mfad•2y ago

Semi Formal Jacket Recommendations

Hi all!

I have been tasked with finding a birthday gift for a family member who is looking for a semi formal jacket to wear to work conferences (he is a physician; events are held indoors in well air conditioned spaces which is why he would need a jacket; looking for something in navy or more muted color) but I can’t seem to find anything that fits the requirements well and isn’t a sports jacket. Looking for both style suggestions and specific product recommendations. Price cap of 1k usd but ideally less. I’m located in the US but am looking for product/brand recommendations from any location.

ETA: I don’t think he is looking for a bomber jacket or windbreaker. Knits are okay—unsure if there are cardigans that read less casual. Comfort is key.

Thanks in advance!

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:12 PM

This is a bit of an unusual question because 1) buying formal or semi formal clothes for someone else is rarely a good idea and 2) dress codes are confusing and have specific meanings but they're not always "followed" and they mean different things to different people

zeometer•5/5/24, 2:13 PM

out of curiosity did the family member/person assigning the task explicitly say 'no sport coats' because from my read that feels like the exact right answer?

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:14 PM

The "semi formal" dress code, at its strict definition, means "suit and tie"

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:15 PM

Now, I'd say only like 15% of people see the dress code "semi formal" and actually think it's suit and tie

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:16 PM

Most people think it means "kinda formalish, but really it's basically nice-ish bizcaz" - sometimes even hosts mean this when they write semi-formal on an invite

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:16 PM

So your first job is to figure out what "semi formal" actually means in this context ha

zeometer•5/5/24, 2:17 PM

also beyond @GSH (Ben)'s accurate explanation of this task being maybe perilous, do ypu have any indication on his tastes - comfort is key and navy is preferred, but is he a conservative dresser or open to more interesting options? does he like rugged things or neat and precise ones?

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:18 PM

A jacket that basically splits the difference between the "strict semi-formal" and the "colloquial semi-formal" is a navy blazer, which can be dressed up to essentially semi formal levels (navy blazer, flannel trousers, dress shirt, tie is as close to the formality level of a suit getup as you can get without actually being a suit)

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:21 PM

here's the same dude dressing a navy blazer up and down. the first outfit would pass at any "semi formal" event IMO, unless the hosts are extremely picky about their guests wearing a suit and a suit only, for some reason

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:21 PM

the dressed down version is more of an "office bizcaz" look, which, again, may or may not be what semi formal means to some people

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:23 PM

with all that, I'd recommend a navy blazer because it can be dressed up or down according to various definitions of "semi formal." Which navy blazer specifically depends heavily on the wearer's personal tastes and wants. Sizing on tailored jackets is also very difficult, making it hard to buy for other people. But I'd start by looking at brands like Brooks Brothers, J Press, especially if you can bring him to try things on

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:25 PM

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:25 PM

FYI sports jackets can also be dressed up or down. Here's me wearing a tweed jacket and it's an outfit I could imagine a physician wearing to a conference

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:26 PM

...maybe because I'm a doctor (not physician) and I wear outfits like these to conferences. lol

eeeeee54182OP•5/5/24, 2:30 PM

Tried editing the OP but I think I may have translated the “requirements” poorly—I’ll get further clarification then come back with a bit more info to request additional help with this request. He is a more casual dresser and is older (nearing 70 and he lives in Taiwan where it’s exceptionally warm 9 months out of the year) and wears polos a bunch in everyday life (under his white coat). I think he wants something dressier for these conferences but I don’t think navy blazers are what he has in mind. I checked his closet and he has a few Testoni leather accessories and many Thom Browne pieces but he doesn’t really wear them. I am the designated shopper in my extended family but I really only know women’s fashion so am majorly struggling here

eeeeee54182OP•5/5/24, 2:31 PM

Thanks for all of the helpful comments left so far. I didn’t mean to be unclear at first

Eeeeeee54182 Tried editing the OP but I think I may have translated the “requirements” poorly...

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:32 PM

To me, 70yo doc wanting something a lil dressy for conferences is screaming for a good sport coat

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:32 PM

there are lightweight / breathable options; linens, wool-silk-linen blends, etc

zeometer•5/5/24, 2:32 PM

honestly the struggle is understandable (both shopping for someone else in general and also the needs of this family member). i doooooo still think a navy blazer or sport coat is probably the best bet in reading it though

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:34 PM

one image that lives rent free in my brain is this raw silk "summer tweed" jacket. super lightweight and breathable, wearable in hot weather

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:34 PM

PTO has a decent article here https://www.putthison.com/spring-summer-sport-coat-guide/

Put This On

Spring/Summer Sport Coat Guide

George Frazier’s “The Art of Wearing Clothes” is one of the best essays about classic men’s style. Originally published in a...

zeometer•5/5/24, 2:35 PM

if he's switching from a polo shirt to a traditional button down underneath for these events then something like a chore coat or less structured blazer might be sufficient but may not read as formal as he'd want

BBigelow PTO has a decent article here https://www.putthison.com/spring-summer-sport-coat...

kyn•5/5/24, 2:35 PM

whewwwww

BBigelow there are lightweight / breathable options; linens, wool-silk-linen blends, etc

eeeeee54182OP•5/5/24, 2:36 PM

Thank you both for all of your helpful replies so far and links. Will propose some linen blend options and see what he thinks. Love this summer tweed jacket—will see if I can find similar options in a darker colorway

Eeeeeee54182 Thank you both for all of your helpful replies so far and links. Will propose so...

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:37 PM

Brooks Brothers and J Press are pretty conservative/traditional brands and don't tend to do "cool" things like a silk summer tweed. I would recommend checking out the online store No Man Walks Alone, which has plenty of great, quality, but less conservative options for tailored jackets like that

Bigelow•5/5/24, 2:38 PM

It may be hard to find a silk summer tweed without going made-to-measure (in the $1k range is possible here still), it's a pretty rare fabric

kyn•5/5/24, 2:38 PM

Plugging Scott Fraser collection https://scottfrasercollection.com/collections/suiting-tailoring

zeometer•5/5/24, 2:39 PM

to address your other question, a cardigan could work in this instance - this fit from digs is a good example. the key would be finding sufficiently formal things to wear it with (tie, dress shirt and shoes)

zeometer•5/5/24, 2:41 PM

that is a vintage finnish (?) cardigan so if interested your best bet would be searching on ebay or etsy for 'vintage double breasted cardigans' or similar terms

kyn•5/5/24, 2:42 PM

Might be too warm no?

kyn•5/5/24, 2:42 PM

I guess not if in like 68° AC indoors

eeeeee54182OP•5/5/24, 2:43 PM

Thank you all again. You’ve given me so much to consider and I will speak with him (ask him some of the questions you’ve shared) and try to figure out if he can help solidify the degree of formality he has in mind. Really appreciate this community.