In Review: The J. Crew Factory Suede Cafe Racer Jacket

J. Crew Factory Dalton  Suede Cafe Racer Jacket – $279.00

1. Inexpensive Suede > Inexpensive Leather (y’know, the smooth stuff)
2. Less > More

Those would be two style aphorisms that get voiced around these parts quite often. And this new, surprising addition to the J. Crew Factory Lineup, is a very well done wearable expression of both.

When thinking about J. Crew Factory… “suede jacket” doesn’t really come to mind. But here it is. They made one. and while it may not end up being something your grand-kids wear (who knows though…) it does feel pretty damn good for the asking price.

Size shown is a Medium on 5’10” / 185 lbs.

The nap of the suede is short. Almost a nubuck-style shave… but not quite. There’s still a bit of fuzz there. It has some weight to it, but it’s not like slipping on body armor either. And since it does have that texture, the color can shift a bit in different light (sometimes a lighter gold, almost straw, other times a deep honey leaning amber).

Kudos to the designers for keeping the details dead simple. The collar is an easy to wear, moto-style snap with a tab that’s not too long or dangle-y (which is preferred by some of us over floppy, traditional bomber style collars). No elastic ribbing here either at the hem or at the cuffs. Just straight suede with good geometry. Avoiding that elastic means it drapes better. No bunching or grabbing as you move about.

Smart move by the designer to keep the elastic off this thing.

To make movement a little easier around the bottom of the jacket, they’ve added a second zipper. That two-way zip action allows you to control the freedom of movement by unzipping the bottom zipper just a touch (sorta similar to why you leave the bottom button on a suit jacket or waist coat undone). Sleeves close with a brass-tone snap. No zippers for the hand pockets. Just one extra zipper for the left chest pocket.

It’s not a slim fit. Leans more straight. But it shouldn’t cause you to look overly wide unless you’re leaning towards beanpole. Arms might run a touch long, but they’re not cumbersome on average length arms like mine.

The one drawback = the lining. All poly and doesn’t feel awesome. Not terrible. Just not awesome.

There is one drawback that some might have a problem with. It’s the lining. All polyester, and it doesn’t feel like the best stuff. It has a fake satin look, and there’s a tiny bit of scratch to it. Not the best, smoothest stuff. And if any part of the jacket gives you trouble? It’ll be the lining that goes first.

Price seems to be anchored in the mid to high $200s, and it’s currently carrying that “excluded from all promos” tag. Not everyone is a leather jacket guy (or, a suede jacket guy). But if you are, and this thing somehow goes on sale or goes up for a code, it’ll be a steal. Some might even jump on it now to get it in-house before the temperatures start to drop.