Where are all the affordable Blazers?

INC International Concepts Essex Blazer – $69.98

Put down the guitar and answer me this Paula Cole.  Where have all the affordable blazers gone?

You used to be able to walk into a Gap and have multiple options.  Calvin Klein and Kenneth Cole can’t seem to get any of theirs under $120.  Banana Republic is selling a Navy Blue blazer for $200.  And now the stocks of twill blazers at Old Navy are starting to dry up.  It’s enough to cause the weak to totally crack and lose their minds:

Fear not.  The Macy’s House brand INC is still making some affordable, trim blazers that feel casual enough to wear with a pair of jeans, or with chinos for a super inexpensive summer suiting look.

The INC Essex blazer is a particularly good find.  With medium lapels and a two button front, it’s fitted and more dressed up than the Old Navy twill blazer.   But thanks to patch pockets and barely there shoulder padding, it works equally as well with jeans.  It’s mainly cotton and it does say machine washable, but… keep it out of the washer and instead just use a steamer and have it dry cleaned every so often.

It fits pretty decently off the rack, but if you’ve got a torso on the slimmer side, you may want to spend a few dollars to have the sides taken in.  The fabric is pretty light so you could wear it when it’s hot out, but it’s not flimsy either.  It’s got a smooth feel and the gray is a good medium tone you could wear just about anywhere.

It’s a Macy’s Everyday Value at just under $70 which means it’s reasonably priced… but it won’t be going any lower.  Everyday Value items never go on sale, and you can’t use any in-store coupons on them either.

Is it a mind-blowing deal for an amazingly high quality blazer?  No.  But in this vast wasteland of affordable blazer nothingness, the INC Essex is a more than palatable option.  And the patch pockets are kinda cool.

Know of any other affordable, athletic cut blazers?  Leave them in the comments section below.
.