A new beast?

[johnapril]

At Saks yesterday, I saw a pinstriped suit by Armani created in a way I had never seen before:

fabric: 65% wool/35% elastine, feels like stretch material, only slightly thicker

construction: no canvass, no fusing, no lining, just one layer of fabric

styling: peak lapel, but the peak is ninety degrees from the suit's centerline rather than aiming "upward"

fit: hugs the body like a wet suit

I tried on the jacket. It wears like a perfectly tailored to fit jacket because of the stretch material, but this seemed to me sort of like cheating.

What is this thing? Has anyone seen this method being used by another maker?

 

[Lydia]

I guess somebody had to do this...
I'm pretty open-minded about the evil "stretch". The question would be whether or not the material feels and looks like it is 40% elastan. I mean, could you get away with this without people knowing what it was? Does it still appear pretty much like wool? Were there vents on the suit?
How are the pants fitted?
Where can I see this monster? Is it at the Boston Saks?

 

[johnapril]

It felt like wool.

No vents.

Didn't look at the pants.

I saw this thing at the Saks in Indianapolis, which is a B store.

 

[Carlo]

Somehow this one sounds frightening on a number of levels.

 

[johnnynorman3]

Sounds like a true four season suit to me: wear during the Spring and Summer; use an incendiary material in the fireplace during chilly Fall and Winter nights. Should burn real nicely.

 

[LA Guy]

I've seen this suit. Meant for "casual" wear. Sort of nice, but not completely my thing (I mean, who wears a suit unless they have to - yes, deliberate bait here.)

 

[johnapril]

I had wondered about using it as a firestarter. There is the issue of whether the elastine would produce toxic fumes...

 

[johnnynorman3]

(I mean, who wears a suit unless they have to - yes, deliberate bait here.)

John Romijn Stamos in "Jake in Progress."

 

[kabert]

There's a nice-looking Armani suit in the "Men's Fashion" NY Times magazine that was party of yestersay's Sunday Times. For once, the shoulders and button stance looked "normal." I have a hard time though getting past Armani's insistance on having no vents in so many of his coats.

 

[imageWIS]

Somehow this one sounds frightening on a number of levels.

Yes, it does.

Jon.

 

[imageWIS]

I have a RL Collection half-zip sweater form this season's (er, last seasons) collection that is made out of 42% Cashmere, 37% Cotton, 19% Nylon, and 2% Elastine. It has an interesting hand; almost soft like thick cashmere, but a bit rougher because of the cotton, and it has this amazing stretch characteristic because of the nylon / elastine.

Even though this combination is interesting for a sweater, it is definitely taboo for a suit.

Jon.

 

[johnapril]

I have a RL Collection half-zip sweater form this season's (er, last seasons) collection that is made out of 42% Cashmere, 37% Cotton, 19% Nylon, and 2% Elastine. It has an interesting hand; almost soft like thick cashmere, but a bit rougher because of the cotton, and it has this amazing stretch characteristic because of the nylon / elastine.

Even though this combination is interesting for a sweater, it is definitely taboo for a suit.

Jon.

Actually, this is what I needed to hear. That is presicely what it felt like the wear that jacket by Armani. I had noticed a similar thing in last year's collection, albeit in a lined jacket and not quite as snug. OK. Mystery solved.