RL Polo Jacket Opinions Sought

[gregaz]

Friends,

Just typed out a novel, and had to re-write it into a paragraph:

Last week I listed three RL Polo jackets for sale. I received a few PM's wondering why I wouldn't keep the first one because it fits me so well. While I love the jacket, I had always been told that I need a 40L vs. 40R due to my height (6'1").

So, I am posting a couple of photos below - does the 40R work for me, or do I need a 40L?

The 40L has wider shoulders and chest, both of which I don't need. There is one on eBay now (not mine). The only thing I am worried about is the length.

PS: Pardon the sloppiness of the sleeves and the pants - took the photo in a hurry.

THANKS!

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

the sleeves throw me off a little in judging, but overall i think the length works well.

The back certainly needs to be cleaned up, and waist taken in.

shoulders look good.

 

[randallr]

good fit for OTR, like skinny said it needs some work

 

[Hard2Fit]

Shouldn't a 40L measure the same at the shoulders and chest as a 40R?

 

[gregaz]

Originally Posted by Hard2Fit

Shouldn't a 40L measure the same at the shoulders and chest as a 40R?

I thought so as well, but ... not the case with this RL line. The shoulders AND the chest are bigger in a L vs. R.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

i checked your other pic and the sleeves look perfect, you're a Reg!

long legs i assume, at 5'11" i usually take 1/4" out of the sleeves.

 

[forex]

Originally Posted by Hard2Fit

Shouldn't a 40L measure the same at the shoulders and chest as a 40R?
The only difference must be in jacket length,everything else,shoulders and chest must be same. Gregaz,sleeves are short,other than that jacket length is ok,I had to look at it once again,changed my mind.

 

[bowtielover]

Other then the fact that the tie and pants are not right for that coat, I would also haev to say that the sleeves look a bit short on the coat especially on the right sleeve.

 

[gregaz]

Originally Posted by forex

The only difference must be in jacket length,everything else,shoulders and chest must be same. Gregaz,sleeves are short,other than that jacket length is ok,I had to look at it once again,changed my mind.
I thought so too, but take a look at the measurements of this 40L jacket. This has been the case with other 40L's in this line that I saw - the shoulders are .5" wider! Here is another one. Weird huh?

Originally Posted by bowtielover

Other then the fact that the tie and pants are not right for that coat, I would also haev to say that the sleeves look a bit short on the coat especially on the right sleeve.
The pants went with a matching coat ... should've known that on SF no details are overlooked!

Here is a better sleeve shot.

 

[Hard2Fit]

That jacket is too short for you.
I suspect you are like me; between a 40R and a 40L but better off with a 40L.

 

[Modernist]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

the sleeves throw me off a little in judging, but overall i think the length works well. The back certainly needs to be cleaned up, and waist taken in. shoulders look good.
+1

Originally Posted by Hard2Fit

Shouldn't a 40L measure the same at the shoulders and chest as a 40R?
I got a Polo IV 42S in the summer from the B&S forum, because the measurements posted were closer to a 41R. In fact the shoulder measurement was just half an inch larger than the Polo IV 40R I got from Holdfast on New Year's. Sleeve was half an inch shorter (my tailor removed them and lengthened them from the shoulder), coat length was the same, and the chest and waist about 1 inch larger. I wear a 40R, and with a little tailoring it came out just fine.

 

[Journeyman]

I think that it depends on how you measure the "ideal length" of a jacket.

Some people like to use the "bottom of the backside" method or the crotch level method, where the bottom hem of the jacket should come down to the bottom of your backside or to your crotch level.

Other people like to use the "finger curl" method, whereby if you put your hands by your side and curl your fingers up, they should be able to touch the bottom hem of the jacket.

It seems to me that your arms might be quite long, as if you use the first method, the jacket seems (from your photos at least) to be the ideal length. However, if you use the second method, the jacket is too short.

Really, it comes down to individual preference. I'd rather have a jacket that was slightly too short than one that was slightly too long.

Interestingly, I've also noticed that some brands (at least, some cuts in certain brands) seem to make their "L" or "XL" larger as well as longer. I usually fit a 54/44R Zegna well through the shoulders and chest but I tried on a 54/44L recently and I was swimming in it.

 

[ManofKent]

To me the regular looks about the right length (particularly looking at the second photo), but I don't think it would look exactly wrong if it was an inch longer in the body. I'm also 6'1" (but a 44) and go for regular in Polo.

 

[MLIW]

I like the colour of the jacket but dont like the shoe colour.

So...!

 

[literasyme]

Jacket length is absolutely fine -- the body certainly doesn't look short at all, and an L would throw off the overall balance between your torso and legs, making your upper body look excessively elongated. You obviously have fairly long arms, making the finger-curl method almost useless in determining the right length.

Sleeve length is entirely a matter of personal preference. These do not look short to me -- (your) right sleeve is about as spot on as it gets, while your left is maybe a touch short by traditional standards, but by no means unacceptably so. You ought to have them evened out, though.

Rest of the fit looks fine for RTW. If anything, I'd say the shoulders are a hair too wide, but I don't think the back needs much cleaning up, and the waist suppression looks fine, though you could of course always have it taken in a bit if there's room (again, that's a question of personal preference).

Most importantly, get a pair of non-patterned trousers in some shade of gray. Neither of the ones you're wearing in the photos will work.