Blazers/Sport Coats? Out of style? | FerrariChat
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Blazers/Sport Coats? Out of style?

Discussion in 'Fine Watches, Jewelry, & Clothes' started by tundraphile, Jan 6, 2011.

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  1. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #1 tundraphile, Jan 6, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2011
    I have been having this ongoing debate with my wife, who usually is spot-on when it comes to fashion. So I usually trust her opinion but disagree with it in this instance.

    After several years of working in places where anything from jeans & T-shirt, to slacks & dress shirt were acceptable. I am a professional (engineer) working with a mix of people, from factory floor personnel to the President of the company on a daily basis. A recent promotion means I now have more time in the front of the office and with customers, I would rather look a bit overdressed on occasion than like a slob. Suits would be too formal, I'm thinking a sport coat with button-up would be appropriate. Basically most of my nicer clothes are older and look out of date. I typically wear jeans and polo short-sleeve or sweater, very boring. Maybe slacks a couple of times per week depending on what I'm doing that day.

    So I would like to upgrade that portion of my wardrobe. This is where my wife and I disagree. I contend typical appropriate attire would be something like slacks, dress shirt, sport coat. Or maybe jeans & sport coat on the more casual end.

    She insists that blazers and sport coats are out. Not just out, totally out and ridiculous, stuck in the 70's. I countered with the question if they were so out why are there 50 brands available? Why is Brooks Brothers still in business?

    I think she is wrong, and would be interested in the opinions of people here who think about these things much more than I do. I would like to keep it on a reasonable budget, maybe $300 max for a single jacket.

    For a start, these are a few I would consider that looks pretty good and seem appropriate for me. Would have all tailored. There is such a wide price range it is hard to discern real quality unless you see them in person of course.
    http://www.armaniexchange.com/product/mens/jackets/brushed+cotton+stripe+blazer.do?asc=&sortby=&size=&imageName=1501.10047.9210.040&sizeName=

    http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Geoffrey-Beene-Mens-Navy-Wool-Blend-Blazer/5107000/product.html?cid=142610&fp=F

    http://www.amazon.com/Button-Luxury-Cashmere-Black-Sport/dp/B00461QF7Q/ref=sr_1_21?s=apparel&qlEnable=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1294334945&sr=1-21&searchContext=B002O13E6A,B003178V4Q,B00316XYGM,B00277BP1W,B002X2XU7I,B001INCKX8,B000XYVYNU,B000WWVUIC,B002ZOKLYE,B000WWRQTE,B001OLOB22,B002Y40H8A,B002WYK6QA,B002ZOKMEI,B002YQRKM4,B002T6BSX6,B001DYK2GY,B001IN7Q5A,B0043M5NSA,B000WWVNJI,B00461QF7Q,B002NRE1LW,B001INCL5K,B0049HAGJU

    http://www.amazon.com/Burberry-London-Mens-Blazer-Sportcoat/dp/B0041XY5BC/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&qlEnable=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1294335281&sr=1-1&searchContext=B0041XY5BC,B004B4BAMI,B004B4DBV6

    So am I crazy and would look like an idiot in a sport coat? Would I receive a pipe and slippers as a gag gift on my birthday? (I am technically a nerd and could probably get a pass on fashion, but would rather do it right ;))
     
  2. GG

    GG Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2008
    2,227
    #2 GG, Jan 6, 2011
    WTF? That's like saying jeans are out of style.
     
  3. definitelysomeday

    definitelysomeday Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2009
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    #3 definitelysomeday, Jan 6, 2011
    The first 2 are more casual, the 2nd two, not so much.

    She's wrong, you are right.
     
  4. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #4 tundraphile, Jan 6, 2011
    I really like the Armani one. Seems the gray would go with about anything, especially jeans.

    The Burberry jacket just looks cool and would be nice on more formal occasions.
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 BigTex, Jan 6, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2011
    Add Ben Silver to your list of potential vendors.....

    Since taking over our in house engineering I just go with slacks, dress shirt and a nice tie....

    The professional world has gone downhill SO much in men's wear, IMO (finance, lawyers and banking excepted, maybe) that a necktie usually makes me the most dressed person in my meetings.

    Architects maybe still have an edge, on 'style'....LOL!

    The only time I wear my suits is to Church or funerals.

    I have two sport coats but the one cut in Western style gets the most use, being Texas and all.....:rolleyes:

    Don't call her "wrong" I think she's confirming my observation above that dressing overall has swung severely to the "casual" side of the pendulum.....grab a GQ or Vanity Fair it's still "out there" at certain social levels....
     
  6. stever

    stever F1 Rookie
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    #6 stever, Jan 6, 2011
    The classics never go out of style, 'fashion' does.

    You will only look bad if you buy clothes without trying them on/getting a good fit......you really aren't going to do that, right? (That first sportscoat looks like it's 2 sizes too small; maybe it's 'fashion')

    Get a classic navy blue blazer first, put on some non-metal buttons...wear with jeans, slacks, polo shirts, shirt/tie...anything at all really. Proceed from there.
     
  7. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 BigTex, Jan 6, 2011
    Be careful of some of the "trendy" Euro labels unless you are VERY thin/tall they are cutting to a tighter fit and don't 'hang' near as nicely as some of the more traditional cuts....that Armani Exchange example shows what I mean.....

    A Bill Blass or Tommy Hilfiger will be cut much fuller...jus' sayin'.......
     
  8. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 BigTex, Jan 6, 2011
    stever notices the same thing I explain, above....
     
  9. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #9 tundraphile, Jan 6, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2011
    Does anyone have any links for other jackets? Size would be roughly a 46L (18-1/2" neck, 37" arms is shirt size for example). I would then have them finish tailored after I receive them.

    Thanks.
     
  10. damian in nj

    damian in nj Formula 3
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    #10 damian in nj, Jan 6, 2011
    Blazers and khakis are fine, and when I fly I almost always do a blazer, button down shirt, jeans and comfy loafers. Sportcoats have their place too.
     
  11. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 UroTrash, Jan 6, 2011
    Sports coats are out of style?

    Try getting into my club without one.
     
  12. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
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    #12 toggie, Jan 6, 2011
    +1. My club is 99% sports coats in the evening.
    In the summer, often it is a light material sports coat over a golf shirt (aka polo shirt) with khaki pants.
    In winter, a heavier material sports coat over a long-sleeve dress shirt & slacks.

    I guess I could wear something different but I would feel somewhat "out of place" if I wasn't wearing "the uniform". :)

    As far as work here in the DC/Northern VA area, we still wear suits & ties for customer-facing jobs and long-sleeve dress shirts (no tie) + slacks for technical jobs. I wish we would go more "west coast" with the polo shirt and jeans look, but we haven't evolved that much yet.
     
  13. Noel

    Noel F1 Veteran
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    #13 Noel, Jan 6, 2011
    Everyone in LA wears sportcoats when going somewhere nice.

    hipsters have skulls on theirs.
     
  14. bigdavyc

    bigdavyc Karting

    Feb 28, 2010
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    #14 bigdavyc, Jan 6, 2011
    I'm an engineer as well, I get crap on a regular basis for being over dressed...and that usually includes jeans, dress shirt (w/ pocket protector for good measure). Forget it if I wear khakis, aka "slick britches"...and if I wore a blazer or neck tie somebody would roll out a red carpet haha.

    As you can gather I work with a bunch of rednecks, wish I could wear a blazer.
     
  15. Andrew Armitage

    Andrew Armitage Karting

    Oct 28, 2009
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    #15 Andrew Armitage, Jan 6, 2011
    I wear a sportcoat on occassion and sometimes get some grief over it. But when it comes down to it... It's me, I like it, I feel good when I wear it, and I project the fact that I feel good when I wear it. If you do what everyone else is doing, you'll just be like everyone else.

    Stick with a one or two button sportcoat. I'd say absolutely not to the three button. The choice of material has a lot to do with how it looks. A cotton / linen sportcoat will look good but will not appear too dressy. As far as vents go, you can't go wrong with a single vent. Double vent or Italian cut looks better on fit guys. No vent is no good.

    There are so many cuts and styles, make sure you try the jacket on before you buy. It's the only way to tell if it's going to look good on you. If you try it on and it feels right, you'll know that it's going to work.
     
  16. Andrew Armitage

    Andrew Armitage Karting

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    #16 Andrew Armitage, Jan 6, 2011
  17. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #17 donv, Jan 6, 2011
    A navy blazer will never go out of style.

    Personally, I don't care for sport coats (I'd rather wear a suit), but that's just me-- and I don't think I've ever been "in style" so don't listen to what I have to say.
     
  18. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #18 tundraphile, Jan 7, 2011
    I started here 3 years ago, and found out recently my nickname early on was "overdressed boy" by a couple of the entertaining women that like to do such things. This was with pants and button-up shirt. Now any time I wear something like that they just address me by my nickname and it's a running joke between us. I usually will make a joke to the effect that it was either this outfit or my old Michael Bolton '88 concert T-shirt that our dog sleeps on in the garage.

    It sounds shallow, but you just feel more confident when you are dressed nicely. Not overdressed, but nicer than average.

    Off topic but when I was in grad school (late 20's) and working also, I found that on days I was dressed professionally everyone treated me differently, and they couldn't figure out who I was and defaulted to being respectful and nice. When it was jeans and T-shirt days I was just another student and non-teaching faculty knew exactly how to talk to them. It was as drastic a difference as

    "Sir, sorry for the delay. Please have a seat over there and we will be with in just minute"

    compared to

    "Wait outside and we will be with you when we are ready"
     
  19. Motorcitydriver

    Motorcitydriver Karting

    Aug 9, 2006
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    Graham
    #19 Motorcitydriver, Jan 7, 2011
    I'm in heavy industrial construction, most days it's slacks and a button down, but on occasion must wear a blazer with or without a tie depends on were I'm going, then there are times a suite is in order. I do most of my shopping at the Ralph Lauren Outlets, they have fuller cut stuff, but also visit the main stores also. Do what is most comfortable for you. As someone else here said can't go wrong with a good blue blazer.
     

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