[Isca]

Hi all, I'm new here! I'm in my mid 30s and just getting into dressing a bit smarter. It's something I don't need to do often, but I want to look nice on the occasions when I do 'dress up'.

I have had my eye on a basic, versatile navy blazer for some time. I haven't actually owned a blazer since I left school about 18 years ago!

I just purchased a Ralph Lauren Polo knitted blazer for a reasonable price in the sales and would love a second opinion on fit please. It's kind of a modern take on the classic navy blazer: patch pockets, unlined, unstructured, 3-roll-2, but notably with 2 rear vents and in a modern fabric (ponte). The fabric feels really comfortable to wear - almost like a cardigan rather than traditional tailoring. I was looking for something smart casual that would go with chinos or jeans, as a classic navy blazer is something that's been missing from my wardrobe. I didn't want anything too structured or stiff.

Fit wise, I personally feel that the shoulder width, arm length and overall length are fine. However, I'm concerned about the chest width and arm hole size. If I even raise my arms from my side a bit (see image 2 attached), it stretches out sideways and looks enormous. I'm slim with a 40" chest and the jacket measures 20" pit to pit, so it should fit about right, but I think the armholes overexaggerate the width when my arms come up. It kind of bothers me.

Should I just live with this, or sell it on and look elsewhere for something with higher armholes? I don't think a tailor would be able to fix this, right? I've lurked on forums for a bit and it seems like high armholes are a real problem for off-the-peg stuff. If I wanted to find something similar to this but better - navy blazer, unlined, but higher armholes and a trimmer fit - where should I look?

Thanks for your help folks!

 

[215339]

I think the armholes look fine personally.

My problem is with the balance of the jacket itself.

You can see how the skirt/quarters overlap on themselves, and how the jacket doesn't drape nicely from the side.

 

[Isca]

I think the armholes look fine personally.

My problem is with the balance of the jacket itself.

You can see how the skirt/quarters overlap on themselves, and how the jacket doesn't drape nicely from the side.

Thanks for your response! Yeah, I think the drape issue is to do with the fabric. It feels like it hangs nicely, but having photographed myself it doesn't hang as well as I'd like when viewed from the sides. Do you have any recommendations of where I might look for something like this that will hang better? These blazers were £300 pre-sale, which was already more than I'm willing to pay to be honest - would I have to go higher than that to find something better?

 

[215339]

Thanks for your response! Yeah, I think the drape issue is to do with the fabric. It feels like it hangs nicely, but having photographed myself it doesn't hang as well as I'd like when viewed from the sides. Do you have any recommendations of where I might look for something like this that will hang better? These blazers were £300 pre-sale, which was already more than I'm willing to pay to be honest - would I have to go higher than that to find something better?

No problem.

That makes sense, especially because it's a knit fabric.

I didn't offer a recommendation in the OP because I only know of places where you can buy more traditional lined wool blazers with minimal structure, and I don't know if you're a fan of those.

The above is from Spier & Mackay, though it's not my jacket. I also don't know if their armhole will be high enough to your satisfaction.

The one up there is a hopsack, made in China, and $400 CAD. You'll probably be charged duties as well.

If you are interested though, I can shoot you a PM to get you 20% off the first purchase, and then I also get $20 in credit.

 

[Charles Dana]

In addition to the defects that "delicious scent" pointed out, the jacket is too short and the button stance too high. Such trendy attributes don't look good on anyone.

You are correct in seeing the problems that large armholes cause, but in order to get a jacket that flatters you, you will also need to pay attention to its length and buttoning point.

 

[SG_67]

It seems to me to be one of those jackets that comes in S,M,L,XL. It’s not a tailored garment and better suited if it were a cardigan.

It’s not a bad looking item. I just don’t think it fits in this case. Also, If what I suspect is correct and it’s not a tailored garment, I’m not sure that it can be altered as such.

 

[Flanderian]

In addition to the defects that "delicious scent" pointed out, the jacket is too short and the button stance too high. Such trendy attributes don't look good on anyone.

:happy:

:beer:

 

[Searching_Best_Fit]

@Isca

Please check this link about how a suit should be fitted: Real Man Real Style Suit Fit Guide

Keep in mind that this is just the starting point. There are other issues at your fit that were not addressed.

Let me be blunt: this jacket does not fit you, nor will any jackets with 40" pit-to-pit will ever fit you. Why? Your posture, or the way you stand, will cause the same issue even if you have longer jacket, lower button stance, or higher armhole. All of these features will not solve the root cause, nor will more expensive or built-up jackets will save you from bad fit.

Your sway back posture causes an overfill at the chest that causes the bow-out lapels and scissor cross quarters below the buttoning point. And the posture also underfills the upper back that causes the pleats at your shoulder blades. Your curve core causes the tightness at the back of your waist, and it is compounded with a tight and short jacket. The result is the wrinkles at your lower back. This curve torso along with your anterior tilted pelvis causes the vents to open, and this is also caused by the too short of the jacket as well.

There is no tailoring that can fix all these issues on a finished product.

If you want to stick with Off The Rack (OTR) route, you need to buy larger jacket to hide your posture defects, and it will never have 40" pit-to-pit. Paying more $$$ for the same sized jacket will not help you since the root cause is not how the jacket is cut, it is how you stand.

So, what is next?

See if you can return or sell this jacket since it is indeed too short on you.

Study the fit guide from the attached link more carefully to know where the things should sit. Then observe folks in real life or online to see how their clothes fit w.r.t. this guide. That should give you some ideas about how a jacket should fit.

Study how you stand, your posture, as well. A good posture can accommodate proper size clothes. A bad posture relies on larger size or special alteration to make it presentable. Pick your route about how to proceed.

Go to the store to try some jackets and observe how they sit on you. Do you see the same problems shown in this case? or not? or how does that compare with a proper fit? Is your posture correct, slouch, sway-back, or over erected? Be honest to yourself. There is nothing to prove to us strangers in online clothing forum. Check yourself against the guide. Have you achieved a proper fit? How and what can you do to achieve that proper fit? That is for you to find out.

There is nothing to do with the fabric.

 

[OldMetairie]

If you have to ask the question about fit you are most likely not comfortable in it regardless of the opinions here. Dump it and take it as a learning experience.

 

[eagle2250]

^^
A spoonful of common sense is quit often the best medicine! Thank you for that dose of reality.

 

[Andy]

Isca:

The fact that it's a double knit fabric is a factor. It's not going to fit like other fabrics. The purpose would be great to wear on an airplane as a combination sweater/sport jacket.