good god what have I purchased ?!

The other day on my lunchbreak I was browsing around in Keezers (a Cambridge menswear secondhand shop) and came across a Corneliani blazer. I first noticed the high gorge, then felt its silky, summer-weight drape, did a pinch test for canvassing (check) and gave it a cursory fit test. I purchased it and hurried back to work, figuring if it didnt work out, a navy Corneliani blazer would be easy to flip to another SF member.

Only now am I examining it closer and, in addition to being a half inch to big in the shoulders, I see that on the pocket tag, where it should say "virgin wool" or "cashmere" or whatever it says Rayon. WTF?! Why would Corneliani make a canvassed blazer out of rayon??

unrelated, is your avatar from The Maltese Falcon?

If it looks good, wear it and enjoy it! Sometimes I think the antipathy in the forum culture to synthetic fabrics is excessive. After all, we all like bemberg linings on our coats! I have a rayon shirt that has been an attractive garment that has given me years of good service. I have some other garments with blends of synthetics that ain't too bad, either.

Could it be that it's only the lining, and that the shell has a different tag?

Originally Posted by Eason

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is your avatar from The Maltese Falcon?
I don't believe so, Peter Lorre was younger and more slithery in Maltese Falcon. I think i's just a shot of Lorre being natty in his Hollywood Golden Age way, courtesy of google images.

Originally Posted by Teacher

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Could it be that it's only the lining, and that the shell has a different tag?

I was thinking that, but i you look closely, the tag states separtely that the lining is 100% rayon, and, furthermore, other corneliani jackets have the shell's composition in that position on the tag.

Does it feel like Rayon?

Rayon is produced from naturally occurring polymers and therefore it is not a synthetic fiber, but a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber.

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Rayon is a very versatile fiber and has the same comfort properties as other natural fibers and can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton and linen. The fibers are easily dyed in a wide range of colors. Rayon fabrics are soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates. The durability and appearance retention of regular rayon are low, especially when wet; also rayon has the lowest elastic recovery of any fiber. (...) Recommended care for regular rayon is dry-cleaning only, HWM Rayon can also be machine washed.

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Originally Posted by Gradstudent78

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Does it feel like Rayon?

well it certainly doesn't feel like its lining. It has this incredible drape, and its quite lightweight, definately "summer-weight" and cool like the proverbial other side of the pillow. It has an extremely fine, silky feel to it, in my ignorance I thought I was touching Super 1,000,000s based on its hand.

It's a bit delicate, but it can make a very nice hot weather garment. Rayon cannot withstand nearly the amount of abuse that wool or even cotton or silk can (depends on the fabric/weave of course), but sometimes that "non insulating" property is very welcome. Can you post a picture of it?

Originally Posted by j

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It's a bit delicate, but it can make a very nice hot weather garment. Rayon cannot withstand nearly the amount of abuse that wool or even cotton or silk can (depends on the fabric/weave of course), but sometimes that "non insulating" property is very welcome. Can you post a picture of it?

will do. Does this delicacy mean it'd be difficult to successfully tailor?

I don't think so, but IANAT... I'm sure it's easy enough to work with in the first place.

However, i'm not sure how it would react to removing pressed creases, etc. If I had to make a guess, after a good amount of wear, you wouldn't want to try to lengthen the sleeves, for example. They would probably wear along the crease line at the cuff the way that soft cashmere jackets do.

Rayon or Viscose is a man-made fiber using organic cellulose fibers. I'd not call it a synthetic.

I have seen a lot of women's clothes specially dresses and suits made it with 100% Rayon or a mix of it, the drape is great and flatters the women's silouethe and the feel is nice to touch ( It is this or it is subconcious motivations influenced by the woman underneath ).

However, I wouldn't buy me a 100% rayon jacket.

Originally Posted by JLibourel

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If it looks good, wear it and enjoy it! Sometimes I think the antipathy in the forum culture to synthetic fabrics is excessive. After all, we all like bemberg linings on our coats! I have a rayon shirt that has been an attractive garment that has given me years of good service. I have some other garments with blends of synthetics that ain't too bad, either.

+1

Last weekend I saw a gorgeous 50/50 rayon/cashmere Zenga sport coat at Nordstrom Rack in a sz 42R. Had it been a 40R, I would have snagged it.

Originally Posted by Stax

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Last weekend I saw a gorgeous 50/50 rayon/cashmere Zenga sport coat at Nordstrom Rack in a sz 42R. Had it been a 40R, I would have snagged it.

Is that a typo or was Nordstrom really featuring a "Zenga 50/50 coat"?

Can Oxford be far behind?

Then Carneliani!

Then...

Look: Here's a Zenga from the Platypus! Is real or is it not? Great price for Flat Front Zengas:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zenga-Mens-32-In...QQcmdZViewItem