Navy Blue Blazer With Patch Pockets

1267 Views 39 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Preppy Climber, 4 d ago

Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · 18 d ago

Hi! I'm contemplating whether to purchase this Brooks Brothers navy blue blazer, 100% wool, twill weave. All patch pockets. Do you think it's too casual/informal for a "classic" navy blazer or perhaps school boy'ish both because of the three patch pockets? It is boy's sizing and advertised as "prep." I've read older posts on navy blazers with patch pockets versus other pockets but would be interested in current opinions. I recently purchased a dark blue/navy doeskin blazer (Polo by Ralph Lauren, chest welt pocket, waist flap pockets) and am interested in adding a classic navy blue blazer for spring/summer wear and semi-casual and some semi-formal outings (I could also wear a two-piece suit for the latter). Finding

Coat Dress shirt Tie Neck Sleeve

a navy blazer that is 100% wool is difficult in my size (5' 1", 103 lbs). I'm limited to boy's blazers most of which are not 100% wool. I'm drawn to this BB blazer (perhaps because it's preppy looking? 😁) but am wondering if its versatility is limited due to all patch pockets especially given that it's a navy blazer. I also read that wearing a pocket square isn't ideal with a patch pocket, but would that be a deal breaker (oh, and pocket squares are my next list of items to add to my ensembles!)? For any formal events I attend (both of which are few and far between), I will wear a two-piece suit (still dialing in that wool suit), so I'll be covered there. Your thoughts/feedback on this BB blazer are much appreciated!

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William Kazak

· #2 · 18 d ago

Ai first glance I noticed the patch pockets with the flaps. Seems ok to me. You could always tuck the flaps in if you wish to. Navy blazers have a nautical theme inherently and I like that. Preppy? Maybe. Elite Eastern college? Just great with me. Patch pocket on top. I have seen well dressed movie stars of the 50's and 60's wearing a pocket square in a pocket like that. You are hard to fit? If it is available go and get it I say.

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #3 · 17 d ago

William Kazak said:
Ai first glance I noticed the patch pockets with the flaps. Seems ok to me. You could always tuck the flaps in if you wish to. Navy blazers have a nautical theme inherently and I like that. Preppy? Maybe. Elite Eastern college? Just great with me. Patch pocket on top. I have seen well dressed movie stars of the 50's and 60's wearing a pocket square in a pocket like that. You are hard to fit? If it is available go and get it I say.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response! I like all that you wrote.

fishertw

· #4 · 17 d ago

My favorite blazers have all been Brooks and with patch and flap pockets. I know that some disagree, but I think that sport coats and blazers tend to be one notch down o the formality scale below suits, with Blazers being next in line down the scale.. I grew up in the 60's and 3/2 roll jackets and blazers with gold buttons were what young men of my generation in the south wore. I do think this one will fill a niche for you and hope you purchase it.

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Vecchio Vespa

· #5 · 17 d ago

In the TNSIL world (the grownup version of preppy), patch pockets are highly desired features on navy blazers, as are those lovely swelled seams. If the twill is a fairly lightweight twill, it ought to be fine where you live. If you were on the Gulf Coast I'd suggest tropical worsted instead. Great catch. Best of luck!

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #6 · 17 d ago

fishertw said:
My favorite blazers have all been Brooks and with patch and flap pockets. I know that some disagree, but I think that sport coats and blazers tend to be one notch down o the formality scale below suits, with Blazers being next in line down the scale.. I grew up in the 60's and 3/2 roll jackets and blazers with gold buttons were what young men of my generation in the south wore. I do think this one will fill a niche for you and hope you purchase it.

Thank you, Tom! I've been tooling around eBay and such, and found a size 16 and 18, both in very good condition and at a much lower price than retail. I typically wear a size 16, but the 18 in this style might be a better fit based on measurements provided thus far. I'm waiting to hear back from the size 18 seller as I had a few questions, including button stance measurement--another thing I've learned recently to pay attention to!

Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #7 · 17 d ago

Vecchio Vespa said:
In the TNSIL world (the grownup version of preppy), patch pockets are highly desired features on navy blazers, as are those lovely swelled seams. If the twill is a fairly lightweight twill, it ought to be fine where you live. If you were on the Gulf Coast I'd suggest tropical worsted instead. Great catch. Best of luck!

Thank you so much! You and others have convinced me that this would be the ideal blazer for me!

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #8 · 17 d ago

The two BB blazers I saw on eBay state "Ing Loro Piana, Super 120's Wool" The newbie that I am has never heard of that type of wool. Is it different than twill, advertised on the BB website? Is one better than the other? Thanks!

Vecchio Vespa

· #9 · 17 d ago

Preppy Climber said:
The two BB blazers I saw on eBay state "Ing Loro Piana, Super 120's Wool" The newbie that I am has never heard of that type of wool. Is it different than twill, advertised on the BB website? Is one better than the other? Thanks!

I think of 120s as a high quality tropical worsted, but I am sure the seller will advise. That would be my preferred fabric for summer. It is what I have and treasure, made by the same company that made them for BB, Southwick. Others better versed in fabrics are invited to chime in if I got this wrong.

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #10 · 17 d ago

Vecchio Vespa said:
I think of 120s as a high quality tropical worsted, but I am sure the seller will advise. That would be my preferred fabric for summer. It is what I have and treasure, made by the same company that made them for BB, Southwick. Others better versed in fabrics are invited to chime in if I got this wrong.

Thanks! I'll check in with the seller.

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StephenRG

· #11 · 14 d ago

I had a SBPL blue blazer made with hopsack material and patch pockets (and got them to add smoked MOP buttons). No flaps. I care not whether it's correct. It looks very good.

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fishertw

· #12 · 14 d ago

Loro Piana120's is what my lighter weight BB 2/3 blazer is labeled. I use it for 3 season wear- Spring, Summer early fall.

Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #13 · 14 d ago

StephenRG said:
I had a SBPL blue blazer made with hopsack material and patch pockets (and got them to add smoked MOP buttons). No flaps. I care not whether it's correct. It looks very good.

Thanks! I expecially love your last two sentences.

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Cliffnopus

· #14 · 14 d ago

Think of Loro Piana first and foremost as a mill. A source of fine fabrics. I am lucky enough to have several pieces sourced from Loro Piana. Also Holland and Sherry and Vitale Barberis Canonico. All great woolen mills and there are many others.

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #15 · 14 d ago

Cliffnopus said:
Think of Loro Piana first and foremost as a mill. A source of fine fabrics. I am lucky enough to have several pieces sourced from Loro Piana. Also Holland and Sherry and Vitale Barberis Canonico. All great woolen mills and there are many others.

This is helpful. Thank you!

Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #16 · 14 d ago

Does anyone know whether this Polo by Ralph Lauren patch pocket navy blazer is a 3/2 roll or a "regular" three-button blazer? Does the top button have to be unbuttoned to determine whether it is a 3/2 roll? I included a link to the page. My apologies, but I'm unable to attach a photo. Thanks! Polo Ralph Lauren navy blue blazer boys sz 18

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #17 · 14 d ago

Preppy Climber said:
Does anyone know whether this Polo by Ralph Lauren patch pocket navy blazer is a 3/2 roll or a "regular" three-button blazer? Does the top button have to be unbuttoned to determine whether it is a 3/2 roll? I included a link to the page. My apologies, but I'm unable to attach a photo. Thanks! Polo Ralph Lauren navy blue blazer boys sz 18

@fishertw Tom, I believe this is the same type of blazer I asked about in a previous post. Your response was: "Given the way this jacket has a small bulge on the left side, and the lower pockets are patch and flap, It could be that it is a 3 button rolled to 2 in which the top button actually does not show when the top button is unbuttoned as it is supposed to be. If so, you have a real find in the trad world. Just an opinion but I think it would be a good purchase." I will ask the seller if she can take a photo of the blazer with the top button unbuttoned.

oxford cloth button down

· #18 · 13 d ago

The easiest way to tell if it is a 3/2 or not is to look at which side the button hole is finished on. On a 3/2 roll the button hole will be finished on the inside or opposite of the other 2 button holes. If it is a 3 button all the button hole will be finished on the same side. I hope this helps.

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Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #19 · 13 d ago

oxford cloth button down said:
The easiest way to tell if it is a 3/2 or not is to look at which side the button hole is finished on. On a 3/2 roll the button hole will be finished on the inside or opposite of the other 2 button holes. If it is a 3 button all the button hole will be finished on the same side. I hope this helps.

oxford cloth button down said:
The easiest way to tell if it is a 3/2 or not is to look at which side the button hole is finished on. On a 3/2 roll the button hole will be finished on the inside or opposite of the other 2 button holes. If it is a 3 button all the button hole will be finished on the same side. I hope this helps.

Perfect! And easy-peasy way to tell the difference. Thank you so much!!

Preppy Climber

Discussion Starter · #20 · 13 d ago

All, I'm excited! I ended up purchasing the BB blazer, used, super 120's wool, on eBay for a fraction of the retail price. The seller said it's in very good condition (keeping my fingers crossed). Will be shipped today. The blazer I purchased will have to be altered in some areas (esp. since I bought one size larger), but that's always the case for me! My tailor recommended the one size larger due to the lower button stance. I'll be paying more for the tailoring than the blazer itself, but I would have to get a few areas altered for a new blazer as well.

So, this blazer will be on the dressier side given the type of wool. Tooling around the forum, I've read that it's not recommended to wear this type of blazer with chinos/khakis due to the drastic material contrast (semi formal vs. casual) and that hopsack blazers are better suited for matching with chinos/khakis. For hopsack blazers, should I stick with 100% wool or is a wool blend adequte? I saw two on the Land's End website that are a wool blend (they describe it as silky 55% polyester/45% wool blend) and an affordable price (but do you get what you pay for?). As it's described as "silky": Does that mean it's not a true hopsack as the weave is supposed to be on the rougher side?

Land's End offers two versions of what they describe as a hopsack blazer: A tailored fit (with darts on the front) and what I assume is a sack fit, no darts. Given my petite frame, I'm assuming a tailored fit would look better on me. ? In case you're interested and can offer an opinion/response: Boys' Blazers | Lands' End You can zero in on the material fabric. It looks to be a slightly rougher weave, but I'm not entirely sure. I really admire navy blazers, so I would be cool with several: doeskin (which I have and am love with) for fall/winter, semi-formal super 120's wool for spring/summer, and hopsack for more casual wear. I'm boring as I want navy blue for all three. LOL BTW, if I'm being a pain by asking you a bunch of questions for this and other items, I'll be mindful for future reference! I really appreciate everyone's time and help, but I also understand if I'm getting to be a bear!

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