Fear not, my future gentleman! I’m here to get you looking clean, sharp, and any other adjective you may find important to your look. Let me show you where to look, how to look, and how to keep that extra cash in your pocket. The most important thing to remember: you will be spending anywhere from $90-$300 for this menswear piece, but think of it as a nice pair of boots. This singular piece will be the centerpiece of your professional, romantic, and social wardrobe, so this investment will help you portray the best you. Upon a cursory glance at big box stores you might find jackets in the $50-$100 range, but don’t be fooled! These mass-produced pieces of menswear are sewn together from mismatched parts, and gentlemen don’t wear things from the island of misfit suits. Likewise, don’t shell out for a custom-tailored blazer. You’re not Howard Hughes, and until you run in social circles that require a $1500 jacket, you are better off looking into the affordable but well-made options you can find at many tailor shops and online portals. Now that you have been inured to the price ranges, let’s look into your vast array of options!
The Big Box Blazer – $15-$70
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to find the “affordable” options sold from places like Walmart, Target, and Kohl’s, but the fact that these outlets still sell the type of clothing shocks me nonetheless. As I said before, this is an investment in your image. If your self-image is an average of $20 for an off-the-rack jacket, please keep reading. Options at this price range are poor quality, with uncomfortable fits and fabrics. The most egregious offense to your dress will be the aforementioned “misfits”: jackets that have parts chosen at random. That is why your shirts from big box stores have chests, tails, sleeves, and hems that don’t match others on the same rack! Stay away from this price range at all costs, dear boy.
The Ideal – $90-$300
This is the perfect marker for a fine wardrobe addition. I tend to float around the $120-$200 range here, usually from Caswell’s and Topman. Blazers and sports coats in this range have a fine fabric quality, fit well (depending on body constitution, big and tall men and women will always have some fluctuations in these ranges), and seldom have a misfit composition. Special mention to ASOS Design, an international retail front for many of these companies that makes it incredibly easy to snag a good look. Until you start landing some invitations to dine at the Ritz, this is where you should shop.
The Showman – $500+
Here we find our Bauman’s, our Hugo Boss, and our other prestige brands. These are the cream of the crop for a mass-market piece, but they come with a prestige price. Unless you feel comfortable and financially stable enough to put out anywhere from $500-$900 on a single piece of outerwear, you might want to hold off on this range. My suggestion: have one of these. This is your power jacket, the piece you wear to stake your flag on the social battlefield. At this price, I tend to go for a full suit anyways.
The Hughes – $900+
Dear boy, if you are looking into the cost of blazers from the perspective of a humble gentleman like myself, this is not the range for you yet. Custom tailoring is done for specific occasions or to flaunt your style and wealth. You’ll get here eventually, but we all must walk before running. You’ll appreciate a tailored jacket or suit when you’ve worn something off the rack or out of a box.
That, my aspiring dilettante, is a roadmap of sorts to guide you on your journey from sport coats and dungarees to custom-fit cashmere blazers that should keep you from straying into the thick brush of the bargain stores. That isn’t to say bargain shopping is something to avoid, just something to avoid in this instance. Go now, aspiring gentlefolk, dress to impress!
Q: I found an incredible blazer at a thrift store, is that fine?
A: I wouldn’t eat someone else’s leftovers but to each their own.
Q: Nothing fits right! How do I find my fit?
A: Get a fitting at a local tailor! Most are happy to do it.
Q: Blazers are too hot! What should I wear in the summer?
A: Have at least two linen suits/blazers for the summer and spring.
