I've been wearing this jacket pretty regularly since I got it almost a month ago. I'll just get this out the way; I've been so happy with this jacket that friends, family and co-workers are probably sick of me wearing it. Well, too bad, as I'm going to keep on wearing it. Be careful though, something this brown and 'old-school' patterned has the potential to come off quite nerdy or Dad-like so it's important to give some thought to how your wear it and what you match it with. But for me, it is definitely worth the effort.
First Impressions
This is my first Mr. Porter order and I must say that I'm VERY impressed. I won't go into it too much (it deserves its own post) but the attention to detail is amazing. From the personalised cards to the tissue-paper wrapping this is an online service that knows how to deliver (literally). (NB. My favourite thing about it is the free "Mr. P." white linen pocket square with your first order but I digress).
This is the first time where I've bought a jacket online and it's come in a suit bag. Nice touch! Taking it out of the bag my first impression was how dead-on it was to what I was expecting. If you're a seasoned online clothes shopper you're probably used to your actual product being a little (hopefully not a lot) different to your expectations. Typically it's not exactly the colour or the texture of the material you were expecting. In this case, however, all expectations looked to have been right with this blazer order. Colour? Yeah, pretty much the brown I was looking for. Texture and weight? Spot on. Unstructured and unlined? Check and double-check.
Size and Fit
The fit and feel of the jacket felt comfortable but a little snug when I first slipped it on. I'm usually a size 38 which is what I ordered so I put the 'snugness' down to a little weight I had put on due to the end-of-year Office Party Season. Now that we're into January the jacket does feel a lot more comfortable now that I've almost shed my holiday weight :-). With the jacket being completely unlined the blazer feels a little more broken in and has the fit of a cardigan without the potential grandad droppiness of a cardigan. Speaking of which, with the sleeves being unlined (many 'partialy-lined' or unlined jackets still line the sleeves) and the texture of the material ironically it makes it a little difficult to wear with long-sleeved shirts as the jacket 'sticks' to the shirt. I'm glad I don't have to worry too much about layering as I think it would be impossible to wear a sweater under this blazer. This is not a downside though; it just gives you more reason to wear it with a t-shirt or Henley, a combination I personally like.
Wearing it around town I find it's just as versatile as a navy blazer or khaki sportcoat and is in a soft enough fabric that it doesn't feel too formal to wear it in various manners. I've worn this jacket over a v-neck black t-shirt with corduroy jeans and sneakers and with a Henley and cotton chinos. It's important to dress this jacket just right. Give your own inflection to it and don't wear it too plainly. And don't wear it with brown trousers and a white shirt or else you'll start to look like Mr. Bean.
Whatever you can do to make the jacket a little different helps a whole lot. Turning up the sleeves (fully functional cuff buttons!) and adding a pocket square adds your own dash of style.
Try not to overstuff the pockets as well or else you'll be a pair of elbow patches away from a befuddled college professor. Funking it up with jeans and sneakers (as Mr Porter recommends) is a nice touch as well.
The Herringbone pattern up close and personal
Wrap Up
How I like to wear it
This is one jacket that I'm glad I bought and am most likely going to wear it pretty heavily until it's last thread.
Even if you don't get this specific jacket (see below) a brown Herringbone jacket is a great addition to any wardrobe. Try getting it unlined as it's more versatile and comfortable and can feel more like wearing a cardigan than a blazer. Just be careful with how you wear it and what you pair it with to avoid looking like the traditional Herringbone blazer wearer (you know what I mean). That's what I'm finding anyway.
Update: Sorry guys, but this jacket is now sold out from mrporter.com. There is, however, a Charcoal version available online at Rag & Bone which would be a good alternative and just as versatile.
Reviewed: Rag & Bone Philipps Two-Button Herringbone Blazer
Size: 38
Pair with:
- jeans or chinos (not trousers and definitely not brown trousers)
- shirt or Henleys
- sneakers, boots, brogues or wingtips
Bought at: Mrporter.com
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