Blazer or sports coat?

[Mr Tickle]

Found this at the back of a cupboard, think I bought it years ago and never worn it.
Would it be described as a blazer or sports coat?
Could I sell it and anyone have any idea what I should ask for it? Label is New and Lingwood and it's 100% wool and made in China.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Blazers have certain features specific to them. Traditionally, brass buttons are a feature.

The patch pockets and the piping around the lapel suggest a sport coat. What color is it?

 

[Mr Tickle]

Navy.

 

[maxalex]

Found this at the back of a cupboard, think I bought it years ago and never worn it.
Would it be described as a blazer or sports coat?
Could I sell it and anyone have any idea what I should ask for it? Label is New and Lingwood and it's 100% wool and made in China.

This is an orphaned suit jacket which, combined with its Chinese origin, makes it essentially worthless. Drop it at a thrift shop.

 

[breakaway01]

it doesn’t look like an orphaned suit jacket, not with the swelled edge on the lapels and the patch pockets. But I agree, I wouldn’t expect it to be worth much. Probably no more than $25 or so on eBay after fees and shipping.

 

[Mr Tickle]

This is an orphaned suit jacket which, combined with its Chinese origin, makes it essentially worthless. Drop it at a thrift shop.

How can you tell it is an orphaned suit jacket?

 

[maxalex]

A blazer would typically have contrasting buttons, generally gold or silver in the US but often just a lighter color button here in Europe. Beyond that, to my eye it just feels like a suit jacket. If you like it, go ahead and wear it as a standalone jacket! Americans are much more hung up on wearing suit jackets as separates; Italians do it all the time. But your original post suggested you’d prefer to sell it. I can say pretty confidently it would not be worth the trouble of listing it on eBay.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

This is an orphaned suit jacket which, combined with its Chinese origin, makes it essentially worthless. Drop it at a thrift shop.

I respectfully disagree. It may be an orphaned suit jacket but it would have made for an unorthodox one of that. The patch pockets and swelled lapel edges, I called them piped but whatever, suggest otherwise.

swap out those buttons for pewter or some other classic blazer button and you have a classic blazer.

As for value and resale price, I haven’t a clue.

 

[maxalex]

I respectfully disagree. It may be an orphaned suit jacket but it would have made for an unorthodox one of that. The patch pockets and swelled lapel edges, I called them piped but whatever, suggest otherwise.

swap out those buttons for pewter or some other classic blazer button and you have a classic blazer.

As for value and resale price, I haven’t a clue.

Yeah I hear you on that, but here in Italy we see many suits with patch pockets, which is kind of a signature Neapolitan look. (That would admittedly be rare in Milan.) In fact a few years ago I had Rubinacci in Naples make me a patch-pocket suit out of vintage donegal cashmere--but that's a very casual fabric. I agree you could swap out the buttons and wear it as a blazer. Given "Made in China" (presumably not a tailor in Hong Kong), I'm just guessing resale value is low.

 

[dieworkwear]

It seems unlikely to me that a RTW manufacturer, particularly on the lower end of the price spectrum, would make a suit jacket with both patch pockets and swelled edges. These companies are mostly making for people who are buying suits for weddings and job interviews -- something they'll wear once every ten years.

The only way to know for sure is to look at the fabric. Particularly on the lower end of the market, suit jackets tend to be made from fine, silky worsteds. Sport coats are made from textured, matte fabrics, such as hopsack and serge.

Very likely, the person you're selling this to will not know the difference between a suit jacket, sport coat, or blazer (a navy blazer is a navy sport coat with metal buttons; that's it). New & Lingwood, however, is a reasonably well-recognized name. I think you can get more than $50 for it on eBay.

 

[maxalex]

Given the range of legitimate opinions here on what this jacket "is," I think you're safe wearing it as a blazer, if it fits you and you like it. I would recommend changing the buttons to make it more obviously "not a suit jacket," but that's up to you. Either way no one will laugh at you, unless they're assholes and then who cares?

 

[maxalex]

It seems unlikely to me that a RTW manufacturer, particularly on the lower end of the price spectrum, would make a suit jacket with both patch pockets and swelled edges. These companies are mostly making for people who are buying suits for weddings and job interviews -- something they'll wear once every ten years.

The only way to know for sure is to look at the fabric. Particularly on the lower end of the market, suit jackets tend to be made from fine, silky worsteds. Sport coats are made from textured, matte fabrics, such as hopsack and serge.

Very likely, the person you're selling this to will not know the difference between a suit jacket, sport coat, or blazer (a navy blazer is a navy sport coat with metal buttons; that's it). New & Lingwood, however, is a reasonably well-recognized name. I think you can get more than $50 for it on eBay.

Good points Derek.

 

[Mr Tickle]

Look at this "blazer jacket" sold by Uniqlo ...
Does the fact that it comes with matching trousers (judging by the pic) and doesn't have contrasting buttons mean that it isn't actually a blazer at all?

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/men/featured/limited-offers?quickView=437147

 

[dieworkwear]

Look at this "blazer jacket" sold by Uniqlo ...
Does the fact that it comes with matching trousers (judging by the pic) and doesn't have contrasting buttons mean that it isn't actually a blazer at all?

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/men/featured/limited-offers?quickView=437147

I can't see what's in your link cause I'm in a different country. But the terms blazer and sport coat are commonly misused.

Doesn't really matter, tbh. I think the "proper" usage is a bit pedantic. But a suit is a jacket with pants made from the same fabric. A sport coat is a tailored jacket worn on its own with different pants. A blazer is a navy sport coat with metal buttons. Navy blazers are often made from matte, textured fabrics such as hopsack, serge, or doeskin.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Look at this "blazer jacket" sold by Uniqlo ...
Does the fact that it comes with matching trousers (judging by the pic) and doesn't have contrasting buttons mean that it isn't actually a blazer at all?

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/men/featured/limited-offers?quickView=437147

I wouldn’t take cues from Uniqlo as to what is/is not a blazer or what constitutes a suit jacket. Nothing against Uniqlo, I love them. I just don’t think it’s an appropriate example.