The $110 Summer Suit

INC International Concepts Palazzi Jacket – $69.98 and Palazzi Pants – $39.98

Wait a minute.  Did Macy’s just do what I think they did?  A lot of brands will make blazers, then chinos, but purposely never match them.  Because they want you to buy their suits.  Plus, a blazer in wool is often structured a bit differently than a wool suit jacket.  That’s why wool suit jackets never look quite right with a pair of dark wash jeans.

But you don’t have to worry about that when it comes to cotton.  And the warmer months are perfect for cotton suits.  The Macy’s store brand INC also doesn’t make a true suit (unlike Alfani)  so… why not make a pair of pants and a blazer that match up?

Sometimes jackets and pants can look the same on the internet, but aren’t really the same.  Let’s take a closer look at the details of these two:

– They’re both labeled as a “Palazzi” Blazer, or Pants
– Both are labeled as Cotton.
– Same Wordage on the pattern: “Subtly Pinstriped”
– Lastly (and most obvious) the guy in the pic is wearing the pants and jacket together.

Stop the presses and hold the phone. We might have something here.

After a quick field trip to the local Macy’s here’s what was found:  The jacket has decent (but not too much) structure to it.  It has a bit of a polyester feel, but that’s because it’s 30% poly.  Color is good, stripes are good, interior is pretty decent too.  Now the buttons are total crap.  But you can always buy new ones and have your tailor replace them.  Jacket is contoured with good shape.

And they didn’t have the pants. Strange.

Is it a mind-blowing steal?  Not quite.  The quality is truly so-so.  The J. Crew Ludlow is three times the cost but worth it, and the Express Corded Cotton is certainly superior to this one.  But it is a workable pant/jacket combo you could use as a casual suit in the spring summer.  Wear a good shirt and tie and you’ll look damn good. I’d buy this over one of those Target Merona suits any day.

They’re listed as a Macy’s “Everyday Value,” so that means the billion or so coupons that Macy’s sends you in the mail (if you have a Macy’s Card) won’t apply.  But really, at just over $100 you can’t be expecting it to ever go on sale.