Sport Coat Fit: Am I a 38 or 40?

Hiya,
Here are two versions of two coats, one JCrew and one RL, both tweed sport coats in 40R and 38R. I am 5'9" and 160 lbs. I don't need anything super slim but I want it to look good and not baggy. What are your thoughts on these? I don't like the JCrew because the lapels are too small and the shoulders too padded, but let me know what you think about the fit. This post is prompted by the fact that the 38R RL coat seems to be pulling at the button, and the back vent is opened under normal wear. None of them have been tailored for width. I know there are differences in fit between brands, but which of these sizes would you choose in each jacket? Should I keep the 38 and try to get it widened in the chest area, or try to reduce the width of the 40R? Or should I just sew up part of the back vent? And which of the JCrew is the better fit off the rack? I know the sleeves would need shortening so don't need to comment on that.

The RL is the Aberdare shown here: http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/i...entPage=family

The JCrew is the Ludlow fit tweed.

lol at pic of your vent.

Take a tape measure and measure your chest, it should help a lot.

I think a 38R with a double vent is what'll work best for you. I'm about the same height/weight as you and I gravitate towards 36R most of the time. I also have the same problem with a back vent, so I only get side vents from now on.

Originally Posted by Tony Romo

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lol at pic of your vent.

Take a tape measure and measure your chest, it should help a lot.

Yes, but look at the picture from the RL website!


Measuring helps, but we all know that the numbers on the item don't necessarily match reality, so this measurement would only get me close, i.e. 38 or 40. Then it depends on the actual item as to which is better.

I'd say 38. The 40's look boxy with too much room around the chest.

Because the 38 in either doesn't look objectionably small, Go with the 38.

But this is coming from a puny guy who always sizes down out of habit.

Best fit appears to be the Jcrew 38R (in the "action shot&quot. Looks VERY good for an OTR piece, though I would shorten the sleeves ever so slightly.

With that said, the general rule of thumb is find a size you feel comfortable in and then go a size down. Case in point 40 -> 38

The Crew looks marginally better if you balance the dreadful patch pockets versus the lapels. I would suggest some more searching though.

Originally Posted by GBR

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The Crew looks marginally better if you balance the dreadful patch pockets versus the lapels. I would suggest some more searching though.

I'm not sure what you mean. The RL has the patch pockets. Were you talking about the RL? Are you saying that you don't like the patch pockets on the RL and you don't like the lapels on the JCrew? Or something else?

Another vote for the Jcrew 38, pretty good fit actually, might just need a little waist suppression and shortening the sleeves by 1/4" or so. I'd say the relatively small width of the lapels is offset, somewhat, by the high gorge and lower buttoning stance, making you appear taller. The extra 2-3" of length also goes a long way to making you appear like an adult.

I like the ralph lauren one better. I prefer the slightly higher buttoning stance and wider lapels. I think patch pockets with flaps are odd though. 38 is definitely the way to go.

Originally Posted by TRA8324

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I like the ralph lauren one better. I prefer the slightly higher buttoning stance and wider lapels. I think patch pockets with flaps are odd though. 38 is definitely the way to go.

Yes, I'm leaning towards the RL also, I like the lapels better and it is only 1/4 lined, whereas the JCrew is fully lined, and it's HOT here. But the consensus seems to be that the 38 in both models appears to be a better fit. It's not as comfortable, but it does look better.

Originally Posted by JG000

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Best fit appears to be the Jcrew 38R (in the "action shot"). Looks VERY good for an OTR piece, though I would shorten the sleeves ever so slightly.

With that said, the general rule of thumb is find a size you feel comfortable in and then go a size down. Case in point 40 -> 38

I've never heard that before.

So... you shouldn't be comfortable in what you're wearing?

That RL is clearly too tight through the hips.

Chest measure should be about 3" bigger than your actual chest measure. Maybe 2" if you are built like Adonis, 4" if you are built like Al Bundy.

Like you said, the tagged size is misleading. A JCrew 40R might measure 41" ...

If the vent splits open, the fit is awful. The model looks hilariously bad. They should get more for whatever money they put into those photo shoots. Whoever was in charge, was incompetent.

In the two pictures, the JCrew looks fine from the front. The RL looks not good in the front and in the back.