Damn you Neiman Marcus and your BEAUTIFUL Isaia sport coat

[Jumbie]

I've mentioned this before but since I'm not one of the more prolific posters on this board I don't expect anyone to remember but at 28 years old it's only last year that I had to start dressing up a bit more when I started my clinical rotations. Prior to that I lived in jeans and shorts and owned one black suit; which I wore maybe 2x/year to events such as *gasp* weddings. I've since remedied the suit situation and added a solid charcoal one but as it is I don't have much use for it as I daily have to wear my stupid, short white coat. However, over the last month or so I've been thinking about adding a blazer or sport coat to the rotation to wear out e.g. after I'm done at the hospital and want to go grocery shopping. So I've half been keeping an eye out online for some ideas. Today, I finished a short stint in the intensive care unit and my attending let me go home early so I had the chance to go to the mall and try on some of the brands that are mentioned here e.g. Brioni, Canali, etc. I know that they are out of my price range right now but I just wanted to see how the style would suit my frame so I could trawl eBay, STP, etc. for something used/cheap maybe. Interestingly, I didn't really like the fit of the Canali that I tried on. I don't have much experience with the line so I'm sure that there are different cuts but it seemed a bit too "old" for me. Anyway, to make a long story short I eventually went to Neiman and the salesman was helping me with a Zegna blazer. I liked it well enough but asked him for something with softer shoulders as my shoulders are already pretty broad and fairly developed so the padding was building them up too much. So he told me he wanted me to try on an Isaia coat and took me over to that section. I'm a 43L but a 44 or 42 would fit me depending on the cut. He only had a 44R in the blazer but then told me "hold on, I want you to try this on just for the size" and reached for the coat that inspired this thread - a chocolate brown cashmere sport coat that I'd never even have thought to look at much less try on; my mind was just kind of locked in to a traditional blue blazer. From the time I put on the coat it was like it was made for me. The sleeve length would need to be adjusted of course and there was a bit of collar roll to take in as well as perhaps a very slight taper but it fit me so much better than everything I'd tried on so far. It just looked really good on me. Plus, brown is a color that's always suited my skin tones. Sadly, at $3,400, the price is way, way out of my reach.

I'm now semi-depressed. *cries*

 

[Grayland]

I have a brown Zegna sportcoat and I love the versatility. I would never have thought a brown sportcoat would get so much wear. Of course, I got mine second hand, here, for $110. Not sure I would've enjoyed it as much for $3,290 more

 

[JayJay]

Temptations, so many temptations...

 

[leon12]

I had a similar experience with Isaia. If you watch here and ebay patiently, you'll find one NWT for $400-ish.
I snagged a solid navy from ed for about that.. brown should be easier.

 

[Gus]

I am a big fan of Isaia and own several MTM and OTR jackets and suits. I think they are one of the better values on the market.

But I would never buy on line from a seller who would not take a full return on anything I buy.

Isaia has made a lot of very different models so you may not even be close to your regular size depending upon the model. STP sells a lot of Isaia and has 100%, no hassle returns. I would buy one from them again without hesitation. But, I had to send back several to them that were just unwearable for me, in my size.

Neiman's will always have a few that go on sale but they go fast. The men's department manager said that they hold on to any Isaia jackets and suits for 18 months before going on sale. I don't think that is always true but a general rule of thumb. So, you need to be patient and ready.

 

[Doc4]

Originally Posted by Jumbie

Sadly, at $3,400, the price is way, way out of my reach.

I'm now semi-depressed. *cries*

Semi-depressed due to being $3400 lighter in the wallet, I trust ...

 

[Nataku]

This reminds me of a fairly recent thrift haul, overall - my best ever. Over a period of two weeks, I came across three Isaia MTM suits from 2006 and one MTM blazer from '02. Someone else on here got the other suit (maybe there were more?) . All 42L-42XL. I sold two suits and a blazer, but kept a charcoal gray w/ blue winodowpane suit for myself. I need to get it altered (shortened), but otherwise it's perfect. All came with the original NM hangers. Price? $30/piece for two suits, $20 for the gray/blue one and $5 for the blazer!

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by Nataku

This reminds me of a fairly recent thrift haul, overall - my best ever. Over a period of two weeks, I came across three Isaia MTM suits from 2006 and one MTM blazer from '02. Someone else on here got the other suit (maybe there were more?) . All 42L-42XL. I sold two suits and a blazer, but kept a charcoal gray w/ blue winodowpane suit for myself. I need to get it altered (shortened), but otherwise it's perfect. All came with the original NM hangers. Price? $30/piece for two suits, $20 for the gray/blue one and $5 for the blazer!

show off!

 

[Nataku]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

show off!

Wish I could get some of that luck back! The suits I sold went for damn cheap, $100....