What fabric travels best for or a dressier sportcoat?
 

Tweeds are out. Probably looking for a solid navy. Not that I'd necessarily buy from them, but I've looked at Magellan's, Travelsmith & Norm Thompson sites for travel clothes to see what their travel sportcoats are made of. They have microfiber, silk, & poly/wool. Anyone have any recommendations for fabrics that work well or fabrics to stay away from? I want something with a more dressed up look, and I'm looking for a lighter weight that will work for summer. Thanks.

The poly/wool seems to travel fine. These coats can be light, yet the wrinkles drop out as soon as the coat is hung.

I have never worn microfiber coats, so I can't say they're good or bad.

I do have a navy from Lands End but I have also a fine plaid which is black lines. I have worn this truthfully all around the world. It's great with grey pants, black pants and a clean pair of jeans. Both coats are poly/wool.

Of those two coats,if I only had one, it would be the smart plaid. Classy!

Blackduff

This is sportcoat for a man? And why are tweeds out?

I actually would not go with solid navy, as solids are far less forgiving than patterns when it comes to dust and food-related mishaps, and they're relatively difficult to pair with trousers. There's no point in getting something from a vendor like Travelsmith unless you plan on washing it out in the sink (in which case I don't think you need to worry about a sportcoat at all).

I'd go with silk/wool or silk/wool/linen in some sort of woven pattern. Here's an example from Lands End:

http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0...87975210118882

Remember, one needn't pack it for the flight, but instead wear it onto the plane and then just take it off and fold it in the overhead, on top of the luggage.

Okay, link didn't work, but if you go to Lands End just navigate your way to wool blend sportcoats and you'll find several examples.

One last thought. A man wearing a navy jacket and grey pants usually is an American businessman. They're everywhere in Europe.

Okay, one more point again. If you have a navy blazer, make sure it's good quality and make sure that the buttons are decent. Don't make yourself like an Admiral. Good quality buttons do not have to be metal. Give it a thought.

Blackduff

I take a black microfiber jacket (blazer). Goes great with grey slacks. Understated, comfortable, travels well, light in weight for any time of year.

I just purchased this great short navy peacoat the other day. It's from Liz Claiborne, is 97% cotton and 3% spandex, and hasn't wrinkled on me yet, yet being the operative word.

I would think that microfiber jackets would less likely to wrinkle. Unfortunately, all the microfiber jackets I have are sporty.

This winter, I shopped with the cold summer office in mind, and thusly purchased some cashmere cardigans to keep my bare summer shoulders warm.

Blackduff, you post amused me because I worked many years at Brooks Brothers and I remember a woman phoning me asking to talk to her husband and she described him as wearing a blue blazer and grey trousers. That looked like the sea below me as I looked over the staircase.

Cigalechanta
I've had this often too. I have had meetings with Europeans and Americans and you can pick out the Americans from the blue blazers and grey pants.

Blackduff

In Europe, I think charcoal gray or sophisticated plaid would be preferable to navy. Charcoal gray will work with gray or black slacks, as long as you pick one that doesn't look like it's just the jacket from a suit.
Before making a decision, why not go to a better department or men's store and try on a few sportcoats from some European designers--Zegna, for example. Will give you a better idea of the type of cut and color you'd want.
Agree with blackduff, a solid navy sportcoat is a more American thing, esp. East Coast Preppy.

I mentioned a plaid but I haven't said it must be discreet. You don't want to look like a tractor salesman from Milwalkee.

While talking about using this sportcoat, try to buy a very fine wool sweater. I had an Italian wool sweater which it went under the coat-very classy. Don't cheap on the sweater, since it shows.

Back to the coat, don't buy anything with elbow patches. Sweaters under the coast should not have a roll collar. British men still wear the roll collars but it's as much a badge as the American blue blazers and grey slacks.

BTilke gave very good advice and look at some of the big name coats. Okay, maybe you can't afford to buy one but look what "classy" should look like. You won't find a good jacket at Wallmart.

Blackduff

The plaid I am speaking about is "Glen Plaid".

Microfiber. Look in LLBean or Travelsmith.

How did you guess that this a question from an American? And, especially from the American wife who does all the trip planning. Apparently all of us Americans must automatically think navy blazer and charcoal pants.

Here's the scenario. We will be attending our son's wedding in Lithuania this summer and don't want to lug along a suit unless we really have to. We'll be doing a lot of casual travel around the area after the wedding and wouldn't even need a coat again. We thought if we could find a dressy enough one, a sportcoat and trousers combo would be best because at least the trousers could be worn as travel pants for the rest of the trip. There is a linen & silk more tweed coat lighter gray already in the closet so we wouldn't have to purchase a thing, but I doubt if it is dressy enough. Thanks for all the tips.

The linen and silk pale gray tweed (which I think is what you're describing) actually sounds fine, and pretty dressy though you're not describing it as such. Nice trousers and a really nice shirt (have it laundered and folded in a plastic sleeve by the laundry for the trip) and tie will work fine.

A shirt with French cuffs (that require cufflinks) will look dressier.

Will the coat work with other trousers, even possibly jeans? If so it makes a good top layer for warmth in the evening if you're in a cool area, and will generally get you better service in nice restaurants.

But I think linen and silk will not be very wrinkle resistant.

Put the coat inside of a cleaner's plastic bag. Then put the coat into the suitcase and it probably will prevent wrinkling too much.

This works for shirts and pants too.

Blackduff

I bought my husband a black microfiber jacket from Norm Thompson; it looks great with charcoal slacks and goes anywhere.

Julies, I don't know how the others figured you were American, but based on your previous posts about finding flights from MSP and coming back through Detroit...it seemed like a reasonable guess.

Julies: About 5 years ago my husband bought a wonderful navy sport coat at a Tilley's Endurables store in Canada. Online at www.tilley.com (Yes, maker of the famous Tilley hat). It has traveled many miles in a suitcase and always comes out looking fresh and unwrinkled. It was not inexpensive, but well worth what we paid.

Nonni
What material was used in this coat?

Blackduff

Several years ago in Vegas at the Forum Shops I splurged some winnings on a new blazer at Hugo Boss. It is very light weight and an exremely dark navy -- very close to black. On very close inspection it appears to be a sort of loose woven mesh. I just got it out to wear tonight (along with the first tie I've put on since New Years) and looked at the label. I was surprised to see it is 100% virgin lambs wool.
You could wad this blazer up in a ball and it won't wrinkle -- more because of the weave I suspect than because of the material. Take it out of a suitcase and it will look like a million dollars -- which is considerably more than I paid for it (but not as much more as I would have liked).

Julies, my husband travels with a black sport jacket bought a couple of years ago from TravelSmith. It has held up very well and looks great right out of a suitcase. It is 55%poly and 45% wool. Ron wears a long and the jacket has a nice trim look. Deborah

Seersucker is VERY in this year. Check out the slideshow in the fashion section of nytimes.com.

Max Mara Maven

Polly, I noticed all the seersucker the other day walking through the men's department of Saks. I thought I was having a bad dream. Please, God, no!

I grew up with seersucker -- "Sears made it and a sucker bought it" was the catch phrase.

Nice to see you Polly, check your mail :)
I agree with the ones who said they like the seersucker but not the whole suit, they wear the jacket and pants seperately.
I think silk blends travel very well.

Patrick, you are so droll. I can just see you and Lee wearing seersucker thongs on the beach at Fire Island. :)

Hello, Mimi. I will check my email as soon as I finish my second bowl of gin.

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