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I need advice on picking out a wool coat

r1013

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I have been wanting a wool coat for a few years. I was planning on buying a jcrew university coat, because I thought the pictures looked really nice. It looked like it would go with a lot of things from casual to dress. I stopped in jcrew last week, and tried one on. Just as a few other people on this forum has said, it fits boxy. I'm 6'3 200lbs with a 32" waist. I look stupid, like I'm wearing a big black box! I tried on a med and it was tight in the shoulders, short in the sleeves and still looked like a box. I own there cafe racer, leather jacket, and it fits excellent. I know they have a slim fit version of the university out, but they didn't have any in the store. I have seen several people on here mention Banana Republic. What similar jackets do they make that you guys recommend? Any other brands/styles that would be a good alternative that doesn't fit boxy? I suppose insulated would be a preference but it's not mandatory. I definitively do not like double breasted coats. I am of course game for the slim fit university if you have heard good things about it.

Thanks,
Matt
 

mensimageconsultant

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6'3", 200 pounds, 32" waist doesn't sound like you could wear slim fit. Generally a wool coat can be taken in at the waist, which probably will be necessary no matter what you buy. However, the coat must fit at the shoulders (and a slim-fit version certainly shouldn't run bigger there). Banana Republic might be bigger in the shoulders (and probably not slimmer in the body) than J. Crew, but the only way to be sure is try on a BR coat. If you want more suggestions, please provide a budget, shoulder measurements (or suit jacket size), location, etc.
 

r1013

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Thanks mensimageconsultant,

Eveidently I didnt have my email set when I got a reply.

I talked to a jcrew consultant on line and she was very nice. She gave me all the measurements of the slim, regular, and tall versions of the University coat. Your correct. Basically the slim versions are for smaller chest. I was thinking they were like athletic cut jackets. That p90x and crossfit pushed me out of that catagory! I still look really skinny with a shirt on but my measurments have changed a lot. I was trying to find clothes that fit me slimmer in the waist because all my shirts are so baggy. I have read on this site so much I fell asleep several saturday nights with pages up. Its a lot of stuff to digest trying to change my wordrobe around for the better.

The lady at jcrew suggested a tall version. But the sleeves are 1.25 inches longer that the regular. The sleves of the regular version come about an inch below my wrist. I wear a 34/35 or 36 in dress shirts if that matters for reference. The long might be to long. I'll go to jcrew saturday and see if the tall version comes in. The jcrew store here in town has a tailor so I'll then get them to take the jacket up some in the waist, that way I get the best of both worlds.

Jcrew does have a tall authentic peacoat, but I cant stand double brested anything. I wore a suit like that as a kid and it makes me think of that.

Just incase anyone was wondering about the measurments I'll pass them along.

The slim version of the University coat compared to the regular is:
1" smaller in the chest
1/4" smaller in the shoulders
1/4" Longer in the sleeves

The tall version of the University coat compared to the regular is:
1-1/2" longer sleeves
1-1/4" longer overall
 

r1013

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SWEEET!!

I went to order the jacket off J crews site. They have 25% off through Saturday. I decided to call the store in town just to see if they happen to have any talls with thinsulate in stock. I normally would just order online since there an hour away, but I'll be in town Saturday anyway. The girl said they don't normally carry the talls or slim versions but she could order it. She said they also had a special in store price of $178 on all the University coats until Saturday. Plus they would also give me the 25% off from the other sale j crew has going on. That's $140 with tax shipped to my house free!!! That's for a University coat in tall with thinsulate that retails for $275!! Tha'ts just barely over 50% off!!! Now to find a scarf to go with it!
 

tsmurfenator

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Question: what is the name class of wool coats that the JCrew University coat belongs to?
i.e. buttons fully to the top without being open like a sport coat. (or alternatively: a single-breasted peacoat).

I really like this look of the jacket and it is great for situations where even a sport coat would be overdressing, since it doesn't look like a sport coat. I would like to find a very lightweight version with same cut. The JCrew is the only jacket like this I know of by US retailer, sometimes I see them in Europe or Latin America but not too frequently. I think this jacket is very versatile and very underrated - peacoats outnumber them by probably 25x which is just crazy.
 

s0rce

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I have a similiar coat from Banana Republic with buttons and a zipper.
 

r1013

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I was trying to find alternatives to choose from to. BR was the main one I seen mentioned on here. I read until I was about blind on this forum for several weeks and I didnt really come up with anything in the $200-$300 price range I was willing to spend. I have some BR clothes but no jackets. I already have a jcrew down vest, a down jacket, and a cafe racer leather jacket. I figured I might as well go with jcrew again since I like there other stuff. I think I could live in the leather jacket!
 

ktrp

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In terms of fit, you unfortunately may need to decide up front what you might wear under this. Is it supposed to fit over a suit jacket, or is it supposed to fit snugly over a tight sweater?
 

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