Matchless Craig Blouson / Suede Jacket
Stormmauer
Posts: 121MI6 Agent
Considering picking up one of the Matchless Suede Jackets, but struggling to find any good info on them and how they’ve held up over the years.
Being a tan suede, I’d expect they'd look dirty pretty quickly and weather in - anyone had one for a few years, with some good wear who can share any reviews or feedback? Do you have to clean it often?
Thankyou!
Being a tan suede, I’d expect they'd look dirty pretty quickly and weather in - anyone had one for a few years, with some good wear who can share any reviews or feedback? Do you have to clean it often?
Thankyou!
Comments
I bought mine from the first run and have never had to do a thing to it, beyond initially treating it with suede protectant. I probably wear it a dozen times a year and don't baby it, but have been lucky not to brush against wet paint or get it seriously dirty. No doubt others haven't been so fortunate.
Those first Matchlesses were outrageously priced (maybe they still are) and I really expected to regret the purchase. But I never have. I calculate value as total cost divided by number of times worn.
What's funny is that I also bought the JV cafe racer at the same time and assumed I'd wear it a lot more than the Matchless. As it happens I almost never wear the Varvatos. But that was "affordable" at least!
It’s not too badly priced at the moment, especially in a sale at £695, but I like to wear all my bond clothes and have never ventured into tan suede before. It looks like it’d be a bit of a nightmare but I guess if it’s well looked after it won’t be as bad!
I did the same as Cheverian and used a good protector and probably wore it about 20 times a year in normal social situations - but given the nature and colour of the jacket, you do tend to be a little more careful with it anyway.
Through nobody's fault, it got a minor spill on it that necessitated the need to get it cleaned. Off it went to the recommended specialist dry cleaner. Unfortunately, when it returned, it had a small hole on the leftt sleeve between the elbow and cuff, where the original leather is, to be fair, thinner than the rest of the jacket. It's barely noticeable, but I KNOW IT'S THERE!!
Cue many months later of wrangling with the cleaning company, and their insurance company but (long story short) because of the type of treatment the jacket received in manufacture, the 'damage' is, apparently, not covered and is one of the 'specialist clauses' you sign up to when you put the jacket in to clean
I love the jacket (and have the normal leather version in black), so was tempted to get another when I saw the price reduced to £695. But honestly, I am probably just going to stick with this one as I wouldn't want the risk of it happening again.
Ahh doesn’t sound good! I’m in two minds as I just don’t know if I’d wear it, being perpetually worried about the wear and damage of it. If it was £200 maybe I’d be less worried.
Love the Barbour and Billy Reid as you can use and abuse them (within reason).
Any other comments always welcome!!
That’s appalling! Were you advised of the potential risk when you put it in for cleaning?
Because of the type of material it is, I had to sign a 'waiver' for 'specialist cleaning' - which was the normal 15 pages in a tall thin booklet that I never, ever read!
I spoke with a friend of mine who is a lawyer. His guidance was that if the damage had been on a 'thicker' part of the fabric, I could have contested but given that the area where it happened was noticeably thinner (as is the wont of that type of jacket!), it was unlikely I would be successful
I have the Craig Blouson in navy and the original tan, both in medium.
I live in Ireland so my opportunities to wear it are only really in the summer. And it does feel amazing on. (although i should have bought a size up, I must have been leaner in 2015
While the tan one does pick up a little dirt on the very edge of the cuff, it can be removed easily enough with a suede brush.
I am open to selling the navy one (and maybe the tan) if anyone is interested. Ideally I should just man up and eventually buy a size up.
They're both in excellent condition if anyone is interested let me know.
How does the medium fit? What size chest is it meant for? I feel I’m more of a large judging by what others say about the jackets being on the slim side.
I have 5 of these jackets, 3 suede and 2 wet Nabuk leather in L one in navy and one in black. The suede I have in S M and L. I am typically size M with 40 chest and 31 waist. It depends how fitted a look you want. I got the M from the original run and I would say it’s for 38-40. I managed to get the navy one in L and that is fine too. As it’s suede it can be more relaxed slouchy look and it feels comfortable