A more casual look for business and social events is widely accepted these days, yet it’s still vital today’s well-dressed Southern man known which type of blazer or sport coat is appropriate. Below is a Southern Man’s guide to properly wearing sport coat’s and blazers.

RELATED: Best Casual Vests for Men

A guy in a well tailored sport coat or blazer looks unfairly good. These jackets (along with suit jackets) are engineered to make us look stronger, leaner, and more confident. But all of those advantages can be nullified by wearing a jacket that’s either too casual or too dressed up for the occasion. However, this hierarchy, moving from most casual to most dressed up, is not absolute. There are always exceptions, and often, depending on what it’s worn with, one of these jackets could leapfrog another (or others) on this list. Individual suggestions for each type are added in case you want to dive in and get one for yourself.

Dinner Jacket

Dinner Jacket | Dappered.com

Off-colored dinner jackets add style to many formal events.

The type of jacket you wear to a black tie event that doesn’t match your tuxedo trousers. For example, plaids and patterns are “in” at the moment, but the risk is they look dated down the road. What won’t look dated? A cream colored dinner jacket. Worked for Rick in Casablanca. Will work for you too.

Classic or Modern Navy Wool Blazer

 Classic or Modern Navy Wool Blazer | Dappered.com

A top-quality, blue blazer is a staple in any gentleman’s wardrobe.

Classic = brass or silver-tone metal buttons. The more modern interpretations skip the metal buttons but have other details like patch pockets or top-stitching that help it look less like an orphaned suit jacket. We’re pretty far up on the formality scale here, but even at this point, some of these blazers can be worn with jeans. Might wanna avoid the classic version + jeans combo though. Brass buttons and denim really seem to clash.

Wool Hopsack or Wool/Silk/other blends Blazer

Wool Hopsack or Wool/Silk/other blends Blazer | Dappered.com

Black and grey patterned sport coat.

Hopsack = a slightly looser weave that breathes extremely well. Has a bit of texture to it, but still is dressed up enough to wear with pressed cotton dress pants or wool trousers. A jacket without that hopsack texture can also fall into this category, as long as it’s not a super sleek wool in navy (we’re about to get there). Something with a pattern yet a smooth feel fits in here too. These jackets can also pull some duty with dark wash jeans.

Polished Cotton Sportcoat

Polished Cotton Sportcoat | Dappered.com

A little more structure than the super-casual rumpled cotton options. These are the sportcoats and blazers that can be subbed in for a more traditional, dressy wool blazer in a pinch. Usually a smooth cotton fabric, but they can also have a little texture to them (like the BR option shown above). Just makes sure it’s more of a simple, clean texture, and less work-wear like (think tweed and corduroy).

Unconstructed/Lightly Constructed Linen Sportcoat

 Unconstructed/Lightly Constructed Linen Sportcoat | Dappered.com

Seersucker sport coats always make a splash at warm-weather social functions.

Tweed/Textured Wool Sportcoat or Corduroy Sportcoat

Tweed/Textured Wool Sportcoat or Corduroy Sportcoat | Dappered.com

Rumpled, Casual Cotton Sportcoat

Rumpled, Casual Cotton Sportcoat | Dappered.com

The most casual by far. These are the sportcoats that have minimal lining, super soft shoulders, and are almost always made from a cotton twill that actually looks better with a few wrinkles and rumples to it. These sportcoats look terrific with jeans and OCBDs, and can absolutely be worn with classic court style sneakers. Remember: Not all cotton sportcoats/blazers are this most-casual type. We’ll get to the smoother, more polished options farther down the list.