Orvis Hardwick washed tweed blazer

[carldelo]

I'm curious if anyone has first hand experience with this 3-button blazer from Orvis:

http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?adv=99656&pf_id=2X64

It seems to be very difficult to find a 3-button tweed sport jacket these days. I went to Orvis to look at this one, but they didn't have it in the store in Manhattan. In my experience, Orvis stuff is usually good quality, but it's a fair bit to spend on a jacket via mail order without the ability to try it on.

If anyone knows a retailer that sells a 3-button tweed jacket, preferably with no vent, or single vent, I'd be interested to hear about it.

PS Orvis also has this herringbone tweed 3-button, which looks nice too:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=9K5R

 

[Tomasso]

I can't tell you anything about that jacket but I believe you can return Orvis mail order at their stores, so you're basically paying the shipping for a try on. Though, I'm sure it will need to visit the tailor for some tweaking as is the case for most OTR stuff.

As for other stores in NYC where you might find that ilk, try Brooks Brothers, J.Press, Petter Elliot, etc........I could go on but it will just get more expensive.

 

[carldelo]

I can't tell you anything about that jacket but I believe you can return Orvis mail order at their stores, so you're basically paying the shipping for a try on. Though, I'm sure it will need to visit the tailor for some tweaking as is the case for most OTR stuff.

As for other stores in NYC where you might find that ilk, try Brooks Brothers, J.Press, Petter Elliot, etc........I could go on but it will just get more expensive.

You're correct about the Orvis return policy, that's the only reason I would consider buying a jacket online, in fact. I tried Brooks Brothers, which had only one 3-button on display, in an unfortunate gold color with a double vent (which looks terrible on me). Thanks for the other vendor ideas, I'll look into them. Cost is a factor - the Orvis price is an upper limit. I wear jackets every day teaching, and they take a beating in the classroom and the lab. I usually buy from Syms or Century 21 to balance quality and price, but there was nary a 3-button in sight on my last visit.

 

[Tomasso]

BTW, a tailor can easily close the vents for a nominal fee. And seriously, if you can hold off until the January sales you'll find the pricier stuff fall closer to your price range. But of course, the best time to buy tweed, flannel, cashmere and such is March/April when it's 30¢ on the $.

 

[carldelo]

BTW, a tailor can easily close the vents for a nominal fee. And seriously, if you can hold off until the January sales you'll find the pricier stuff fall closer to your price range. But of course, the best time to buy tweed, flannel, cashmere and such is March/April when it's 30¢ on the $.

I've had a tailor close the vents on a jacket and it worked out well, so that's a good point. I'll probably dither for a while on the Orvis and see if anything comes along in the meantime, then look for the sales as you suggest. I have an unusual blue silk and wool jacket from the January sale at Syms last year that set me back only $29 - the gray flannel with the vents that I had closed was $79.

 

[carldelo]

Update - my local Orvis had one of the Hardwick washed tweed blazer. I have to say, the feel of the material was incredibly stiff and scratchy - the fabric had zero drape. The lapel was not sitting correctly at the top button, and the center vent was standing wide open. Also, the lower pockets were patch pockets, in contrast with the flap pockets shown on the website. The construction seemed well done, but I'm surprised that a Harris Tweed garment was so unpleasant.

My search for a 3-button tweed sportcoat continues - the experience has certainly made me less enthusiastic about ordering a jacket online. I would be extremely unhappy if I had paid for that jacket to be delivered. I wonder if the herringbone tweed offering would be better?

 

[Chasseur]

Unfortunately your description of the Orvis blazer does not surprise me. While I have several nice pieces of clothing from Orvis (trousers, shirts, etc.), they seem to have a problem with making a decent OTR jacket. I have returned about 3 that I ordered over the years and after that gave up on Orvis jacket/blazers.

 

[carldelo]

Interesting observation. I also tried on another of their jackets, the Wicklow, an unlined 3-button tweed:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=2T5H
The jacket was much too long, and the button stance was bizarre - the top button was below the fourth button on my dress shirt. There was also too much material in the torso, the top button area bagged out. It may be that I was trying on a mis-marked long jacket, but who knows. I think I'm going to pass on ordering the herringbone through the mail, the chance of it being acceptable seems pretty remote.

 

[Chasseur]

Its really too bad. I really like some of their clothing, but have had problems with their jackets.
I've tried on several at various stores and also warehouse sales they have in some places (every spring in the DC area). None fit well and often the ones I ordered were completely different from the photo in the catalogue.
A few years ago Orvis had a sale on Harris tweed sportcoats in a herringbone pattern. I ordered one and got a very bad sportcoat in a tweed pattern that was not herringbone (it was a very loud windowpane pattern), I returned it and asked for the herringbone. They sent me again the same windowpane jacket. I returned it and gave up after that.

 

[billyspew]

Just before Christmas I visited one of their stores. I hadn't actually known them before then (should have it's a store in the village my parents have lived in for 25 years).
I did try two styles of tweed jacket (I think the ones meantione above). I was not impressed by the cut or the fit for the price, the quality semmed a little below par.
I did try on a tweed shooting jacket, which was impressed by. Much nicer both in quality and cut.

I did leave with this Sweater though http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=2R22, The detailing I found interesting, yet understated.

 

[carldelo]

In my continuing search for a 3-button tweed jacket, today I received this herringbone suit from J. Peterman:
http://www.jpeterman.com/Mens-Jackets-Vests/Herringbone-Suit-Blazer
The jacket is cut tight, and need to go up one size, but I like the proportions, with the slightly wide lapel, and I'll be having the vents closed. The fabric is quite heavy, and the coloration is really nice. It's called black and tan, but it appears brown, with the flecks of yellow in it. I'm happy with the quality, and the sale price is quite good, especially with the 16% discount from the banner ad here on the lounge. I've decided to try their chalk-stripe suit as well, the sale price is just too tempting.

 

[Tomasso]

Any pix of the jacket IRL. God I wish J.Pete would use photos......

 

[carldelo]

Any pix of the jacket IRL. God I wish J.Pete would use photos......

It's already gone back for the next size up - I'll post a review thread once I receive the suits and get them tailored.
Even if J. Peterman would set up an external photo gallery of some sort, it would help. At least the fabric swatch illustration seemed accurate.

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

Jos A. Bank has their two-button Harris tweed jackets on sale at an attractive price - I wonder how much it would cost to have a tailor transform one into a 3-button.

 

[Chasseur]

I had one of Jos A Bank 3 buttons a few years ago. It looked nice when you put it on, but it had about the largest arm holes I have in a jacket... It was almost comical at times...

 

[carldelo]

Well, the replacement jacket for the J. Peterman herringbone tweed suit I ordered didn't fit well, so the suit went back.
The jacket in my size didn't have enough room for my mid-section - the buttons didn't quite meet.
The jacket one size up closed well, but had too much material under the arms, and the shoulders were too wide.
If you are moderately trim and a normal size, the jacket should fit well. If you have some middle-aged spread in the torso, it probably won't.

It's too bad, as the price right now is really good. Unfortunately, I returned the suit without taking any pictures, as my camera was at the office. The suit was well made, and the Donegal fabric was heavy and quite nice. The fabric is similar to a J. Press jacket I tried on this past weekend, also of Donegal tweed ($850 - yikes!). Interestingly, J. Press sells 3-button jackets, but they specifically style them to only button in the center, and to have the lapels break from that point, making them look like a 2-button jacket. The salesman called this the "J. Press style", but I think it's silly.