Plainsman, I cannot speak on the quality of the O'Connell's blazer, but I was in the market for a navy sack too, and eventually bought one from J. Press. The cut is excellent and they are currently on sale for $300. I wear it almost every day.

 

Plainsman, I cannot speak on the quality of the O'Connell's blazer, but I was in the market for a navy sack too, and eventually bought one from J. Press. The cut is excellent and they are currently on sale for $300. I wear it almost every day.

Unfortuantely, J.Press does not go up to the size I need. Just short I'm afraid. Otherwise, I would probably get one from them. Brooks and O'Connell's go up to husky boy sizes.:icon_smile: So I have to go with what works.

 

When I was at O'Connell's, Ethan seemed to indicate the their blazer was "pretty much identical" to the one from Press. I'm not sure if this meant in terms of material and general construction, or if it was the same model from the same source, although I got the impression that it meant the latter. I'm in the market for a new blazer (unfortunately Christmas money went to an iPod...) and I think I will end up getting one from O'Connell's since it is the cheapest when there are no sales going on at Brooks or Press.

 

Unfortuantely, J.Press does not go up to the size I need. Just short I'm afraid. Otherwise, I would probably get one from them. Brooks and O'Connell's go up to husky boy sizes.:icon_smile: So I have to go with what works.

I have the O'Connell's navy blazer, and it is very nice. It has a quite natural shoulder. It has some padding but not very much. I think that they have used a number of suppliers through the years, so not every blazer is exactly the same. But most of them have 1/4-inch lapel stitching and besom pockets.

Funny you mention J. Press. In fact, the blazer I bought still had the Press label on the arm. Ethan told me that they bought a big run of blazers from Press's supplier because Press over-ordered and did not need them. Of course, I demanded that all evidence of Press be removed and the jacket be "O'Connelli-zed."

To me it seems worth every penny of $325. I am a 54L, so I had to go to O'Connell's, as well. The Brooks sack blazers I have tried on have tons of shoulder padding, which makes a sack look weird to me.

 

To me it seems worth every penny of $325. I am a 54L, so I had to go to O'Connell's, as well. The Brooks sack blazers I have tried on have tons of shoulder padding, which makes a sack look weird to me.

Same here. 44L seems like it was so long ago... But now it's 54L all the way. Nice advice on the Brooks blazer. If it truly is that similar to the J.Press sounds like a winner. Thanks.

 

O'Connell's

I've already made up my mind based on this and other threads that if I ever buy another full-prize navy blazer it'll be O'Connell's. Price seems good for what you get, particularly for something I'd wear so much. My current blazer is a Press, but it cost more than I should have spent, and while I truly like it is darted (the only darted jacket I can ever recall seeing at Press. It was what they had in my size/price range.) My previous blazer was a Brooks. Now Brooks has about nine blazer styles, none of which I like, and all of which cost more than I'd like to pay. (I don't want cashmere in my workaday blazer.) The O'Connell's blazer looks like the very real deal.

A related question: Anybody know what the price range is on suits at that estimable establishment? Sure it's a big range, but knowing what the floor is would be nice.

 

I believe O'Connell's also stocks some Southwick navy blazers. Not sure as to price.

OTR suits ~ $395-$995. Examples here https://www.oconnellsclothing.com/customer_pictures.php

 

I do not need one now but my next blazer will be from O'Connell's.

 

Plainsman,
I would go with the navy blazer from O'Connells for certain. I have two navy blazers from Press, one from Brooks and a dark green blazer from O'Connell's. I actually hate wearing my Brooks navy 3 button sack. The Press blazers seem to be exact replicas of the O'Connells green blazer and I find the button arrangement on those blazers to be perfect. I do not like the fit of my Brooks and the shoulders are padded to the nth degree. Go with the O'Connell's blazer and you won't be sorry.

Very best,
Towner

 

In addition to the basic worsted wool blazer for $325, O'C also offers a winter-weight wool doeskin for $395. That will probably be my next purchase, aside from some shoes. They also have flannel blazers, but these seem to a bit a "hit-or-miss" in terms of availability (and some have patch pockets). So I believe the doeskin is now their standard winter-weight blazer.

(Keep in mind, the photos of blazers and jackets on the O'C website are weirdly proportioned, making the shoulders look big and the buttoning high. This is not the case in real life, as KForton and Towner will attest, so view the on-line photos with a grain of salt. Ethan must be taking the photos angled upwards.)

 

One would think my coats would be less expensive if you big fellas would be made to pay your fair share--where's the justice? I bet Untilt's would be less than one bill.

I'm tired of subsidizing everyone else!

 

Advice on Plazer

One would think my coats would be less expensive if you big fellas would be made to pay your fair share--where's the justice? I bet Untilt's would be less than one bill.

I'm tired of subsidizing everyone else!

A.Squire-
Your assumption maybe build on quick sand that suits and blazers are priced on the person size. Your Alden 986 in size 10 1/2 and mine 8 1/2 are priced the same. (two winks)

 

A related question: Anybody know what the price range is on suits at that estimable establishment? Sure it's a big range, but knowing what the floor is would be nice.

To answer this question, the best advice I can offer is to call or email them and check. While their "house brand" of suits usually come in between $450-$550, I believe, they also have more expensive brands that are closer to the $700-$900 range. However, they also have random stuff thrown in there. For example, they had a Brooks Brothers suit in my size that was listed as $400, so who knows what else they have there.

 

Press "navy" Blazer color FYI

Plainsman, I cannot speak on the quality of the O'Connell's blazer, but I was in the market for a navy sack too, and eventually bought one from J. Press. The cut is excellent and they are currently on sale for $300. I wear it almost every day.

I just received a new Press navy Worsted wool blazer. The color is about one shade lighter "navy" than the two Brooks, (doeskin and lightweight worsted wool) that I am starting to replace due to severe wear. Just thought that I'd give folks a "heads up".
Tom

 

I just received a new Press navy Worsted wool blazer. The color is about one shade lighter "navy" than the two Brooks, (doeskin and lightweight worsted wool) that I am starting to replace due to severe wear. Just thought that I'd give folks a "heads up".

Tom, how are the shoulders on that blazer? Some reports here have indicated that the current Press offering has more padding than blazers offered elsewhere.

 

get a southwick. if not, make sure your choice of blazer has topstitching along the lapel. without it, it's too euro (read: burberry).

 

Press Blazers-often too long

I would be careful to get a Press Blazer without first trying it on. The often are longer than either Southwicks or BB. Has anyone else had that experience. In the 40 years I have shopped there (since college) they haven't changed this tendency?

 

Brooks vs Press

Tom, how are the shoulders on that blazer? Some reports here have indicated that the current Press offering has more padding than blazers offered elsewhere.

Egad- the shoulders are about the same as the Brooksease, (lightly padded) although neither is obvious. I also checked the length against the Brooks. Press is about 1/4" longer at most.
Tom

 

Plainsman, please let us know the results, post-purchase. One can't have too many blazers, and I am following all this with great interest. The suspense of this thread is killing me.