Smythe Blazer Review

An equestrian blazer, tall cashmere, and premium denim…what’s not to love?

the Smythe blazer

Smythe popped up on my radar circa autumn 2008. It was my first semester of grad school and I worked part time at the Georgetown location of Neiman Marcus’s small format contemporary store, CUSP (RIP).

With an influx of fall product, I distinctly recall unpacking a box of plaid Smythe equestrian blazers, each adorned with leather elbow patches. Four months later, this very blazer would turn up on the back of Serena van see Woodsen (aka Blake Lively) in the season two Gossip Girl episode, You’ve Got Yale.

Even looking at that particular blazer on the hanger back then, I thought the blazer in my go-to size appeared small. Keep in mind that this was a season in my life when I wore a size six Marc by Marc Jacobs dress. (Again, RIP.) Smythe employs “contemporary” sizing, meaning that it runs small. I have a size 14 in the Herringbone Equestrian Blazer (and a size 12 in the Windowpane Duchess Blazer worn in this post) and admittedly, I could gone with a size 16 and perhaps been more comfortable.

Luckily, the brand goes up to size 16 in the blazers; however, not every retailer carries the full range. (Revolve, I’m looking at you.)

Sizing aside, I love this blazer. I love that it is wool and not some bastardized poly blend version of tweed. I love the brass buttons. I love the leather elbow patches and shoulder and armpit insets; the quality of which this garment was constructed is evident. It is a pricey piece but it is worth it, because it looks expensive inside and out.

the 7 For All Mankind tall denim

Do you remember the height of the premium denim boom? 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, AG, Paige, Rock and Republic, True Religion, Joe’s Jeans, Hudson Jeans. Over a decade ago, definitely prior to the 2008 recession, it was easy to procure tall denim from all of the premium denim brands. My collection of 7FAM, Rock and Republic, Joe’s Jeans was solid, and I was always on the verge of purchasing the Hudson Supermodel Jean, but never pulled the trigger. I should have because nowadays, seemingly no premium denim brand, sans Frame, is making jeans in tall.

I initially found these tall jeans a whopping three years ago, when I was struck by the fact that the product description included that they had a 36 inch inseam. Since then, they have appeared in shopping posts several time. Only a month ago did I make a move after they went 25 percent off. After I slipped them on, it was clear to me that I should have ordered them earlier.

The fabric is different than all other 7 For All Mankind denim I have owned in the past. It is the B(Air) denim and it is super soft and stretchy. Though it is not particularly clear from the photos as I was hiking up the jeans to keep them from getting wet on our balcony, the jeans are the perfect length to wear with flats…or barefoot.