Windowpane: Sports Coat or Suit?

[tim_horton]

OK I get that pinstripes are only for suits, not sport coats.

But windowpane patterns: I've seen them for both. What's the deal? Are some windowpanes better for SC and others better for suits? I'm asking because for my second MTM garment I want a windowpane, but I have more suits than sports coats... But I feel like the most memorable windowpane outfits involved suits.

To be clear, I'm talking about a basic windowpane, like this one here, though not necessarily in the same color (I'm thinking charcoal or navy with a muted windowpane.)

As for how I'll use it, I work in an academic medical practice. As long as I wear slacks and a tie, they could care less what I wear one way or another! So I can wear what I want. Therefore this doesn't have to be a business outfit per se, and in fact I'd probably prefer something I could wear socially as well. My style is somewhat conservative, I shy away fro loud plaid sports coats and the like. That's why I want to experiment with a windowpane.

As always, thanks for sharing knowledge.

 

[Don Carlos]

Depends on the loudness or faintness of the windowpane. This is really one of those areas where you'll slowly develop an eye for sportiness vs. dressiness over time.

Dressier windowpanes will have a much fainter / less prominent grid.

 

[tim_horton]

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

Depends on the loudness or faintness of the windowpane. The example you posted is more of a sporty pattern than a suit pattern for most people. This is really one of those areas where you'll slowly develop an eye for sportiness vs. dressiness over time.

Dressier windowpanes will have a much fainter / less prominent grid, and usually a larger pattern than the one you posted (though sporty windowpanes can also be large).

So the louder the pattern, the better it is for a sports coat...

I prefer muted and larger pattern windowpanes, but I don't want my SC to look like an orphaned suit jacket.

Thanks, will have to mull this over with my tailor.

 

[Shirtmaven]

the swatch books should help you detemine if the fabric is suitable for a suit or s/c
a clear finish fabric is great for suits

a more brushed fuzzy pattern is better for a s/c

 

[Cary Grant]

As worn by Nii yesterday:

 

[m.gway]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

As worn by Nii yesterday:

Excellent.

 

[NOBD]

Originally Posted by tim_horton

I prefer muted and larger pattern windowpanes, but I don't want my SC to look like an orphaned suit jacket.

Originally Posted by Shirtmaven

a more brushed fuzzy pattern is better for a s/c

Example (spring/summer fabric):

 

[Matt S]

Any windowpane is appropriate for a suit but it has to be fairly bold to work as a sports coat. If the pattern disappears when you look at it far away it's only good for a suit.

 

[Cary Grant]

Nii's coat would contradict that.

 

[landshark]

I love a 3 piece windowpane suit. Go for it!

 

[Bull]

I have windowpane suits and SCs and wear the hell out of both.

 

[tim_horton]

Originally Posted by Matt S

Any windowpane is appropriate for a suit but it has to be fairly bold to work as a sports coat. If the pattern disappears when you look at it far away it's only good for a suit.

Would you say the reverse does not hold true? I've seen bold patterns done up as suits. Here's one I saw here on the WAYWT thread (not a windowpane but I'm derailing my own thread a bit!):

It's pretty loud, and my instinct is that if I had the fabric and was doing something with it I would have it made into a sports coat, but it looks great as a suit too.

 

[jasonmarshalljazz]

I wouldn't go bolder than this:

but up to this point, go for it!

 

[NOBD]

Originally Posted by Matt S

Any windowpane is appropriate for a suit but it has to be fairly bold to work as a sports coat. If the pattern disappears when you look at it far away it's only good for a suit.

Are you sure?

 

[Matt S]

Originally Posted by NOBD

Are you sure?

That fabric is more than just a windowpane. What I said really only applies to hard-finished worsted wools. I should have made that clear before.