Onassis Downing Blazer Review & 20% off code

Onassis Cotton Linen Mini Stripe Blazer – $110.40 w/code DAPPERED20

Reg. Price: $138.  Code Dappered20 is good for 20% off site wide on the Onassis website.  And heads up:  You put the code in on the shopping bag screen.  Not at checkout.

First shirts, then other stuff, a store in New York City in September, and now a website.  That’s the obscenely condensed history of the clothing brand Onassis, just in case you’re saying to yourself: “Never heard of em’.”

Who’s behind it?  Here’s the official PR wordage from the Onassis People:
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“Head Designer Shigay Tajima grew up in Japan but spent 16 years in New York City.  He has successfully infused Japanese design innovation into American style by building on a foundation of classic design with modern silhouettes and details.  After returning to his native Tokyo, Tajima grew increasingly frustrated with not being able to find well-designed, high quality clothing for himself at reasonable prices and saw there was a definitive miss in the market, both in Japan and the USA”
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Classic design, modern silhouettes, and reasonable prices?  Sounds like a good fit.  Let’s see how their 92% Cotton 8% Linen sportcoat, y’know, fits.  Instructions for a giveaway to follow shortly thereafter.

The Pros

• Fabric feel: It’s light, but not wimpy.  Thicker than the INC for sure, but not too heavy for summer.  It’s really relaxed, washed, soft, etc…  but that also means you can’t dress it up at all.
• The Pattern: Nice light blue pinstripe.  Gives it just enough depth.
• Natural Shoulders: This is a true deconstructed blazer.  No padding whatsoever.  No lining either, but the fabric is thick enough that it feels like you’re wearing more than another shirt.  Barely.
• The Arm holes: Crazy high.  Way up there.  Plenty of movement.

The Cons

• The Button Stance: It’s way high.  See above.  Combine that with the slim fit and you’re showing a triangle of shirt  between the bottom button hole and your belt most of the time.  Deal breaker for a lot of us.
• The Sleeves: They are TIGHT.  Good for those who normally shell out to have sleeves slimmed down.  Not so good for the guys who enjoy a trip to the gym more than once a week.  Also, functional buttons.

The Bottom Line (and giveaway)

You could ball this blazer up, throw it in a corner, then put it on a week later and feel just fine in it.  It’s like a blend of Lands’ End Canvas casual, some J. Crew design, with more of a work-wear feel.  The line looks and feels like it was designed for guys who appreciate style, but also own an axe.  And use it often.  And the axe has a name.  But they’re cut so slight that it’s hard to imagine anyone who can wield an axe effectively getting comfortable in them.

Loosen up the arms and lower the button stance and this thing would be a winner.  It’s also certainly worth keeping an eye on the brand, especially if they stick to that classic design/modern silhouette/reasonable price thing.

Want to win it?  We’ve got a small (it’s quite small) and the “game worn” medium you see above to give away.  We’ll pick up the shipping.  Just send an email to contests@dappered.com.  Make sure to put your size in the email.  Deadline for entry is 11:59PM ET on Friday 4/29/2011