Thrift Shopping Men’s Summer Sport Coats: Go Beyond the Basics…
Hopefully, my menswear thrift shopping tips have helped you to build a low-cost, high-quality wardrobe containing the essentials for dressing well. You have acquired a few classic suits and sports coats that will cover your essential business/style needs. Now, you want to have a bit of fun. What type of suits and blazers/sportscoats can you add to round out your wardrobe?
Look for interesting colors and patterns in less common fabrics and blends
Summer Menswear Tips
Now that summer is here, look for linen, cotton or seersucker suits and sportcoats that can be mixed and matched as colorful summer outfits. Also, look for bamboo or silk/linen blend fabrics in sportcoats. Bamboo is a lesser-known but very breathable lightweight fabric that holds brighter colors well and does not wrinkle easily like linen. Also, silk/linen blend fabrics tend to have more interesting colors and patterns than pure linen.
All of the better menswear brands offer suits and sportcoats in these fabrics. They tend to command a higher price on eBay than their wool equivalents when purchased second-hand. However, with a bit of patience, you can find some great deals.
This sport coat shown above is an enduring favorite. This is a vintage Hart Schaffner & Marx Gold Trumpeter Lapel sport coat purchase second-hand on eBay for $23.00. It is in a timeless 3 button configuration and unvented. It is a classic summer look that is a step beyond the classic blue blazer!
Seersucker is one of my favorite fabrics for summer wear. The sportscoat shown here is an inexpensive brand (Saddlebred) that I purchased on Poshmark.com (new with tags) for $12.00. It had a boxy silhouette typical of American sack suits, so I closed the rear center vent and slimmed the silhouette to give it a more Italian look. I taught myself to do alterations on all of my thrifted clothing. Needless to say, this keeps my thrifting costs as low as possible!
Here is another cotton seersucker sport coat perfect for the spring/summer season. This is made by Brooks Brothers and was purchased second-hand for only $8.00 on eBay. It has a half lining, making it quite lightweight and breathable. It is a great option for ‘dressy’ casual wear on warmer days.
Hopefully, I have given you some great ideas for expanding your summer wardrobe with low-cost second-hand tailored clothing. After you have acquired the essentials, the search for more interesting colors, patterns, and fabrics by thrift shopping can add depth to your wardrobe. Thrifting is an adventure! Enjoy the search as much as the rewards!