Should I or shouldn't I buy... (clothing item)?

[gdl203]

Definitely do not size down

 

[Fuuma]

I got this coat the other day. I wanted a roomier coat with raglan sleeves (a balmacaan I guess) and I’m happy with the fit but I took some pictures and there’s a noticeable collar gap. I have to say that I tried it again afterwards and it’s not as noticeable as in these pics (must have had it pushed to the back plus head tilted to take the pic).

Should I try to size down? I think I could, but other than the collar I think it’s how I wanted this to fit.

View attachment 1543760View attachment 1543761

Doesn't suit you, droopy shoulders look sad and fit is too tight. Try a size up and if it doesn't look great pick another coat/model. BTW this fabric is very of the moment because of Balenciaga, if you don't absolutely love it, want to be edgynow or you're into trad clothing and have no idea who that Balance Jaeger is you might want to switch to something else.

 

[Patek]

Have to decide what to do with my The Flat Head Type II 6002W 3XXX denim jacket. It fits me perfectly and I love type IIIs, but It's fading fast with very high contrast which I don't like. I prefer more of a vintage, lower-contrast fade. Why did I buy a denim jacket that notoriously fades fast/high contrast? Of course because I got a good deal on grailed.

At this point I think I can either:

1. Try and sell it for about the same price I paid.
2. Keep it and embrace the 2010 vibes.
3. Try to wash it a lot, maybe with a drop of bleach to lighten up the "base" color? Maybe start putting it in the dryer? Does anyone have experience with either?

I'm reluctant to let it go knowing the company has folded. I think TFH will be "future vintage". But I'm also hesitant to keep it knowing it will only look worse to me.

This looks nice to me:	This looks very ugly to me:
View attachment 1541007	View attachment 1541009

Why are you washing it? That is where the weird fading is coming in.

 

[MickeyPunch]

No way you should size down. I would even recommend you to try a size up. That collar gap is no bueno... Also, the sleeves are a biiiit short for that kind of coat imho.

Fit looks small to begin with. Don’t go down a size.

Definitely do not size down

Doesn't suit you, droopy shoulders look sad and fit is too tight. Try a size up and if it doesn't look great pick another coat/model. BTW this fabric is very of the moment because of Balenciaga, if you don't absolutely love it, want to be edgynow or you're into trad clothing and have no idea who that Balance Jaeger is you might want to switch to something else.

Thanks everyone. Message received, I won't size down.

Is it houndstooth tweed in general trendy because of Balenciaga? Or just in this particular colour?

In any case I don't think I've seen a single coat all winter with this particular pattern/colour where I live so I'm willing to take the risk of looking "edgy" in the eyes of a select few. I guess if someone lives in San Francisco might have to worry about that sort of thing but not here. I knew I wanted a coat with raglan sleeves in wool, but plain flannel is too plain/boring to me and I'm not the biggest fan of herringbone and plaids.

FWIW I arrived at this coat because this Beams+ caught my eye. But it's a) too short and b) more expensive than I'm willing to spend (€769 at End, the only retailer I found in the EU), then I saw this Sandro one which I know is not a SF-approved brand but I find it good value when on sale, at least for outerwear (only have coats and jackets from them); this was 2 hundred something euro, 100% wool and made in a EU country, Romania I think it was (their leather jackets are made in Turkey though, not EU but I guess a step up from South Asia when it comes to workers rights, or maybe not so much?) and this is the first item from them where I've had a fit issue.

I also came across this @dieworkwear post when I was looking for a coat with raglan sleeves. I think this is the closest from that post when it comes to fabric pattern/colour to the one I'm wearing in the pics (though I'll never be this cool and I'm sure this guy was wearing it before Balenciaga made it trendy, and his coat is I'm sure 100x better in all regards):

 

[gdl203]

I wouldn’t worry about that Balenciaga référence. @Fuuma hangs with cool fashion royalty in Paris and sees it through that lens but for the 99% of us out there who never look at Vogue runway, that fabric is just an uber classic checked tweed that is very much consistent with a balmacaan coat. This version though feels a little small on you - and if you like the coat on that guy on the bike, go up a size or two (even if that means altering sleeves)

 

[DoubleDouble]

Why are you washing it? That is where the weird fading is coming in.

Hygiene?

Washing denim also improves its longevity, while not washing is going to give *higher* contrast fades. Moreover, whatever historical period/figure you are trying to summon through raw denim, chances are they washed their clothes.

 

[Patek]

Hygiene?

Washing denim also improves its longevity, while not washing is going to give *higher* contrast fades. Moreover, whatever historical period/figure you are trying to summon through raw denim, chances are they washed their clothes.

I don't know what you are on about regarding historical periods as that doesn't seem relevant to this discussion but I personally don't like the way raw denim fades with washing. It gets weird splotchyness and streak lines. I like the way it looks from fading along natural folds and high abrasion areas. I'm not sure about your longevity claim as most denim experts would say otherwise. As far as hygiene goes, there are plenty of hygienic options. Also, I'm not sure what you are going in a denim jacket that requires an antimicrobial. I tend to wear shirts under mine which are easy to wash.

 

[Fuuma]

I wouldn’t worry about that Balenciaga référence. @Fuuma hangs with cool fashion royalty in Paris and sees it through that lens but for the 99% of us out there who never look at Vogue runway, that fabric is just an uber classic checked tweed that is very much consistent with a balmacaan coat. This version though feels a little small on you - and if you like the coat on that guy on the bike, go up a size or two (even if that means altering sleeves)

I'm not saying most people will associate it with Balenciaga but it is def very present (probably lots of stuff at H&M, Zara etc) I think I even saw it at Uniqlo. @MickeyPunch mentioned Sandro which also tends to borrow extremely heavily from popular high fashion brands.

BTW I saw this less than 5 minutes after posting in this thread (I follow zero fashion brands AFAIK):

 

[dieworkwear]

I'm not saying most people will associate it with Balenciaga but it is def very present (probably lots of stuff at H&M, Zara etc) I think I even saw it at Uniqlo.

BTW I saw this less than 5 minutes after posting in this thread (I follow zero fashion brands AFAIK):

^ That's just a brown houndstooth tweed? It's even more generic than the coat fabric posted earlier.

 

[gdl203]

Is this the twilight zone? Super generic tweed and jacketing fabrics.

 

[Treble]

Private White VC have done nice Balmacaan's in a similar fabric. Made in UK and nicely detailed.

 

[tdes81]

Hygiene?

Washing denim also improves its longevity, while not washing is going to give *higher* contrast fades. Moreover, whatever historical period/figure you are trying to summon through raw denim, chances are they washed their clothes.

Handwashing on a rusty old washboard is the real old school way to get those sick westerny fades, with some added rust patina.

 

[Fuuma]

I don't think I'd seen this kind of fabric on any man under 40 (igents aside) before it became a thing but ok, we have always worn this and it will always be popular, I bet the Greeks swathed themselves in hounds tooth togas. I hear Spartans went to war cause their itchy togas made them super aggressive.

This shit is trendy guys, what can say. It still looks good but on young men it is a trend, it will stop at some point.

 

[dieworkwear]

I don't think I'd seen this kind of fabric on any man under 40 (igents aside) before it became a thing but ok, we have always worn this and it will always be popular, I bet the Greeks swathed themselves in hounds tooth togas. I hear Spartans went to war cause their itchy togas made them super aggressive.

This shit is trendy guys, what can say. It still looks good but on young men it is a trend, it will stop at some point.

I think every tweed mill has a version of a houndstooth tweed. Houndstooth is just a variation of twill, one of the two most common weaves (plain and twill). In a basic color like brown, I think it's probably one of the most classic patterns out there.

 

[tdes81]

I don't think I'd seen this kind of fabric on any man under 40 (igents aside) before it became a thing but ok, we have always worn this and it will always be popular, I bet the Greeks swathed themselves in hounds tooth togas. I hear Spartans went to war cause their itchy togas made them super aggressive.

This shit is trendy guys, what can say. It still looks good but on young men it is a trend, it will stop at some point.

Yeah but when it stops you'll be old and can keep wearing it as a fashionable old dude.