Lands’ End Canvas Madras Blazer – $89.99 ($200)
Ships free with code FIREWORKS and Pin 7404 (good on purchases over $50, expires 7/9)
After a few stiff, wonky-fitting blazers left more than a few disappointed, Lands’ End Canvas has come roaring back with one that’s absolutely worth a look if you’re into the loud plaid thing.
The Pros
- Off the rack fit is surprisingly great – A 38R on my frame won’t need any tailoring. None. Might be a bit tight if anything, but that’s the way I prefer to wear my jackets.
- It’s completely unlined – No shoulder pads whatsoever either. It’s breezy, but not paper thin.
- Fabric feel is excellent – 100% cotton and has some springy-ness to it. It’s not stiff in the least.
- The pattern is excellent – It’s a madras plaid, but it’s been toned down to be more subtle. The colors aren’t intense, and they have an almost washed look to them. It’s universal and not spotty… like someone opened the blazer up in photoshop, and reduced the contrast by 10 – 15%. Sure it looks a bit like a table cloth (c’mon, it’s a summer plaid), but it’s not a punch you in the face pattern. Appears a bit darker with more beige out of direct sunlight too.
- It feels well made – Made in China, but it feels well put together. Interior seam taping is noticeably nice.
The Cons
- Functional button cuffs again – But the sleeves, unlike LEC blazers of past, don’t seem unusually long. One odd thing about the sleeve cuff buttons: There’s two, and they’re spaced unusually apart. No big deal, but worth a mention.
- It’s a bit chopped in the tail – Not obnoxiously short, but it’ll be an inch or so too short for those who prefer a more traditional, cover-100%-of-thy-ass sort of look. Yet it passes the curved hands test on my body perfectly.
The Bottom Line
This is a big win for L.E.C. Gotta admit… ignored this one when it first came out because the plaid looked too loud, and their most recent blazers had those flaws. $200 also seemed way high even to start. But at $90 with free shipping codes plentiful, this one is going to fall into the great category for many. Personal plan is to wear it well into the fall with jeans.
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Joe,
Don’t forget the matching pants: http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/mens-madras-slim-refined-chinos~237558_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::L59&CM_MERCH=IDX_men-_-pants-shorts&origin=index
And Shorts! http://www.target.com/p/merona-men-s-short-madras-plaid/-/A-13888137
Great find. I am really liking the muted chroma of the plaid.
Besides the great tips featured on this website, I am constantly impressed with the photos that you take. I’m not a photography buff or anything, but hot damn are your pictures exciting.
The pattern in the pockets is matching the body, that’s always a very good sign. I’ll have to pass on this one, though. I have my share of summer blazers and I don’t think I can find an excuse for another one.
I am really, really struggling to say no to this at that price point with free shipping. 🙁
Ditto on the awesome pics
I think if they offered this in 36s I would have picked it up by now. I suppose my hard-to-find size is sometimes the only thing keeping me on budget.
Joe – awesome blazer! Also, what brand are the pants?
Good to know on this, sounds pretty enticing…however, for my part I have to question the usually great photography. Laying down on railroad tracks? I’m missing something
I’m a big fan of the jacket, and the fabric, so stand alone they could all be great pieces… but oh man I don’t think I could wear this thing as a suit 🙂
Last year’s BR 5-pocket. Don’t believe they have the same thing this year. They changed the fabric if memory serves:
http://dappered.com/2011/08/the-greatest-pair-of-non-denim-pants-ever-now-at-40-off/
Nice jacket. Wearing the full suit would take some stones, in my view, but it could be done. Perhaps a day at the races. What are the shoes in the railroad track photo?
I’ve tried this on and it’s a great jacket in fit and fabric. If only they made it in something like a cornflower blue gingham – you know, a pattern most folks would actually wear.
I gotta say, I was REALLY unimpressed based on stock photos, but this one actually looks much better under natural lighting. Still too loud for me, but a huge improvement.
I notice Lands’ End Canvas stuff tends to look quite different in real life compared to stock photos. Some of that is that they Photoshop in different colors on the same picture instead of actually photoing each color individually. Some of that is also apparently that they just have bad photography that doesn’t accurately represent hue (or they mess around with it too much in post).
I live about 40 minutes from the Lands End factory in Dodgeville,WI. They’re having a tent sale on July 25th, up to 75% off then. I’m hoping they’ll have one of these jackets in my size. They look great.
Great write-up. I love the “in-person” reviews. Not for me, but glad some others find it desirable.
I have been looking for some decent white jeans for over a year now. I can’t remember why, but the fit of those BR pants didn’t work for me. Any other suggestions?
Brown suede shoes were probably the best thing to pair it with, well done. I’ve been looking for a less expensive pair to work into the rotation a bit especially when I want to be more than business casual up top but tone down the seriousness down low. Any suggestions anyone?
I was smiling the whole time. It looks fun!
I’ve been waiting for the price of this jacket to drop. Looking at your photos, I kind of wish that the color wasn’t so washed/faded. I’m still on the edge about this one.
I was just going to make the same observation. Great pix, Joe.
As usual the power of Joe sold out the 38’s before I could get to one.
The photos are exciting! In fact, I think I see a bit of extra wood laying on the tracks there…
Seriously though… got to appreciate the photos, especially the close-up shots which show the colors and texture in a better like. Thanks for the attention to detail!
I love the shoes, and I love the last picture in the article. The jacket itself is still too loud for me.