Temperature "rating" for Crispaire

[Vintage Gent]

I have a three piece suit on order from Chan--single-breasted jacket with a double-breasted vest. It's being made in an Oxford grey suiting from the H&S Crispaire book. I'm curious to know, from those of you who have experience with the fabric, at what approximate minimum temperature the suit would no longer be warm enough.

Since I live in the subtropics, where warm weather extends somewhat significantly beyond the traditional boundaries of the Northern Hemisphere summer, I'd like to be able to wear the suit as much as possible. Still, we're not without cooler weather in the winter months, with some days that clearly would be too cold for such a suit.

 

[Will]

Originally Posted by Vintage Gent

I'm curious to know, from those of you who have experience with the fabric, at what approximate minimum temperature the suit would no longer be warm enough.


That'll depend on whether the jacket's fully lined, the amount of wind blowing, and your attitude towards the cold.

I have one 10 ounce CrispAire that's half lined. I wear it on 60-90 degree farenheit days. With a full lining and the vest you should be able to wear it comfortably down to perhaps 50 degrees f without resorting to long underwear.

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by Will

That'll depend on whether the jacket's fully lined, the amount of wind blowing, and your attitude towards the cold.

I have one 10 ounce CrispAire that's half lined. I wear it on 60-90 degree farenheit days. With a full lining and the vest you should be able to wear it comfortably down to perhaps 50 degrees f without resorting to long underwear.

50 degrees? Not too shabby. Thanks for the input.

 

[dopey]

I think it is wearable year round as long as you have some protection from the breeze. In cold weather, a wind will cut you like a knife because the weave is open. But as far as insulating in still air or under an overcoat, they do just fine. Both my crispaire suits have waistcoats, which contribute a fair bit of warmth if I want that. Their seasonality is more a function of their color than of their weight.

 

[Tomasso]

The trousers tend to get a little breezy under 60; the jacket not so much but then there are layers of shirt and undershirt to mitigate the chill.

 

[Manton]

At the other end, I have found that the heavier weight/more open weave trade off does not work so well in sodden humidity. Something to think about given where you live.

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by Manton

At the other end, I have found that the heavier weight/more open weave trade off does not work so well in sodden humidity. Something to think about given where you live.

Good point, although summers down here are spent shuttling among obscenely air-conditioned environments, so that's probably less of a concern here than in the Northeast.

 

[Will]

Originally Posted by Manton

I have found that the heavier weight/more open weave trade off does not work so well in sodden humidity.

But then, nothing does. Who hasn't sweated through a seersucker suit?

 

[Manton]

I do a lot better in seven ounce cotton than in nine ounce fresco on the most liquid days.

 

[kolecho]

I use my 10oz Crispaire suits for travel in the US and Europe in spring and fall. I find them to be too warm for real summer (half lined jacket) and too cold for winters in the Northeast (especially the unlined pants). With an overcoat, I can extend its use into Northeast winter. I would not keep Crispaire in my wardrobe for NY winters if I were a New Yorker though.

For severe summer, try Minnis Fresco, 8/9 oz version. They are very cool, smooth and has decent drape for its weight.