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Are Elbow Patches Appropriate for My Suit?

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Dr. François

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My impression is that patches are more appropriate for country coats and suits. However, I saw the movie IF... recently, and one of the instructors at the British prep academy had patches on his medium grey suit, probably because it was his only suit and had worn out. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Here are some details to consider before you weigh in:

1. The suit is inexpensive (some might even say "cheap" or both!).
2. The suit fits me very well.
3. The suit is solid navy worsted.
4. I'm an academic (professor).
5. I wear a coat and tie every day (60/40 suits/odd jackets).

Do I get rid of the coat and keep the pants or attempt to patch the elbows?
 
#3 ·
I'm no great fan of elbow patches, only on tweeds, and even then. It would look like you were trying to resemble the stereotype as much as possible. Of course, if you're a dead ringer for Colin Firth or Jim Broadbent, you certainly could pull it off.
 
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#4 ·
I tend to think navy would be an odd pairing with patches. What color would the patches be? And how heavy is the cloth? Lightweigh cloth with heavy patches won't just look odd, I expect it would do strange things to the fall/drape of the arms.
 
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#9 · (Edited)
if it was tweed then yes. but not on a suit.
that is unless there is a tradition of suede elbows on suits in your school.
if not,why not start one.
didnt your mother tell you to keep your elbows off the table?
 
#11 ·
At the colleges and universities with which I'm familiar, wearing a suit and tie more than half the time would already mark a professor as slightly eccentric, in a negative way. Elbow patches would transform the appearance from "uptight, overly formal eccentric" to "quirky, thrifty eccentric." So I say go for it.

But I'm from California, so weigh my opinion with whatever discount factor that implies.
 
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#12 · (Edited)
Kurt N said:
At the colleges and universities with which I'm familiar, wearing a suit and tie more than half the time would already mark a professor as slightly eccentric, in a negative way. Elbow patches would transform the appearance from "uptight, overly formal eccentric" to "quirky, thrifty eccentric." So I say go for it.
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I don't believe there is an academic dress code. Goes against the whole academic thing! Many professors in grad schools wear suits, and law professors are especially dapper.
A patched Tweed coat is almost an academic uniform for the rest of us, though, and I love that. I have a nice brown cheap kind Lauren RL which works fine. I picked a Harris tweed 25 years ago, deep on sale at Harrods, when I was a college student which I had to give away later (I am twice the size, now). I still miss that. It was green gray.
Having said all that I just picked this (not tweed, but patches) from ebay for a price I should never have paid (buyer's remorse!) and don't know how it will fit, but check it out:

Cheers
 
Discussion starter · #14 · (Edited)
Thanks for your input, all.

Alex: you're right...I should keep my elbows off the table.

Kurt: Your observation would hold for nearly all of my friends in other colleges and departments, but I teach in a professional school where all administrators and many professors wear a coat and tie every day, and almost always to lecture. I strive to be among the best dressed, not just the passably dressed. Moreover, my students enter a profession where they are expected to adhere to a business-professional dress code, and I see it as one of my duties to model for them what that is.

I think I just talked myself out of patching the jacket! Think of the children!

I think I'll give the coat to a guy in the fraternity I advise on campus. Maybe he can use it as a blazer for a year or two and get some more mileage out of it.

Edit to comment on post:
Many professors in grad schools wear suits, and law professors are especially dapper.
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Spot on, good Catside, spot on!
 
#16 ·
I am reviving this thread. I thrifted a nice Chaps 3/2 corduroy, Camel color. One of the buttons is missing so I will hunt for leather buttons. I was wondering if I should put elbow patches on a sack corduroy just like a regular 2 button.
 
#17 ·
catside said:
I am reviving this thread. I thrifted a nice Chaps 3/2 corduroy, Camel color. One of the buttons is missing so I will hunt for leather buttons. I was wondering if I should put elbow patches on a sack corduroy just like a regular 2 button.
Click to expand...
Elbow patches would definitely be appropriate. But do the elbows need patches? If they don't, is it worth the effort?
 
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Matt S
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