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Suit and sport coat fabrics - a season mapping

CashmereLover

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Please help me, dear SF experts.

I'm a complete rookie when it comes to suits and sport coats, especially concerning the fabrics. I would like to find out what conclusion I can make when a certain sport coat is made of a certain composition.

Here's what I think:

Wool: all year, depending on weight.
Cashmere: at least winter, but what about summer?
Silk: no idea but I'm guessing summer?
Flax: summer.
Angora: no idea, all I know is that it's a rabbit.
Alpaca: no idea.
Cotton: at least summer.

What are your opinions? What would you add in my list concerning cashmere, silk, angora and alpaca?

As I'm looking for my first nice sport coat (e.g. a gray glen check Polo Ralph Lauren or something Italian, preferably not more than $400) for spring/summer, I'm trying to learn about the market.
 

Nicola

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Sweden? Summer in Sweden is likely cooler then here.

One think more in terms of colour for seasons. Lighter colours tend to be spring/summer. Darker fall/winter.

There are light weight or heavy weight in most things. Most of my cotton (all?) are fall/winter and would be too warm for spring / summer.

Didn't the Irish wear heavy linen during the winter?

I have a silk/cashmere blend jacket that might be my warmest.

You might want to consider lined/unlined in addition to fabric weight.
 

CashmereLover

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It's usually around 20 Celsius here, daytime, during summer. I do think in terms of patterns and colors as well, but sometimes it's confusing.

E.g. this sport coat: http://cgi.ebay.com/NWT-795-POLO-Ral...item27b8c50f82

Its fabric composition (67% Linen, 20% Silk, 13% Wool) seems like spring/summer to me, the color too, yet it looks quite thick and heavy... (description says medium-weight).

As for lined/unlined, I would prefer fully lined.
 

Maccimus

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Originally Posted by CashmereLover
Please help me, dear SF experts.

I'm a complete rookie when it comes to suits and sport coats, especially concerning the fabrics. I would like to find out what conclusion I can make when a certain sport coat is made of a certain composition.

Here's what I think:

Wool: all year, depending on weight.
Cashmere: at least winter, but what about summer?
Silk: no idea but I'm guessing summer?
Flax: summer.
Angora: no idea, all I know is that it's a rabbit.
Alpaca: no idea.
Cotton: at least summer.

What are your opinions? What would you add in my list concerning cashmere, silk, angora and alpaca?

As I'm looking for my first nice sport coat (e.g. a gray glen check Polo Ralph Lauren or something Italian, preferably not more than $400) for spring/summer, I'm trying to learn about the market.


I know there is a kind of rabbit called Angora but...
plain.gif
 

CashmereLover

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Originally Posted by NewYorkBuck
I would add mohair to your list.

And what would you say about mohair? I have never experienced this material (and I suppose it's over my budget for most sport coats containing mohair).

As for angora, I do have 25% of it in a Drakes scarf, and it's extremely soft...
satisfied.gif
 

MBreinin

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Silk is seen as a traditional spring and summer fabric. However, it is the world's best insulator. So, unless the weave is very open, it is HOT. I have no problem wearing something made from, or made with silk in colder months.

Cashmere can be very light and comfortable in hotter months. I have a sky blue SC that is 100% cashmere and the color says SS, although you could probably wing it in FW in the warmer climes, like where I live.

Mike
 

Marcellionheart

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I think it really depends where you are. When I was in England, I wore wool and cotton all year round.

Here in Canada, the seasons are more extreme. So there's tons of wool and cashmere in the winter. Spring and autumn I dress like I did in England, and in the summer, linen and cotton. I have one particular jacket that is a cotton/linen/silk blend that does well up until around 30 degrees. When it's over 30, I don't bother with a jacket usually.
 

Matt S

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For wool you should break it down into weaves. For example:
Flannel, cavalry twill, tweed: autumn/winter
Tropical, fresco: summer
Serge: year-round
 

CashmereLover

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Thanks, I have a quite good idea of what to look for. I guess what really triggered me to post this thread was that I've seen some Polo sport coats in fabrics (like silk and linen) that I strongly relate to summer, whilst these coats - in terms of weight and patterns - have appeared to be more suitable for fall. This has been a bit confusing. I'll try to avoid this confusion by looking for sport coats that are more obviously made for spring/summer.
 

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