Naldini suits

[sls]

Does anyone know anything about Naldini suits?

 

[Carlo]

Factory made fused suit, usually in current style in a nice fabric, you probably saw one on ebay advertised as a $2000 Genuine Naldini???

It has genuine fusing, genuine machine done pick stitching around the lapels...

It's a nice looking inexpensive suit. Don't pay more than $200 - you can often find them at Marshall's for $100-$150

 

[armscye]

Yes, the strong point of a Naldini is the fabric-- generally a 100s or 120s Biella-woven wool. Construction is largely machine, but the fusing interlayer is fairly thin. Sizing is rather generous, and they run long as well. I'd put a Naldini alongside pretty much any Armani (except a Baldessarani) or Boss.

 

[LA Guy]

Yes, the strong point of a Naldini is the fabric-- generally a 100s or 120s Biella-woven wool. Construction is largely machine, but the fusing interlayer is fairly thin. Sizing is rather generous, and they run long as well. I'd put a Naldini alongside pretty much any Armani (except a Baldessarani) or Boss.

Wheter you like GA at all, there is no justification for comparing these generic, boxy suits with the distinctive styling, drape, and fabrics of any of the Armani lines.

 

[Thracozaag]

Even Mani?

koji

 

[LA Guy]

Even Mani?

Fine, Mani. And A/X stuff too. But that is licensed crap, not even listed on the Giorgio Armani homepage - sort of the shame of the family hidden in the attic.

 

[Thracozaag]

Haha, very true.

koji

 

[Brian SD]

I live by early 90s Mani suits. You guys just don't know what real quality is

 

[dietcookie]

I live by early 90s Mani suits. You guys just don't know what real quality is

Dawg, you don't even know what real quality is. I was rolling in Perry Ellis suits not long ago. (true statement)

 

[uriahheep]

In my youth I was stylin' in Geoffrey Beene and Bill Blass. Fortunately that's not true.

 

[Thracozaag]

My first "real" suit was a Mani.

koji

 

[armscye]

I'll defend my comment comparing Naldini to Armani.

First, the cuts are not that different-- Armani cuts a broad, Scholte-style shoulder for any given size (in 44, their shoulder span runs 22 inches, as opposed to a typical industry size of about 20.5). But so does Naldini. The principal difference I see in the cuts is the more generous overall chest dimension in the Naldini, and the unfortunately larger upper arm diameter (correctable in either make). The Armani cut I have seen and tried still lacks upper chest "wrap", has the same billowy upper sleeve, and still has a low chest pocket after all these years.

Both suits are going to require a skilled tailor to fit most people optimally, so I fail to see the Armani advantage. They're both generously cut, good fabric, lightly fused suits with minimal handwork (as is the Boss). That's why I grouped them together.

The mere fact that those defending Armani have to explicitly exclude half of their product line tells me something: Armani is in fact the Italian version of RL: midgrade stuff with a high-grade veneer. RL zealots always defend RL with the same caveats, saying "Ralph Lauren is a brilliant design house, if you don't count Chaps, Polo, RL67, Lauren, Rough Wear, and all the other past and present crap." Yes, and GM makes great cars-- if we leave out everything but the Corvette and the Tahoe.

Rather than springing for a hideously overpriced, probably poorly altered $1000 Armani at some Collins Ave boutique, I would rather see a Style Forum reader buy the Naldini for $150, spend another $200 on tailoring, and have a suit that fits, wears for 5-6 years, and doesn't represent a marketing fraud. I'd probably first suggest that any savvy buyer look at a Samuelsohn or Corneliani, but that wasn't the question that was asked.

 

[cllamont]

Originally Posted by armscye

I'll defend my comment comparing Naldini to Armani.

First, the cuts are not that different-- Armani cuts a broad, Scholte-style shoulder for any given size (in 44, their shoulder span runs 22 inches, as opposed to a typical industry size of about 20.5). But so does Naldini. The principal difference I see in the cuts is the more generous overall chest dimension in the Naldini, and the unfortunately larger upper arm diameter (correctable in either make). The Armani cut I have seen and tried still lacks upper chest "wrap", has the same billowy upper sleeve, and still has a low chest pocket after all these years.

Both suits are going to require a skilled tailor to fit most people optimally, so I fail to see the Armani advantage. They're both generously cut, good fabric, lightly fused suits with minimal handwork (as is the Boss). That's why I grouped them together.

The mere fact that those defending Armani have to explicitly exclude half of their product line tells me something: Armani is in fact the Italian version of RL: midgrade stuff with a high-grade veneer. RL zealots always defend RL with the same caveats, saying "Ralph Lauren is a brilliant design house, if you don't count Chaps, Polo, RL67, Lauren, Rough Wear, and all the other past and present crap." Yes, and GM makes great cars-- if we leave out everything but the Corvette and the Tahoe.

Rather than springing for a hideously overpriced, probably poorly altered $1000 Armani at some Collins Ave boutique, I would rather see a Style Forum reader buy the Naldini for $150, spend another $200 on tailoring, and have a suit that fits, wears for 5-6 years, and doesn't represent a marketing fraud. I'd probably first suggest that any savvy buyer look at a Samuelsohn or Corneliani, but that wasn't the question that was asked.


Excellent analysis - wish I found this before I posted my $154 deal on a nice black Naldini. Just a bunch of knuckleheads responded.