Mission: Classic Wool Navy Blazer, Part 1

Since I started keeping a clothing budget, and seeing where my money is going each month, I've realized that I make a lot of quick decisions when buying clothing. I want a closet with pieces that work with each other, that can be worn in a variety of ways, and that I will have for years to come. To do this, I need to buy less "fast fashion"and more closet staples. First on my list of staples is a classic wool navy blazer. I wanted to do my research on these investment pieces, and not just buy the first one I found that kind of matched what I wanted. I searched online and narrowed my choices down to three that I could try on in the store to review.

Gap Ponte Academy Blazer : $88

The first blazer I tried on was the Ponte Academy Blazer at Gap. I tried on the size 10 (on the left, in fuchsia since they didn't have a 10 in navy in the store) and a size 12 (on the right). This blazer is fully lined and made of 77% polyester, 15% rayon and 8% spandex. The blazer is light weight and has a smoother finish.

Pros:

• Machine Washable
• Comes in Petite, Regular, Tall
• Comes in 5 colors
• Price point: $88 is very reasonable for a blazer
• I like the double pockets on the left

Cons:

• Too light weight for what I'm looking for. Since the fabric is polyester and not wool, it feels more like a business suit blazer.
• While I like the white ribbon piping on the fuchsia blazer, I don't want the black ribbon trim on the navy blazer
• I feel I'm in between sizes. The 10 is a bit tight in the shoulder, but the 12 is much too boxy
• The regular is too short on me. 
• Buttons are light weight and feel cheap

Verdict: 

I like the fuchsia blazer for what it is - a cute shrunken bright blazer. While the price is great compared to the next two blazers, it isn't exactly what I want. If I ever find the pink blazer on sale I may purchase it but I am passing on the navy version.

Banana Republic Navy Double Breasted Blazer : $130

The second blazer is from Banana Republic. Again the size 10 is on the left, size 12 on the right. This blazer is also fully lined, and is made of 67% cotton and 33% rayon. This blazer was a lot thicker and more structured than the blazer at Gap and although it is made of cotton, it feels like wool.

Pros:

• I really like the thickness of this blazer. It seems like a firmer fabric than the Gap blazer which means it would keep its shape better.
• The buttons are solid.
• I like where the blazer hits my hips and the arm length is long enough (in the size 10 - the 12's sleeves are too long)

Cons: 

• It is dry clean only
• It does not come in petite/regular/tall sizing
• While the double breasted buttons look great with a nautical outfit, I feel it limits the outfits you can wear with this blazer
• There is only 1 closure which means it isn't as practical for the cooler temperatures.
• Again I'm in between sizes. The 10 fits me well in the arms but pulls a bit in the chest area. The 12 is too large in the arms but fits my waist better.

Verdict: 

While again it would be a fun piece to own for certain outfits, it doesn't fit the classic navy requirement and because it doesn't come in tall sizing, I can't try in between sizes. 

J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer : $198

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen a picture of this blazer with me expressing my disappointed. I initially tried this blazer on in a size 12, and left feeling, well, disappointed. J. Crew is outside my normal budget so since it is expensive, I expected the quality to match the price. Initially I was disappointed in this blazer but have since changed my opinion.

Again, the size 10 is on the left, 12 on the right. This blazer like the other two is fully lined. Neither the website nor the catalog describe the material in percentages but will tell you that it is "wool with a hint of stretch".

Pros:

• The size 10 fits me well. I didn't feel that the shoulders were too tight, and there wasn't any strain in the chest or waist. 
• This blazer can be ordered in a petite/regular/tall
• It has an interior pocket, which the other 2 blazers did not.
• The fabric is thick but soft.

Cons: 

• I tried the size 12 on Friday night, and left upset about the fit. The shoulders felt narrow, it made my arms look bulky and it didn't fit my waist at all. I had given up on this blazer until I decided that proper photograph documentation was needed so when I went back on Saturday to take pictures, I realized that the blazer looks terrible in a size 12 because that's not my size.
• Dry Clean only.
• The arms are just a bit too short on me. 
• Price: $200 is a lot of money for one piece of clothing.
• The buttons are very cheap. For a blazer that costs this much, I expect the buttons to be solid. If I do decide to buy this blazer I would replace the buttons. It isn't a huge problem, and it allows me to customize the blazer a bit, but it is unfortunate that J. Crew didn't decide to use nicer buttons.

Verdict: 

After realizing that the sizing was off, not the blazer itself, I really do like this blazer. It is thick, lined, and is that classic wool blazer I am looking for. Because the sleeves are a bit short, and I would like the blazer to be just a bit longer, I am going to order this blazer in a size 10 Tall and then compare the tall sizing to the regular sizing. $200 is a lot of money for one piece of clothing, but I hope that by doing more research and being patient about the process that I will find a piece of clothing that I will wear for many years to come.

To be continued....


Part 2 here!