Tweed can be wardrobe Kevlar against fall and winter weather. It’s durable, it’s warm, and the rough texture is right in line with the temperature drop and the lack of sunshine. Plus, wearing a tweed suit is as close as it gets to wearing a set of pajamas and/or a suit of armor in public. As long as you keep the cut tailored and you avoid hyper-traditional accessories (bow ties, uh… pipes…) you won’t look like you fell out of the Cleveland administration. The full price range follows:
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H&M Tweed Blazer & Matching Pant – $89.90 (not sold online)
Short and cheap. Realllll short and very cheap. Maybe a good bet for the guys on the vertically challenged side, but if you’re of average height or more, you best really like the chopped jacket trend. Looks like you’ll want to size up on the pants and maybe even the jacket. 50% wool, 45% poly, 5% acrylic. Hat tip to Derric for snapping the pics and sending in the style tip. For a fit perspective, he’s 5’9″ 180 and usually wears a 40R jacket.
Lands’ End Tailored Fit Donnegal Jacket
& Trouser – $278.99
(even less with sales)
Tailored Fit from Lands’ End might not be as tailored as some would like, so be prepared to pop for some extra alterations. Jacket is down from $300 to $179.99, and the pants are sticking at their regular price of $99.00. Hang out for an extra % off sale and this could drop into the very affordable category. It’s a very traditional brown donnegal tweed with flecks of orange and even some blueish purple thrown in. So while you’ll be warm and cut a good look this winter, you won’t look all that modern. 85% wool, 15% nylon. Nice touches with the slimmer lapels and ticket pocket though. (Meanwhile, there’s a 30% off LEC Sale promo going on today. Use code TOUCHDOWN and pin 2210)
L.L. Bean Signature Searsport Flannel Blazer & Pant – $320.00
It’s back. Sure it’s labeled as flannel, but this is no thinner suiting flannel. These suit separates are made from a thick wool/nylon blend that has just enough scratch to it. Incredibly warm and does a very nice job of blocking biting winter wind. A warning: Last year’s model, while excellent, ran long in the arms and had functioning sleeve buttons. It’s something you’ll have to just accept if you’re short armed, or, not accept and not order. Also offered in a Navy, but like their cotton suit separates there are reports in the comments of the pant and blazer not matching exactly. Had no trouble with the grey shown above.
BR Tailored Dark Grey Tweed Suit Blazer
and Pant – $535
($374.50 when 30% off)
The key of course is to wait for a 30% off code that applies to men’s suiting (yesterday’s 30/35/40 “surprise” offers sent out via email didn’t apply). Instead of blending the wool with nylon like the L.L. Bean and Lands’ End suits, Banana Republic opted for cotton. Actually a three button with a rolled/pressed lapel. Word from the ratings is that it looks a little darker in person. Looks like it could be a much cleaner, more modern tweed suit without getting trendy.
Suitsupply Washington Fit 3 Piece – $569
Won’t miss this walking down the street. Three piece, larger (but not this large) peak lapels, and a wool silk blend sourced from an Italian mill. There’s a lot going on here. Obviously not for everyone. Has that really defined speckled look, but with it being a wool & silk blend, will it be as rough?
J. Crew: 2-Button Bird’s Eye – $646 | 3-Button Fielding – $1125
$646 gets you a two button in Moon Mills Bird’s-eye tweed. For almost double the price you’d be in a more “sporting” patch pocket equipped 3/2 button jacket made of flannel from the mill that is credited with coming up with… flannel. Good on you if you’ve got that kind of cash to spend on a suit, and head off to the range to shoot trap in it.
Got an eye on any other tweed suits for the coldest months? Don’t forget about the thrift store. Might get incredibly lucky there. And the opposite end of the price scale would be the Brooks Brothers Milano three piece. Happy hunting.