Since you are considering even H&M, not exactly a brand known for quality, I am surprised that you did not consider Lands End, a well-known retailer whose products are made to a much higher standard; as well as Spier and MacKay, of course, which is at a still higher standard while still being well under $500. A good fit test: see if there is too much extra space under the armpits or around the chest. We would suggest you try a Suitsupply jacket in person, or you go up a size (or sometimes even two) from your standard. 1- Marks & Spencer if on their emails always a discount their blazers are for everyone and great fits. It had a summery feel and was noticeably slimmer than Raphaels jacket. So what we did is went out and ordered 18 different jackets from 9 different retailers to compare their offerings and see which one was best. I like buying blazers at H&M since the cut is great and the price is low. All the classic fit blazers in the Madison style are over $500, so Raphael got what was called the Regent fit, which was somewhere in-between a slim and a regular one. Overall, the jacket had the effect of looking shorter in the back than it did in the front (another common feature of OTR jackets). Kinowear.com is a mens fashion blog about how to dress well. It didnt have much the shoulder padding and the interlining wasnt very stiff which is actually comfortable. Although they do offer a few more formal garments, the only true blazer they have in their lineup is called the Travelers Hopsack Blazer. It sells for $329, is made in India, and has gold buttons and flapped patch pockets, which out of this lineup was actually quite unusual. View cart for details. For $149 (now selling for $70), Raphael got a size 44 regular, with a composition of elastane and viscose, and it was noticeably not as nice (even though it was soft). The faux grenadine ended up making the jacket look cheap, because it had kind of a shiny finish. Depending on your body type, discovering the right fit might take some time. As mentioned, Preston got the same jacket model here as Raphael, but in a size M. The smaller sizes were for men 58 and under, and since Preston is over 510, we decided that going any smaller than medium would be inadvisable. It had a stiffer interlining and the fit wasnt good. In our opinion the jacket was slightly too short, but again, short jackets are the trend now, so thats hardly surprising. Since Prestons a skinny guy and Topman provides a skinny fit, youd think that it would be a pretty good match. This measuring tape set has two double-sided, 60-inch / 150 cm, durable tape measure in pink and black. Bonobos offered two navy blazers with three fits: slim, athletic, and standard. However, its important that you know your measurements, because returning stuff is a little more difficult (even though these days, its a lot better than it used to be 10 years ago). Just as the lapels were super skinny, the fit overall was so slim that Preston found it very constricting and had almost no range of motion in it. Even though a 44 regular is usually Raphaels size, a 46 probably would have been better here, because Suitsupplys jackets seem to run a little small. Of course, you can find other brands too that offer this type of jacket but this is what we found when we went online. Fit-wise, Banana Republic offers a pretty standard lineup, meaning that they have standard and slim chest widths and also short, regular, and long lengths. Swedish brand Acne. It had four cuff buttons and faux buttonholes. Raphael got a size 44, and to him, it felt and looked like a typical 1990s jacket. Dont expect Filipa K to offer very original clothing, but great if you want a quality middle-range blazer for $250 $300. SRS: Next up is Suitsupply. This way you will develop both your taste and eye for style! The skinny fit and the feel of the jacket led Raphael to give a very succinct review uncomfortable s**t.. One other suggestion is Hickey Freeman. The sleeves, again, were very slim here so there was a limited range of motion. Sizing options here were a bit more limited; the jacket is only available in regular chest sizes with two lengths, regular and long. Thank you for your suggestion as well, Timo. Thanks Jim for your support, as always. BUYMA - Luxury Fashion With Exclusive Online Shopping Experience, Cross-Border Fashion | Your Favorite Brands for Less, Short Other Plaid Patterns Wool Plain Cotton Blazers Jackets, Short Other Plaid Patterns Blazers Jackets. Asians are considered lucky in getting a blazer as we could get a nicely tailored blazer/suit jacket with excellent material (cashmere blend for example) for under USD 200. . A blazer that is too big is an instant fail. Thanks again for your great articles! This British label is known for cheap fast-fashion, so they didnt have a whole lot of options for navy blazers. We got a size 44 regular for Raphael, but he was quickly disappointed. There wasnt too much in the way of collar gapping, and while the armholes were big, they definitely werent huge. When undone, the blazer should follow your hips with a nice curve. I had my tailor cut it and he referred me to a common work room and they put it together and he finished it off , Overall its a wrinkle-resistant jacket and Raphael liked it a lot better than the Bonobos jacket, but it was still a little tight and there was a collar gap, so it was uncomfortable. Interestingly, even though we wanted a blazer, here we had to technically order a suit-separate jacket, because they didnt just offer regular blazers. Discover how to Find Discount but High Quality Men's Clothes! Raphael liked the Bemberg lining, as well. Great post! Meanwhile, Prestons jacket was the Jet Setter Stretch Italian Wool Blazer. This one was also $400, but it wasnt 100% wool; rather it was 70% wool, 29% cotton, and 1% elastane. Uniqlo also offers a custom program that allows you to choose measurements for the chest, the length of the jacket, and the sleeve length, but of course, that wouldnt qualify as an off-the-rack jacket. The fabric was nice; its from an Italian mill called Angelico, and it did drape a little bit nicely in that regard, but the fit still killed it overall. Without a doubt, a navy blazer (or navy jacket otherwise) should hang in every well-dressed gentlemans closet. For Raphael, we got an unstructured wool blazer with fabric from Vitale Barberis Canonico for $400. Great the only one that passes muster (Brooks Bros) just filed for bankruptcy. We dont know if it was just returned and the quality control wasnt good in the returns process, but as a customer, when you receive stuff in a different size than ordered with a hole, it obviously makes for a negative experience. Some of them are too trendy, which I dont really suggest for most guys. It's stylish, casual, and reasonably priced. I recently updated a blue blazer , one suitable for the moderately cool Australian climbs . Brooks Brothers and Suitsupply definitely felt a whole lot nicereven Uniqlo was a little better. The interlining wasnt super soft or super-stiff; Raphael thought it was a good blend. We know its hard to find a perfect fit off the rack. The lapels were a little slim, but overall, wed say that stylistically, Brooks Brothers had the best blazers. This was extremely helpful. Well take note of your recommendation for future consideration. It was just way too roomy and big, but it felt comfortable because the fabric had 2% of spandex to 98% of wool. Similarly, there was again a little bit of collar gap, but not so much that it would be a deal-breaker. 3- Samuel Windsor In order to get the wrinkles out, youd have to iron the jacket. These odd pairing are common for Suitsupply; they also market things like suit pants with drawstrings, for example. Raphael would have given the XL jacket 1 out of 5 stars, because it was simply too big, but the L fit much better. Ive been wearing my suit jacket all along as a blazer. It has crisper wool which is not too soft, but what bothered Raphael was the wrinkling around the midsection in the sleeves and the body; they wouldnt go away. This one was 100% synthetic, but there were trade-offs here, and we decided that we might try to go for a better fit over a better fabric. Uniqlo actually has different measurements for different markets. Heres a checklist to remember when youre out there trying different types and sizes on: Here is the standard length for a blazer: Note that most suit jackets would be longer.A blazer is not a suit jacket worn without its fellow trouser. This men's khaki blazer features a notched lapel and six button One day when I was shopping at a Zara store I saw this beautiful two button navy blazer at a reasonable price. The wool wasnt as good but it was definitely the most comfortable of all of the sampled jackets. And their DHL mailing is very fast, If they screw up the fit then youll get reimbursed or theyll remake your suit. Its our guess that the Topman jacket designs were meant to just look good when you stand and not move at all (in other words, good on a model if you have a modern understanding of mens fashion), but theyre not really meant to be worn by average people. The sleeves on this jacket were actually pretty slim, which wasnt ideal for Raphael. I got out of it for $750.00 . Fortunately, the shoulders had no padding and were quite soft, which is to be expected with an unconstructed jacket. Very good, educational post guys. The sleeves should be short enough to allow 0.5 inch of your shirt sleeves to be visible when you stand up, and 1 inch when you give a handshake. The login page will open in a new tab. Raphael liked the length, wider lapels, hopsack fabric, and lower buttoning point. A navy blazer is a staple item in every well-dressed mans closet. Heres an article by them (just a tiny preview of what kind of information youll get in the e-book)! Its definitely a jacket, its on the shorter side which was in line with modern tastes. We did like the gold buttons, and the fabric was sturdy (but had a nice feel) and was fairly wrinkle-resistant as well. In addition, there was also some pulling at the buttoning point which had the odd effect of making the quarters of the jacket stand away and out from Prestons body, which looked a little strange. When you buy something using the affiliate links on our site, we may earn a small commission. The jacket had side vents, the fabric wasnt super soft, and in terms of movement and range, it was roughly on-par with the H&M jackets. Pini Parma (Close to the cut off but if on sale.. definitely) As usual, Prestons jacket was a 38 regular, which was actually the smallest size they sold. Also, details such as pick stitching are the most present in Suitsupply jackets (seen on the pockets and lapels as well as elsewhere). That was great comparisons I am a 48 Long and have done several comparisons for my size. There seems to be a problem serving the request at this time, One stop shop for all things from your favorite brand, Ted Baker Casual Button-Down Shirts for Men, {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. As was the case with a lot of these jackets, it would probably have to be steamed once you got it out of the box for it to look better, but at the same time with wool that was this crisp, we would have thought that it would have draped better. Hawes & Curtis. They also had a quite short center vent; Teresa even said it looked like an extension of the wearers butt crackbut at least it wasnt gapping. Orvis is mostly an outdoor and sporting brand. The first thing we noticed about this jacket was that the quarters were very rounded and very open, so Raphaels shirt and waistband would probably show quite easily while wearing this jacket. Instead, aim for a gray blazer that will match awhole spectrum of shades (gray has the power to blend with almost any color in your outfit). How to Find the Right Fit in 5 Easy Steps. I had to buy a suit to attend a wedding, so I was shopping at Zara and saw this dark gray silk suit jacket along with the suit pants and I like them both a lot. The thin fabric wrinkled quite heavily on Preston, and the jacket had four cuff buttons on its sleeves. This is a men's dark blue checkered blazer and it has one left chest pocket, two side pockets, two inside pockets. It is top notch for the money . This jacket was made in Vietnam, and right off the bat, we noticed that the quarters were more closed than we were expecting. 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This was probably the longest jacket in our lineup. Fit-wise, we noticed there was a little bit of excess fabric in the waist that could probably be taken in. What Raphael liked about the Uniqlo jacket was the high armhole; even though the sleeves were rather slim, the added flexibility of the fabric paired with extra fabric in the back made the jacket super comfortable. One thing we noticed right away was a considerable collar gap, even while Preston was standing in a neutral position. 2- Patrick James lots of soft shoulder blazers. Filipa K, another Swedish brand but cheaper than Acne. It did, however, have jetted pockets and peaked lapels which were quite nice. Boggi i got an amazing pair of suede shoes there for less than 60 bucks. I tried it on and it looked great on me. I second Tom re Spier & MacKay. Similarly, there was a little bit of wrinkling across the back, although we think this is partly due to the fact that Raphaels shoulders are naturally a little uneven. If you do a lot of online apparel shopping, accurate body measurement using a tape measure is a must. When buying a blazer for my son (who is still growing) this is great help. Posted July 26, 2020 in Classic Wardrobe On A Budget, Clothing, Reviews. COOFANDY Mens Sport Coat Casual Blazer One Button Business Suit Jacket, COOFANDY Men's Casual Suit Blazer Jackets Lightweight Sports Coats One Button, chouyatou Men's Slim Notched Collar Single Breasted Cotton Jacket Office Trench Coat, Zara Khaki Double Breasted Six Button Blazer Trench Coat. Curiously, while we ordered the 44, and the paper tag said 44, the jacket tag said 43. The boxy look that it had on him probably wasnt traditional, but rather something they were going to be more trendy deliberately (as boxy fits are now being seen again on fashion runways). When it came to Prestons selection, Brooks Brothers only had one option under $500 in a slim fit, which they called the Stretch Roll Twill Blazer from their Red Fleece Line. Of course, they could have been worse when he started moving. Even though the three-roll-two, the flapped patch pockets, and the gold buttons were nice details, and the lapel was a good size, the details dont matter if the fit is unacceptable. This is a men's khaki blazer and it has one left chest pocket, two side pockets, two inside pockets. When in doubt, even a nicer fabric wont help you if the jacket doesnt fit you, and Preston is quite thin, so he needs to pay attention to this. Meanwhile, Prestons Suitsupply jacket was a 38 regular in blue from their Washington line, and even though he liked the peak lapels on it (as they did a lot to accent his chest and figure), there was still a lot of collar gap. On top of that, it had a bold red-white-and-blue lining and patch pockets. We ended buying jackets from H&M, Bonobos, Suitsupply, Uniqlo, Banana Republic, Orvis, Brooks Brothers, Topman, and Zara. They are Easier to Find than You May Think! It was enormous, and it looked like a potato sack. While we know theyre trying to go for a really slim cut, slim shouldnt mean you cant move! :), Just to add some more suggestions if you are interested Unless you really need one, steer away from a black blazer because this color is harder to create interesting outfits with. Now, the spandex really helped because it increased the range of movement and made the jacket a lot more comfortable. This men's dark grey silk suit jacket has only one button and it looks glittering because it's made of silk and cotton! Thanks for sharing it with us! I got onto that massive e named store and found 2.5metres of lovely fabric from a clearance warehouse in Italy for around $100.00 . For Raphael, we got the Havana navy jacket in size 44. In a lower price category, online made-to-measure such as Indochino is really a good start. Here are some high-end brands that are worth your money:. Gant (and especially the line Gant Rugger) sells great blazers for $400 $500. There was definitely some wrinkling in the sleeves, and overall, it felt like a cheap, low-quality jacket. I have to keep reminding my tailor to go for a more contemporary cut though, or else it will turn up too formal looking something they are more used to making. While that on its own is okay as a stylistic thing, what Raphael really disliked was the fit; in terms of the range of movement and comfort level, the Topman jacket was the most constrictive on Raphael out of all jackets we tested. A beginners guide to colors without headaches, The Basics You Need to Know About Color Coordinating Your Outfit, 5 Tips On How to Find the Right Hairstyle, Scoop neck t-shirt + shirt left opened + blazer. Preston once again got the same jacket here, just in a 38 regular fit. Otherwise, a jacket will look like a potato sack. Of course the quality isnt the best, but its one of there better crafted items. But if your investing in your wardrobe, Im a big fan of Hickey Freeman for tailored suits, blazers & outerwear So, pros and cons here: there was slight piping on the lining, but there were other things like loose threads around the vent of the jacket. I am really glad you started writing again. WYM is an equivalent of Dior Homme but less expensive for $500 $600. These guys are top class with helping men build a uniquely killer style, andrun the best mens style blog in France (bonnegueule.fr).. I love the deep color and dark brass buttons. They are also great for body measurement, sewing, tailoring, weight loss tracking, or measuring any curved surface. The lapels were a little bit on the slim side, but not too much. Well add this to our list :), Interesting article if you need a navy blazer in a hurry. It was definitely more comfortable than the Suitsupply jacket; maybe not quite as much as Uniqlo but that was pretty much the only one that it was beaten by in terms of comfort and fit. I plan to share with my 16 year old grandson who is ready for his first blazer. Meanwhile, Preston got the Skinny Fit Blazer for around $80. The sleeves of this jacket were a little bit longer than some of the others, which was positive for Preston (who has long arms for his build). However, the entire time Im thining that you really need to try Spier & Mackay, from over here in Toronto, Canada. Out of the box, it felt really lightweight and breathable with a nice fabric. Perfect cuts, amazing quality, subtle shades of colors. Hello Preston and Raphael , While not all men can one have one custom-made, we purchased offerings from several popular retail brands (at a price point under $500) and gave them a thorough review. Founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera, this Spanish retailer has grown exponentially into one of todays largest apparel labels. Length: The blazer tails should stop at the middle of your hand when you stand up. We liked the look of its silhouette, but it had this greenish undertone which made it almost not look like a navy blazer. Spier & Mackay When done up, you should feel a slight pressure in your upper back and only be able to fit one fist between the button and your stomach. We suggest that you look for secondhand goods at places like eBay or a local vintage store because there, with $150 or $200, you can get a jacket with a retail price of maybe $1000 and its often gently worn. Unfortunately, this wasnt the case! Uniqlo gives you greatquality for a lower price, especially their Jill Sander or Undercover collaborations. If you don't have a ruler or tape measure handy, you can try to measure with a standard credit card, which has a width of 3 inch or 8.56 cm and a height of 2 inch or 5.4 cm. Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss had blazers that met our criteria, but not under that $500 price point. This jacket was fairly wrinkle-resistant and probably could have been worn right out of the boxwhich was quite surprising! This jacket had the least amount of wrinkles out of the box and looked good while standing naturally. Overall, this is a jacket that makes you look like a grandpa. They are small and light pocket-size measuring tapes, and they have accurate, large and clear markings in both inches and centimeters, which are very easy and convenient to read. I tried it on and it looked great on me. One interesting thing to note about Bonobos is that on their website, wool blazers cost roughly the same as blazers made from things like nylon or spandex. So I got them! Choosing different fabrics are also a great way to make your gray blazer more original and fun to wear (e.g., raw wools, cotton twill, mix of wool and cashmere or other cool materials).The range of possibilities is infinite here, making your blazer a loaded piece you use to create many different looks. Debonair looks too good on you to second guess. This jacket retails for about $150, and we got the XL size for Raphael at first (which corresponds to a height of six feet and chest 44 to 47), so we figured that would be right, but it fit like a tent. As fashion group Inditexs main brand, Zara successfully brings high-end design to consumers worldwide at low cost with an astounding production turnover. Unfortunately, it all was a little snug. This jacket again has a more modern style with a center vent and a slimmer lapel; also, there wasnt a lot of shoulder padding. Of course it helps that I have a very standard body that off-the-rack favors. Realized how nuanced such a simple piece can be. You can wear a navy blazer to an interview, dressed up for weddings, or dressed down with jeans. Well be ranking them on a few different criteria (on a scale of zero to five stars), including: First up, Raphael got the H&M Slim Fit Wool Blazer which costs $199; which is twice as much as any other H&M blazer simply because its made out of wool, ironically, though its only 98% wool and 2% Elastane; not a hundred percent. As long as your wardrobe is built on a strong foundation of basics, almost any combination you try will give you satisfactory results. Prestons favorite was the Brooks Brothers jacket, largely because of its more traditional styling details and because the fit was decent. With This FREE Guide, Look Better TOMORROW! In addition to that, there was a little bit of collar gap on that jacket for Raphael, but nothing we would call terrible. Once you have your gray blazer, you can explore more colors like anthracite gray, sand, taupe, light blue and a range of patterns of course. Chooseyour blazer properly, and you should get a ton of mileage on it due to its versatile nature. its always the subtle things that make all the diff. Kinowear is teamed up with them this year tobring you guys the greateststyle e-book! If youre on a tight budget, not to worry, cheap blazers can easily be found. We would definitely suggest to size down with Orvis jackets, because they run huge! Looking like an orphaned suit jacket, this garment had too much fabric for Prestons build and had huge armholes. French Style Experts Geoffrey and Benoit, Recently the Kinowear team has become great friends with two style experts from France Geoffrey Bruyere and Ben Wojtenka. Because of this, the jacket also rode up kind of oddly in the front.