Perfect is the enemy of good, but a deal breaker is a deal breaker. Both of these fall-ready blazers have a ton of things going for them, as well as one or two flaws that plenty will see as fatal. Two in-person breakdowns follow, and feel free to cast your vote for which you’d take in the comments.
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Zara Brushed Cotton Checked Blazer – $129.00
Size shown: 40R. Remember that Zara runs very trim.
The Good: The fabric and fit are nothing short of incredible. It’s a 98% cotton / 2% elastane blend, and it’s got a brushed flannel feel to it that’s outstanding. Plaid with a subtle orangeish-red windowpane. For the fit, this is Zara so remember that their stuff runs tight. You’ll need to size up and even then it might be on the slim side for some. Jacket shown here is a 40R and it would need zero tailoring. Sleeves are trim too. Dual vents on the back look and move extremely well. It could be a little longer in the tail, but for a casual blazer you can wear with jeans and it looks just fine.
The Not So Good: The elbow patches are awful. You have to think that it would have been cheaper to leave them off, but nope… they’re there and they are obviously pleather. Elbow patches are just fine if they’re real suede or self-fabric or whatever, but never the fake stuff. The plastic embellished buttons also look cheap, but they’re ignorable and easy to replace. Those elbow patches though. Damn. This thing would be nails if it weren’t for them.
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J. Crew Factory Tweed Sportcoat – $148.00
Size Shown: Medium. Button stance can look extremely low sometimes.
The Good: The off the rack fit is something the guys at jcp should take note of. Nice and contoured at the sides. The 70% wool / 30% nylon tweed fabric is decent (more on that in a second) and the medium grey color is as versatile as it gets. It’s half lined and it moves easily.
The Not So Good: The button stance is very low. So much so that from certain angles (see the top pic) it can look downright odd. And the fabric, while decent, is nowhere near as good as the tweed from last year’s J. Crew Factory tweed blazer (if memory serves). This year’s version is much thinner, and just doesn’t have as good of a feel to it. Was going for around $110 – $120 during recent extra 30% off sales, but this last one wasn’t applicable to J. Crew Factory items.
Your turn guys. Who’s the winner? Do you own either and have some additional observations? Leave it all below.
Like everything about that check…. right up until the elbow patches. I’m not an elbow patch guy, but maybe I could live with it if it wasn’t pleather.
Banana Repbulic has a nice blazer just like the checked one. And their tailored line fits like a champ.
The Zara jacket looks a good 1″-1.5″ short
If those elbow patches were, like you said, a good material like suede- I’d be all over it. Tempting still
Would sandpaper and shoe polish help with the elbow patches?
I wonder if it is possible to have a tailor remove the elbow patches completely. Its gotta be the regular blazer material underneath right?
Adding my props for the American Eagle “Legendary” Blazer – best $80 fall blazer ever! (and it came in tall sizes)
If the elbow patches on the Zara are that bad, what about http://www.jackfoxley.com and getting new ones (in whatever color/material you want) to replace them?
I think I’m going to get the zara blazer… am I really off here but are elbow patches not just one small detail? its a great looking jacket notwithstanding the elbow patch, if the fit is good, then im sold, great fall-winter jacket.
Couldn’t find on AE’s website.
Actually bought two, and had to return them both. The sleeves were so tight I could barely bend my arms when wearing a sweater underneath. It’s probably due to my giant guns.
I know exactly the one that you’re speaking of, and it is really nice. For some strange reason though, while I own about a half dozen of their jackets in a 38S that are a near perfect fit, I tried that one on and it was huge on me. So, just a head’s up that you may want to try it on in-store rather than buying your usual size online.
How about the Stafford plaid blazer mentioned a couple week back? I saw it in store and REALLY liked it. Moreso than either of these. Plus it’s cheaper at $80.
http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/brands/stafford/stafford-slim-fit-merino-wool-sportcoat/prod.jump?ppId=pp5001780055
Good point. The jacket is still inexpensive enough that it would be worth seeing what you could do about the elbow patches. Has anyone ever tried this out with a tailor in the past? I’d be interested to see if this has been attempted.
Sigh. I wish more blazers came in short sizes.
I had elbow patches moved on a BR sport coat a few weeks weeks ago and I can’t imagine why they couldn’t have been removed (or replaced with superior ones) altogether.
Why does JCrew factory hate tall, slim people? No longs in smaller chest sizes.
I’ve tried on the JCFactory blazer, and I’ll take it easily over the fake elbow-patch blazer. On Joe the J Crew blazer has just a wee bit more side taper/less boxiness, which I prefer. But even if it wasn’t better fitting, it’d win over those ridiculously unnecessary patches.
Ha… I’ve been contemplating the Factory blazer, and this post/comments have been no help at all. Take a stand people!
Zara – Bad print (maybe it’s the photo), short cut and elbow patches make it an easy no
JCrew – I’m chocking some of this up to the photo, but the lapel stitching is quite obvious and it makes Joe’s shoulders look small. I don’t think the button stance looks low.
JCrew wins, but I would pass on both.
Anyone know the watch in the pic?
http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0107_9381_008&catId=cat380145
Probably depends on how the patches are adhered. If it’s just sewn on, it shouldn’t be a problem to remove it, though it may show faint signs of the patch’s presence (a flattened nap, slight discoloration, small perforations where the stitches were, etc.). If the jacket is very cheaply made, the patch may simply be glued on, or some combination of glue and stitching. In that case, it would likely be impossible to remove the patch without damaging the underlying material.
I am wearing the JCrew Factory coat right now at work – I love it! I am 6’2″ around 185 and it fits great. I am very happy with the quality. Yes, you could find one that is a little better material but for a little over 100 it is a great buy. I wear it as an every day fall jacket but also have worn it to a business lunch with a shirt and tie. Very happy with it. I can’t compare it to the other jacket but really like this one, despite knowing that Jcrew Factory quality isn’t great at times.
…also, for people wondering about fit, I am a 42L and it is fitted but still allows a bit of room for a lightweight sweater as well.
yessir, thanks. i like it.
The reality is that the people who generally go to outlet malls and such are a bit boxier then those who go to the regular JCrew stores.
I’m almost exactly your same size. What size did you order in the jacket?
T. I’m about your size but note quite (little over 6′ 180 lbs). I’ve never bought anything from j crew so not sure how they size. Depending on the suit I’m either a 40L or 42L. I wear a 16.5 neck 35 sleeve dress shirt. What’s your shirt sleeve length? Hopefully will give me an idea of how the blazer will fall on me. thanks
Does the JCF sportcoat fit similar to ludlow fit sportcoats?