My vote is for the 1818 sack. The lack of patch pockets on the O'Connell's is a deal breaker in my opinion. Plus you can get your exact size from Brooks, and you can try before you buy.

 

If you have already worn the blazer 'out,' and O'Connells is generous enough to make an exchange, I feel like the right thing to do would be to take the exchange and wait. June isn't that far away.

If the blazer is still 'unworn,' return and go with BB, I think. The BB might be a bit nicer, and you will have the advantage of trying something on in-store and also easy access to the in-store tailor if you do not have a tailor you already lined up.

Edit: Yes, also the patch pockets are nice!

 

If you have already worn the blazer 'out,' and O'Connells is generous enough to make an exchange, I feel like the right thing to do would be to take the exchange and wait. June isn't that far away.

If the blazer is still 'unworn,' return and go with BB, I think. The BB might be a bit nicer, and you will have the advantage of trying something on in-store and also easy access to the in-store tailor if you do not have a tailor you already lined up.

Edit: Yes, also the patch pockets are nice!

The O'Connell's blazer isn't worn out -- I just wore it once. They have no problem with a return.

I think I may go with BB for the reasons you cite.

 

If you are going to own only one blazer, at least for the foreseeable future, then don't get patch pockets. Patch pockets will doom it to casual use only, which is not desirable if you only own one blazer. I'm surprised the sizing was off: the best thing you can do is go to a fabric or quilt store and buy a tape measure (for a few bucks) and get someone to measure your chest*. This is the chest size you should order. At 5'9" you will be a Regular length. The tape measure will also useful if you frequent thrift stores, e-Bay, etc, so it will be money well spent.


* Your girlfriend, boyfriend, mother, or youth pastor can help with this. Stand up straight, arms down at sides, and don't puff out your chest. Hold the tape measure snuggly (but not tightly) around your chest immediately under your armpits. If you have a huge belly, then make sure to measure that as well and someplace like OConnells will have the knowledge to help choose a size. It's best if someone else holds the tape measure so you don't distort the measurement by trying to hold the tape measure under your armpits while not twisting your torso or puffing out your chest.

 

If you are going to own only one blazer, at least for the foreseeable future, then don't get patch pockets. Patch pockets will doom it to casual use only, which is not desirable if you only own one blazer. I'm surprised the sizing was off: the best thing you can do is go to a fabric or quilt store and buy a tape measure (for a few bucks) and get someone to measure your chest*. This is the chest size you should order. At 5'9" you will be a Regular length. The tape measure will also useful if you frequent thrift stores, e-Bay, etc, so it will be money well spent.

That is a good point about the patch pockets. I have a tape measure and will have my chest measured.

 

If you are going to own only one blazer, at least for the foreseeable future, then don't get patch pockets. Patch pockets will doom it to casual use only, which is not desirable if you only own one blazer.

A blazer is inherently a casual item. If you're in an environment that's too formal for patch pockets, wear a suit.

 

A blazer is inherently a casual item. If you're in an environment that's too formal for patch pockets, wear a suit.

Good point. If a blazer and sport coat are fairly interchangeable items, then it makes sense that you'd want to wear a suit if the occasion is more formal.

 

Part of my problem in finding a blazer that fits properly is that I've lost ~17 pounds recently. Since I've leveled-out lately, I believe it's time to upgrade the wardrobe, and find clothes that fit!

I've been fortunate to find three Harris tweed jackets at thrift shops and on eBay recently. The shoulders on those jackets are at 18.5" with one at 19". The chest on all three measure 42".

I mentioned this to O'Connell's by phone and he felt a 40R would be right. By my measurements, the O'Connell's blazer I received is at 19" shoulders and 43" chest.

Here's photos of how the O'Connell's blazer (40R) fits. Too big, I think. I may also have been standing with shoulders back a bit.

To fit in a 40R, what should a person's chest measurement be? I'll have my wife use the tape measure on my chest.

Just visually, would going down to a 38 or 39 be about right?

 

Here is another photo from behind. I think you'd agree that there is too much "bunching-up" of fabric at the shoulders.

 

That one does look a bit big in the shoulders - it seems to be hanging down off the ends of your shoulders somewhat. It doesn't look that big in the waist, though, so if you go down a size you may have to have it let out in the middle.

Normally, your chest measurement is your jacket size. 40" chest = 40 jacket. However, different makers and brands cut their jackets with different amounts of breathing room, so that's just a starting point and you should size up or down as needed to get a good fit.

 

My vote is for the 1818 sack. The lack of patch pockets on the O'Connell's is a deal breaker in my opinion. Plus you can get your exact size from Brooks, and you can try before you buy.

This is a subjective opinion, no?

A blazer is inherently a casual item. If you're in an environment that's too formal for patch pockets, wear a suit.

Hm. I suppose if one is wearing a three button sack blazer, it is already less formal than the average, two button darted blazer with besom pockets. Still a matter of taste, though.

 

Hm. I suppose if one is wearing a three button sack blazer, it is already less formal than the average, two button darted blazer with besom pockets. Still a matter of taste, though.

This is the first time I've ever heard that a jacket's button configuration and possession or lack of darts affects its formality. And yes, the choice of patch or besom pockets is a matter of taste, but Doc wasn't talking about it from the standpoint of subjective taste; he was looking at it from the standpoint of formality, which is a more objective thing.

 

The three button sack inherently looks more relaxed than a two button darted. I thought that was the general consensus here?

 

That one does look a bit big in the shoulders - it seems to be hanging down off the ends of your shoulders somewhat. It doesn't look that big in the waist, though, so if you go down a size you may have to have it let out in the middle.

Normally, your chest measurement is your jacket size. 40" chest = 40 jacket. However, different makers and brands cut their jackets with different amounts of breathing room, so that's just a starting point and you should size up or down as needed to get a good fit.

Yes, I'd agree that it extends over the shoulders a bit. My wife got out tape measure and we came up with 38". I was always pretty sure I wore a 40", but I guess the weight loss affected that measurement.

 

There's your issue! Always re-take your measurements when you gain or lose weight.

Honestly I think either of these blazers would be fine for your purposes. I hope you find something suitable and may the Force be with you.

 

This is a subjective opinion, no?

I just think it optimal to have casual pockets on a casual jacket. I like two patch pockets on most sport coats, three on some. But yeah, personal preference.

Gamma: I would definitely give a 38 a try. Having lost the same amount of weight as you, I've dropped from a 42 to a 40.

 

* Your girlfriend, boyfriend, mother, or youth pastor can help with this. Stand up straight, arms down at sides, and don't puff out your chest. Hold the tape measure snuggly (but not tightly) around your chest immediately under your armpits. If you have a huge belly, then make sure to measure that as well and someplace like OConnells will have the knowledge to help choose a size. It's best if someone else holds the tape measure so you don't distort the measurement by trying to hold the tape measure under your armpits while not twisting your torso or puffing out your chest.

Or the IT guy with those little rectangular glasses, or rural state trooper (you'll have to allow him to run your fingerprints), or your local stilt walker, or the zoning enforcement officer in your town, or...

Ahahahaha

Stick with mom if possible.

 

^^^ Or, I will bet there is a BB store in Detroit that has a tape measure.

They may not know how to use it anymore, but I'm sure you can talk them through it...

 

Stick with mom if possible.

Will my wife suffice?

 

^^^ Or, I will bet there is a BB store in Detroit that has a tape measure.

They may not know how to use it anymore, but I'm sure you can talk them through it...

Last time I went in, they said I was a 40R. As I recall, they eyeballed my size and had me try on a 40R sport coat to arrive at this number. Now, I know I've lost some weight since then, but I don't think enough to drop down to a 38R.

I think next time I'll insist on the tape measure method. But you'd assume BB knows what they're doing.

 

Here is another blazer option -- now you can help me choose between the THREE!



With the 25% discount, this blazer would come to $371.25

I'd have to order by mail and take a guess at my size. So that is a drawback to using the 30% off corporate promo at BB.

 

^^^ Or, I will bet there is a BB store in Detroit that has a tape measure.

They may not know how to use it anymore, but I'm sure you can talk them through it...

Last time I went in, they said I was a 40R. As I recall, they eyeballed my size and had me try on a 40R sport coat to arrive at this number. Now, I know I've lost some weight since then, but I don't think enough to drop down to a 38R.

I think next time I'll insist on the tape measure method. But you'd assume BB knows what they're doing.

Unless you're being fitted for a custom jacket, a tape measure is normally no more useful or accurate than the eye of an experienced, competent salesperson. Both are fine tools for getting you in the right ballpark, size-wise, but the way you find the right size and cut for a RTW jacket is by trying them on.

 

Unless you're being fitted for a custom jacket, a tape measure is normally no more useful or accurate than the eye of an experienced, competent salesperson. Both are fine tools for getting you in the right ballpark, size-wise, but the way you find the right size and cut for a RTW jacket is by trying them on.

That being said, do you ever purchase jackets/blazers off eBay or Etsy, where trying on before purchase is impossible?

 

The J. Press looks nice too, but isn't it just about identical to your Canadian-made O'Connells down to the manufacturer? I think my only nitpick with all three is that the lapel notches are a bit high.

I just think it optimal to have casual pockets on a casual jacket. I like two patch pockets on most sport coats, three on some. But yeah, personal preference.

Gamma: I would definitely give a 38 a try. Having lost the same amount of weight as you, I've dropped from a 42 to a 40.

Fair enough. I just feel there are some situations that warrant a besom pocket, two button darted blazer over a patch pocket, three button sack blazer. (Or perhaps something with a combination of those.) Certainly, there was an interview where I wish I'd worn the former. To this day, I'm still not sure if my blazer style marked me as too much of a dandy, given I was passed over for someone else!

 

I was in the same conundrum, and though I would have like patch pockets, I chose O'Connell's because I heard it was the more durable of the two (This is my go-to jacket, being worn several times a week, and spending a considerable amount of time in the car). I also heard that BB recently changed dimensions for its sack cut, and the New Orleans location doesn't carry these, thus I wouldn't be able to try on either one.

I now realize a third route I could have taken. I bet If I had called up Men's Suit Separates, they could've done a sack blazer with patch pockets. Maybe that will be the route I go for my next one.