velvet jacket is one of the most fun and stylish menswear pieces, yet remains quite esoteric and intimidating to most guys. In reality, there are two basic ways to wear a velvet jacket - as a formalwear showpiece or as a cool casual getup.

Formalwear

Swapping your wool tux jacket for a velvet jacket with satin lapels is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself at any fall or winter formal event. Black velvet will be ideal for anything that is strictly black tie, and the he most popular colors for velvet (black, navy and burgundy) and pair best with black satin lapels and black tux trousers.

Casual

For a casual but extremely cool effect, the velvet jacket can be paired with jeans - a favorite look for many a rock star and bon vivant. As with formalwear, the best seasons for the casual velvet jacket will be in the fall and winter months.

For more casual settings, jackets with standard suit lapels work incredibly well (as opposed to satin lapels, which are typically used for formalwear). Darker colored shirts work as well here (if not better!) than the standard white, and shirt styles can range all the way from dressier collared shirts to a plain black t-shirt.