In 1837 the Commander of the frigate H.M.S. Blazer was told that England’s young queen, Victoria, would soon inspect his ship.  He took one look at the unsightly condition of his crew’s dress and decreed that they would get new uniforms.  He decided on a short jacket with brass Royal Navy buttons.

There is a disagreement as to the color of those first Blazers.  In one account, the jackets were striped navy and white;  another reports a solid navy serge.  In any case, Victoria was so favorably impressed by their attire that she required all the Queen’s sailors to be in similar uniform.

The navy blazer traditionally ranks in dressiness somewhere between a suit and a patterned sport jacket.  However, with the new millennium’s casual influence, the navy blazer has evolved into an indispensable utility player in the modern gentleman's wardrobe.  A blazer’s formality is determined primarily by its model and accompanying garments.

From most dressy to most casual, here are 4 great ways to wear a navy blazer: