Casual Blazer Outfits: 8 Charity Shop Finds for Autumn

I've been reselling preloved pieces on eBay for less than three months.

All eight casual blazer outfits in this post came from charity shop rails or from my own eBay shop that I was able to source, so you don’t need to buy expensive new clothing - get preloved and give a piece of clothing a second chance. Each one leans into the boho and cottagecore pieces I keep gravitating towards: linen, velvet, corduroy, wool tweed, a bit of denim at the western end of things.

I'd start with the linen blazer, because it's also the most forgiving find.

The soft ones: linen and brushed cotton

An oatmeal linen blazer over a cream lace-trim blouse, a rust floral maxi skirt, tan lace-up ankle boots and a woven brown shoulder bag is exactly what early October looks like.

Outfit six runs in the same register: an olive brushed cotton blazer over a cream crochet top, a camisole underneath, an ochre paisley maxi skirt, tan suede ankle boots and layered necklaces. Earthy and loose.

When you pick up a linen blazer secondhand, check the elbows and cuffs first. Linen bobbles at the seams before it goes anywhere else, so run your thumb along the inside seam allowance. If the fabric is pilling there, it will spread.

Brushed cotton hides wear better, but check the collar.

The ones with texture: corduroy and velvet

Corduroy and velvet are the two fabrics I go straight to on a charity shop rail. Both were expensive new, and people donate them barely worn.

The rust corduroy blazer is outfit three: cream roll-neck underneath, olive midi pinafore dress over the top, dark brown tights, knee-high leather boots, brown shoulder bag. Corduroy layers without adding bulk, which is what makes it work with the pinafore rather than under it.

The deep plum velvet blazer is the dressier end of these eight. Embroidered cream peasant blouse, black flared jeans, a long gold pendant, fringed bag, black ankle boots. It reads seventies.

The wool ones: tweed, herringbone, and wool-cashmere

Wool blazers are the most plentiful thing on charity shop rails. Office wardrobes shed them constantly, and a well-made wool blazer from the 1990s is still a well-made wool blazer now.

The brown checked tweed works best layered: olive knitted waistcoat underneath, ivory blouse beneath that, dark wide-leg jeans and brown ankle boots. A leather satchel keeps it from tipping into costume. The charcoal herringbone goes in a different direction: over a burgundy floral midi dress with plum tights and a burgundy beret.

The camel wool-cashmere blend is the warmest of the eight. Cream cable-knit underneath, chocolate wide-leg corduroy trousers, brown loafers and visible wool socks. Add a checked scarf and you have a complete outfit.

What to do with denim

Faded blue denim, a rust knitted top tucked into a cream broderie anglaise tiered skirt, a brown leather belt, tan cowboy boots, a wide-brimmed felt hat.

It sits at the boho end of this collection, and it works because the skirt does most of the softening.

Denim blazers are worth grabbing on charity shop rails when you find them. They often still carry their original brand label, the fabric washes without complaint, and people tend to donate them in better condition.

How to spot a good blazer on the rail

Start at the shoulders. If the seam has slipped or puckers, put it back. Shoulder seams cannot be re-set without a tailor who specialises in tailoring, and the cost will outrun any saving.

Count the buttons and check they match. A missing button on a charity shop blazer outfit often means a replacement set, which is fixable, but mismatched ones suggest someone already tried and gave up.

Flip it inside out and run your hand along the lining. A small split at the hem is fine. A torn lining from armhole to waist affects how the blazer hangs and, if you resell, affects what you can ask for it.

Then smell the wool. Hold the collar to your face. Wool holds odour and not everything airs out, no matter how long you leave it on a hanger.

These are the checks I run on anything I consider listing in my own eBay shop, and they work just as well for charity shop blazer outfit ideas in autumn as they do for resale.

Where to look beyond the high street charity shops

eBay is worth more of your time than most people give it. Filter by condition: Used, then search by fabric rather than just "blazer". "Wool tweed blazer" or "velvet blazer women's" returns far more interesting results than a broad search.

I've been reselling preloved pieces on eBay for less than a year. I started because I couldn't stop buying boho and cottagecore finds I had no room for, which is not a business model so much as a confession. The charity shop rails are unpredictable in a way that turns out to suit me. You go in for one thing and come out with something heavier, better cut, with fabric weight that tells you immediately it was expensive before someone donated it without much thought.

All eight casual blazer outfits in this post came from charity shop rails or from my own eBay shop. Each one leans into the boho and cottagecore pieces I keep gravitating towards: linen, velvet, corduroy, wool tweed, a bit of denim at the western end of things.

The linen blazer is where I'd start, because it's also the most forgiving find.

The next time you're in a charity shop, go to the rail and run your hand along the back of the blazers. The ones with weight and texture. Pull those out first.