Sports Coat Styles
Nothing says casual sophistication quite like a finely chosen and matched sport coat. Sport coats can be worn with dress pants to create a look that is less formal than a full suit, yet still very much in place in most business and social settings. It is important to understand the different sport coat styles in order to articulate your tastes and sartorial expression without distortion. Does this Spark an idea?
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Fabric
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The most common fabric found on sport coats is wool, while some higher end coats are often made up of a wool and silk blend giving the coat a smoother feel and lighter weight. The more casual and less expensive end of the spectrum is comprised of linen and cotton sport coats, which also wear better in the summer and in warmer climates.
Fabric Matching
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Wool and wool-and-silk blend sport coats are most often mated to wool dress pants, but can also be worn with cotton dress pants, chinos or even blue jeans. It is not recommended to wear a wool sport coat with linen pants, as the lightweight and fabric texture of linen do not mesh well with woolen coats. Cotton and linen coats, the more casual fabric styles, are generally mated to cotton and linen pants or lightweight blue jeans. Pairing cotton or linen sport coats with wool pants is also discouraged, as the casual nature and feel of these fabrics are inherently at odds with the style of traditional wool dress pants.
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Seasonal
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Wool sport coats are created as year-round coats, while some variants are seasonal, and wearing these coats during the proper periods can display a level of sophistication. Tweed, herringbone and hounds tooth coats are made of heavier fabric and are typically considered fall and winter items to be mated with heavier pants. The same goes for camel hair coats. During summer months, linen can be worn, as well as brighter colors tending toward the pastel range. Colors like white, pastel yellow and light tan are to be avoided during the winter months, but are fashionable during the warmer months.
Details
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Any well-dressed man should pay attention to the details of his sport coat. Subtleties can make or break the coat. Note the venting of the coat and decide what style you prefer -- between the single-vent coats with one slit in the middle and the double-vented coats with two slits, creating a flap over your buttocks. Also note the coat's side pockets. Dressier sport coats will have a slit or flapped side pockets with an internal lining, while sportier coats will have external, "jean style" side pockets. Check for functioning sleeve buttons, or surgeon sleeves, as they denote a quality sartorial item.
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References
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