In Person: The Lands’ End Canvas Madras Blazer

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