Remember that one day when you woke up, sat on the edge of your bed, stretched, and yawned? No, not that one. The one that forever altered the trajectory of your life because you realized, not only was the best smoking jacket out there… it was about to be yours.
No, you don’t. Because that day is today. And you, my velvet-loving friend, are about to become whole.
At its inception in the mid-19th century, the smoking jacket was a formal garment used as a buffer between the lingering scent of tobacco smoke and the wearer’s fancy-pants clothes beneath. It also helped keep rogue ashes at bay. Today, the men’s smoking jacket is a statement piece whose popularity has grown beyond the occasional holiday party appearance and into the mainstream.
Some of the pieces in this list are semi-traditional dinner jackets featuring signature smoking-jacket elements like wide, curved lapels, silk accents, and velvet for days. Others go full Fred Astaire in a shameless display of elevated peacockery.
Herewith, my top 8 picks. Have fun and be safe in there.
Key Takeaways
Smoking jackets are fickle beasts. Worn properly and with confidence, they’ll look and feel great. Worn as a gimmick or slapped on as an afterthought over the wrong type of shirt, they’ll create a sartorial trainwreck.
My pick for the best smoking jacket overall is the Ace Single-Breasted Velvet Blazer from Reiss, not only for its homage to smoking jackets of yore but for its quality materials and general versatility. And if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that doesn’t skimp on bold design, Asos’ Slim Smoking Suit Jacket will be waiting.
Our Top Picks
Before we get into my pick for the best smoking jacket overall, a friendly reminder is in order. The smoking jacket, if you’ll recall, is anything but a one-trick pony. Sometimes it’s an elevated leisure play. Other times it’s a cozy, robe-adjacent garment. And other times still, it’s in a category of its own.
Reiss’s Ace Single-Breasted Velvet Blazer falls firmly into that last category. This is a fully-lined, formal affair-ready velvet jacket with satin lapels, jetted hip pockets, and a single button. It’s the one you put on over a nice dress shirt, black pair of pants, and your shiniest black shoes before heading out on the holiday party circuit.
Material: 98% Cotton, 2% Elastane | Colors: 2 | Sizes: 36-46 | Care: Dry Clean
Feeling bold? Feeling confident? Feeling like turning heads in this stark white, slim smoking jacket from Asos? I hope so because you’d probably be doing yourself a disservice by sitting this one out.
Its polyester construction is the main contributing factor to the jacket’s budget-friendly price point. Picking up where the less-than-luxurious fabric leaves off is a roomy fit and a whisper of elastane to add a bit of stretch and increased range of movement. With its jacket sash and robe-like cut, this is a super niche garment that’s not right for everyone. But if you answered “yes” to all three of those questions up there, feel free to give yourself a green light.
Material: 98% Polyester, 2% Elastane | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 32-46 | Care: Dry Clean
Ralph Lauren’s Purple Label Astaire smoking jacket is all class, all tradition, and all luxury. Named after Fred Astaire, who famously wore smoking jackets whenever and wherever he could, this beauty has a satin shawl collar, elaborately braided trim, and a bold frog closure.
Even if you already have a stable of outstanding suits in your closet, this is destined to be your new prized specimen. Are balls still a thing? If they are and you’re ever invited to one, wear this. But more likely, the Astaire can and should be your go-to for cool-weather gallery openings, black-tie events, and—you guessed it—holiday parties.
Material: 100% Cotton | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 36-44 | Care: Dry Clean
LuxuRobes, despite being named LuxuRobes, has actually developed a solid reputation for providing quality and affordable leisure gear ranging from robes to pajama sets to, yes, smoking jackets.
This pillowy soft jacket on Amazon is characteristic of traditional styles with its quilted lapels, drawstring closure, and turn-up cuffs. Wear it around the house on chilly nights or to dinner at a friend’s house when you’re feeling cheeky and borderline obnoxious. This isn’t a jacket that’s going to last a lifetime, nor is it a versatile option. But what it lacks in universal wearability and durability, it more than makes up for in comfort and effortless style.
Material: 100% Cotton | Colors: 6 | Sizes: S-3XL | Care: Dry Clean
Which brings us to another fine option that’s readily available on Amazon: the Ascentix Velour Smoking Jacket. In terms of comfort, style, and aesthetics, it’s almost interchangeable with my Luxurobes pick above. Both are outstanding everyday jackets that prioritize comfort and old-school style.
Where Ascentix takes a detour is in its handsome contrast piping. It’s a statement-making detail that screams from the rooftops and demands to be noticed. Further adding to its comfort and everyday wearability, this entry-level jacket has been constructed with a silk lining. Your best bet for getting the most use out of this thing: treat it more like a robe than something you’d wear as part of an otherwise quality suit.
Material: 75% Cotton, 25% Polyester | Colors: 1 | Sizes: XL | Care: Machine Wash, Line Dry
Is there such a thing as a versatile smoking jacket? Yes. Very much yes. And it looks exactly like Suitsupply’s Lazio Dinner Jacket in—this part’s key—navy. No other color opens its doors to more styling options than navy, and the slim silhouette of this wool dinner jacket can pull its weight in almost any formal or semi-formal scenario.
Pair it with a classic white Oxford shirt and matching pants. Rock a bow tie with it at the company party. Make it a critical part of your rotation during the fall wedding circuit. If you want a jacket that’s going to last for years and look good almost anywhere, you found it.
Material: 100% Wool | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 2XS-4XL | Care: Dry Clean
British luxury brand Favourbrook’s pieces are rooted in tradition and updated for the modern man. But most importantly, they’re just really damn handsome. Sift through their garments and accessories for five minutes and you’ll see what I mean. And while you’re in there, make a quick pit stop by the Shawl-Collar Tuxedo Jacket. When it inevitably comes time for a black-tie event, it’s the one you’ll want in your corner every time.
The shawl lapels lean into smoking jacket aesthetics in all the right ways, while its fully lined wool construction helps maintain a tailored fit and provide outstanding comfort. In a world of notch lapel tuxedos, be a shawl.
Material: 100% Wool | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 36-46 | Care: Dry Clean
Given the subject matter of smoking jackets, it should come as no surprise that I’ve talked a lot about holiday parties throughout this list. But perhaps I should’ve saved those mentions. Why? Brooks Brothers plus tartan, that’s why.
It doesn’t get much more classic than tartan, and this two-button, shawl collar jacket remains faithful to tradition from seam to seam. You’re working with attention to detail, soft wool construction, and a price that shouldn’t be hard to justify even if you only pop it on during the holiday season. Over. And over. And over.
Material: 100% Wool | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 38-48 | Care: Dry Clean
What To Look For In The Best Smoking Jackets
Style
The first image that crosses your mind when you think about smoking jackets is probably that classic, lounge-y style that the likes of Hugh Heffner and Fred Astaire made popular. And while there’s certainly a place for the silky, velvety, shawl-collar robes of yore in today’s closet, more traditional and versatile styles exist in spades. As with any niche garment, think about your lifestyle and tolerance for sartorial risk before choosing a smoking jacket.
Occasion
If you’re planning on lounging around smoking cigars in front of an obnoxiously oversized fireplace (I’ll also accept, “on a chair in front of the tv”), stick with longer, classic styles that focus on comfort. If you’re off to a black-tie affair or some other formal occasion—especially during the colder months—a more conservative jacket is the best play. If you want to make the right impression, where you don this type of jacket matters.
Material
A major differentiating factor between smoking jackets and other types of jackets is the materials used in their construction. Like the best smoking jacket on this list, most of them incorporate velvet either throughout or sparingly. Silk and wool are two of the other most common materials used in this type of jacket.
Final Verdict
The best smoking jacket for one man is another man’s worst fashion nightmare. If you can pull off one of those old-school velvet, burgundy jackets complete with a sash and elaborate embroidery—more power to you. If you’re looking for something more versatile that respects the smoking jacket’s roots and original purpose, you’ll get plenty of handsome mileage out of Reiss’s Ace Single-Breasted Velvet Blazer.
FAQ
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A good smoking jacket that stays true to its roots is typically going to have a velvet construction with a silk lining or silk lapels. That said, many are also made of polyester or cotton depending on the price and the quality of the manufacturer.
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Smoking jackets were originally intended to be worn while smoking, so velvet was and still is a commonly used material thanks to its ability to absorb odors and block ashes. Today, a smoking jacket is a piece of loungewear that’s whatever you make of it, from formalwear to laying-around-the-house… wear.
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Smoking jackets, now more than ever, are incredibly versatile pieces. They can be dressed up for formal affairs or with a dress shirt, particularly during the winter. They can be worn as devil-may-care statement pieces. And, of course, as robe-like accompaniments to a night spent at home in front of the fire.
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True to its name, the smoking jacket was originally worn for smoking. The thick, luxurious velvet that most smoking jackets were and are made of was chosen for its odor-absorption qualities and because it serves as a barrier between hot ashes and the wearer’s clothes beneath.
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