grimslade
Stylish Dinosaur
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2006
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Last week, I ordered two suits from STP. We discussed them on this forum and I promised to report back on who came out on top. The suits arrived today, sort of... (more on that later). Both had original list prices in the $2,400 range. Both were purchased, of course, for a tiny fraction of that. The idea was to compare them and keep one. So here are some first impressions, in case they're relevant to anyone else in the future.
*The Isaia suit had basted sleeves and no buttonholes, the better to affix the buttons after the sleeve lengths have been adjusted. The Belvest has no basting and pre-sewn fake buttonholes. Round One to Isaia (although I guess Belvest gets RTW points...).
* Both are canvassed and unfused. Both are _gorgeous_ materials, although the Belvest has a more-subtle striping pattern. The Isaia has striped sleeve lining, as is traditional. But it also has Isaia-embossed jacket lining, which is a little . . . Italian for me. but it's a minor point. Round is a draw. Both are excellent.
* The Belvest has, it seems to me, softer shoulders and an overall slightly more natural-feeling fit. YMMV, but I give this round to Belvest; the Isaia shoulders are too pronounced for me. Obviously this sort of silhouette question is deeply personal, but there you have it.
* Last Round - Pants. The Belvest wins. Hands down. The Isaia loses, pants down. Want to know why? Because the Isaia arrived without pants.
That's right, no pants. But what I love about STP is that they won't even bat an eye about taking it back pantless. More substantively, neither had suspender buttons. In the case of the Isaia, that's understandable (OK, I'll stop now). But seriously, I was mildly surprised not to have them. Maybe that's just not the Italian way? I don't know. If someone else does, chime in.
So, I'm keeping the Belvest. It's a v. nice suit. I wish I could have tried on the Isaia pants since they were flat-front and the Belvest's are single-pleated, but luckily the Belvest fits reasonably well before alterations--and my wife prefers it anyway.
If anyone has any other questions about either suit or maker, let me know. Hope it's informative to someone out there.
*The Isaia suit had basted sleeves and no buttonholes, the better to affix the buttons after the sleeve lengths have been adjusted. The Belvest has no basting and pre-sewn fake buttonholes. Round One to Isaia (although I guess Belvest gets RTW points...).
* Both are canvassed and unfused. Both are _gorgeous_ materials, although the Belvest has a more-subtle striping pattern. The Isaia has striped sleeve lining, as is traditional. But it also has Isaia-embossed jacket lining, which is a little . . . Italian for me. but it's a minor point. Round is a draw. Both are excellent.
* The Belvest has, it seems to me, softer shoulders and an overall slightly more natural-feeling fit. YMMV, but I give this round to Belvest; the Isaia shoulders are too pronounced for me. Obviously this sort of silhouette question is deeply personal, but there you have it.
* Last Round - Pants. The Belvest wins. Hands down. The Isaia loses, pants down. Want to know why? Because the Isaia arrived without pants.

So, I'm keeping the Belvest. It's a v. nice suit. I wish I could have tried on the Isaia pants since they were flat-front and the Belvest's are single-pleated, but luckily the Belvest fits reasonably well before alterations--and my wife prefers it anyway.
If anyone has any other questions about either suit or maker, let me know. Hope it's informative to someone out there.