Claiborne Charcoal Slim Suit Separates – $119.99 w/ RMN20 ($360)
NOTE: Found this in-store. Online there are two very similar options, and there’s conflicting info on what this one is made out of (wool vs poly). When you click on the jacket it says wool. When you’re viewing the tandem it says poly.
Code is good for 15% off or 20% off $100+ through 8/31. Thanks to Brandon in the comments.
If the Ron Johnson + Nick Wooster influence over JC Penny fades to black in the next 6 months, then it just might be the improved Claiborne… not jcp, not the revamped Stafford, not Stafford Prep, that gets missed the most.
Ever since the J. Crew Factory Thompson suit separates started to spend the vast majority of time north of $200, the hunt has been on around these parts for another ultra-affordable, but still sharp wool suit. Think: under $200 and widely available. Now, as recent as last year, shopping for a suit at JC Penney meant synthetic fabrics, enormous shoulder pads, low armholes, boxy silhouettes, and bad button stances.
This jacket and matching pair of pants are the exact opposite of all of that.
Eat your heart out Flatley. Shown: 38R jacket + 32×30 pant.
Skip by the Stafford (big shoulders) and JF J Ferrar (usually synthetic) suits and hunt around for these. They’re a little hard to find, but finding one to try on is worth it if you’re on a serious budget, and you need a suit that you can be taken seriously in.
The all wool exterior fabric feels fine in your hands. Not luxurious, but not super-rough either. For the price, the quality of the fabric seems solid. But the color isn’t solid… and that’s a plus. There’s a very small amount of color variation going on here. It’s a dark charcoal for sure, with very, very small amounts of lighter grey flecked in. That gives the fabric some depth that you’ll never find in a synthetic fabric suit. Those can look oddly flat. Like they’re assembled from painted pieces of plastic.
The 100% wool jacket is lined in 100% acetate. It won’t be super breezy, but acetate seems to breathe a little better than straight poly. The lining doesn’t catch or pull when you put it on, and the jacket it settles in nicely on your torso. It’s not stiff like a lot of other fused jackets. Canvassed it ain’t, but it’s not like wearing plywood either.
Not perfect, but awfully good for $150.
The shoulder pads could be a little smaller, but they’re not noticeable by any stretch. If only the Hilfiger Trim Fit suits at Macy’s could have shoulder pads this reasonable. These are made in Mexico, and the overall feel of the construction of the jacket is nice and solid. More-so than a suit from, say, Express.
The buttons are plastic, but they’re thick and have a nice matte, faux-horn swirl to them. The sleeve buttons are not only non-functioning, they also lack that annoying faux-button hole accent stitching. That makes for easier tailoring. Can’t lose the sleeve buttons entirely, but points to the design department for killing off that stitching.
Good fabric, great buttons, easy tailoring.
Double vents on the jacket, a slim 2.5″ lapel, and while the the armholes could be higher, they’re not terrible. Jacket fits true to size through the chest and shoulders. If you’re inbetween sizes, strongly consider sizing UP. They fit trim off the rack but run a touch short in the tail. Plenty of guys might be able to get away without any tailoring off the rack.
Been a long time since you could say that about a suit bought from JC Penney.
The only drawback is the lack of colors or patterns. If grey is the new black, then these come in the Model T color wheel. You can have one of these suits in any color… so long as it’s grey.
Again, there are two very similar options of these on the web. Here, and here. One says it’s all poly, but then just the jacket claims to be wool. Ships free. Might want to find it in person first.
Hey Joe–Unrelated to this article, but I picked up the JCP Stafford Wingtips in brown that you’ve mentioned on the site before and was wondering what belt you have found that is a good match color wise? Any help would be appreciated!
nice! i thought about that claiborne khaki suit but wouldnt have anywhere to wear it
Nice. If they only would cut the arm hole even just a 0.5″ higher!
i ended up picking up that suit in store for ~$50. It’s still there on super clearance. I don’t care that i have no where to wear it, for that price i’m fine leaving it in my closet for the perfect occaision
I like it, but wish the lapels weren’t so slim.
I like the looks of that suit, but I’d still probably spend the little bit extra for the JCF Thompson.
if only they had it in a lighter gray, instead of just charcoal.
Hmm…. I will have to check this one out.
Which watch are you wearing in those pictures?
Don’t understand why this is getting down votes. Honestly, don’t sweat it too much in terms of matching. Just find a similar color.
So anything about the pants? Are they like the JCF Thompson and baggy compared to the jacket or are they consistently slim like they jacket?
Updated above. Thanks sir!
Damn. Forgot to add that. Updated above. 38R + 32×30 pant. The usual.
Any brown belt will do. You don’t want to be too matchy-matchy.
Agreed with Grey_S. Not sure why this is getting down votes. Also agree with Greg on not sweating it too much. Any medium brown belt should do. If wearing casually, a dark brown would be fine (the ol’ standby, the GAP casual belt) is just fine too. I’m not one to have to match shoes and belts perfectly if going casual.
Orient Explorer on a black band: http://dappered.com/2012/08/win-it-the-orient-explorer-automatic-dual-time/
Not as baggy as the JCF Thompson. But not as slim as the jacket. Some might prefer some tapering done.
I bought this suit a few months back when it was $180 and I had a 20% coupon which brought it down to $144. It is 100% wool. My tailor was impressed with it. I wear a 42 and the lapels flare slightly. My tailor said that I’m too picky and it looked fine to him. A 44 was too big. I’ve worn it a couple times and I’m satisfied with it. The only thing is the sleeves were so long OTR and the tailor had to move the buttons and cut a new vent when shortening them.
“My tailor said that I’m too picky and it looked fine to him.”
Ha! Gotta love a tailor who gives honest feedback like that. As long as he’s not pushy. Thanks for the mini review!
Thanks Joe, Adam and Greg_S. Yeah, I pretty much just wear the shoes casually with jeans so good to know won’t really be needing a different belt. Have a darker brown one that I’ve had for years from Banana Republic that is my go to. Appreciate the help!
Very tempting, thanks for the heads up, Joe. I like my Thompson but the 38R jacket is just a wee tight. Looks like the Claiborne is a good fit.
Just pulled the trigger on this. I’m up in the Great White North (though it’s a balmy 28 degrees today that feels like 34 with the humidity), but even with tax, VAT and exchange it only cost me $164 CAD. Thanks for the tip Joe.
That price is right in my budget, but the 29s I need for pants are sold out. I’ve been looking for a great, foundation, fall sport coat, though… Could the jacket on it’s own work with a pair of jeans? Or is it too suit-y looking, and should I save up a spend a little more on an actual sport coat from J Crew or JCF?
Trying to tell if there is any appreciable difference in the Slim Fit Charcoal versus the Modern Fit Gray jackets, in either colour or cut.
Both of the pants are labelled as Slim Fit — though of course, the charcoal pants say poly versus wool with poly lining on the Gray.
I have the khaki version of this suit. Best $100 I ever spent….
I just ended up buying both to be safe 🙂
Not a dealbreaker for me, but I agree.
Express.com is doing a 40% off everything sale right now where you can also find a slim cut suit for under $200
I went to the store last night and picked up the Slim Fit Charcoal. The Modern Fit Gray is a little lighter and boxier; I think it is really more of a classic fit. I can also confirm that the Charcoal pants are wool with poly lining.
Great call. Would love to see an article like this.
AH. So they ARE two different suits. Interesting. I only saw one when I was in store, so I wondered if was possibly just a duplicate online (one season to the next). Good to hear that the slim fit charcoal is wool, despite it saying “both pieces are poly” in the dual view online. Thanks sir!
No, thank you for pointing this suit out. I need one for a meeting in about 2 weeks, and my old suits were tailored for me at 25 lbs heavier. These shoulder pads are a little bigger than I would like, but I was out the door at $145. This will do until I can cobble the money together to pick up a higher quality suit from J. Crew or Suitsupply.
I just tried it on in store and agree about the sleeve length. Even the short might be too long for me, and I’m usually a regular.
FYI extra 4% off via ebates.
I just bought 8 of these suits after about 8 hours of hunting the sizes down from 6 different jcpenny’s for my grooms. They will be wearing them for my wedding in November. Thanks for the heads up!
There is just something about a $200 suit that can’t make it look like a $500 or even $1000 suit imho. Mostly the fabric and construction (drape) I guess?
Snagged the khaki jacket in store over the weekend for $15! No pants in my size, but I have a pair of Bonobos pants that match it color-wise anyways.
i like it soooooo much nice suits
What blows is they are discontinuing this suit. One of the few things worth ordering at JCP. I called when a size was out of stock and they are getting rid of them. No wonder they are going under.
Felt like re-visiting this, just got the jacket back from tailor and wore the suite today. Outstanding for the money, great tip. I wear suits everyday so a nice in-expensive option like this for days when I don’t have c-suite or executive level meetings is great. And honestly I could get away with this suite in those meetings as well. Fit’s great, needed a charcoal addition, 100% wool looks and looks classy. Thanks.
Has anything changed about this suit and its fit and make up? Is it a better overall choice over the Thompson suiting?