Shannon, thank you for that detailed set of observations. It's really helpful especially since you have real experience with this jacket.
You're correct -- this one is wool. It's a very lightweight summer wool. About the same as the BR suit fabric. The trousers are not lined (as they are in the BR suit) but they don't itch. On the other hand, as a winter trouser they would provide approximately zero warmth.
I think I need to try both on again. My feelings are truly all over the map. My first impression (when I put on the pants, which I tried on first in the bathroom of the "my US address" place so I could immediately post the ones that did not fit for return) -- Errrr, um, eeew.....I don't know about this. Then I put shoes on and felt differently about them. They're sort of swaggery man pants.
As for the jacket, initial reaction was -- Fits way better and looks way better than I'd anticipated. Worth considering.
That's more a thought than a feeling. Interesting.
Mr. Suz's reactions may be colouring my own. He really did not like the pants (even though he likes my black slouchy trousers) and he immediately noticed and picked on the fit issue with the jacket, saying that it bothered him.
He also doesn't like pinstripes and the Theory has a faint pinstripe. I do like pinstripes so that part of his opinion I am happy to ignore. But his feelings about the pattern may be colouring his other reactions and I need to keep that in mind. He tends to fixate at first on things he does not care for.
He said, "The Theory is 'sexier' but it doesn't fit as well."
Interesting comment, no?
He prefers the BR suit and says that jacket fits perfectly. Which it does. But then again, he has a much more classic, "preppy" taste and his eye takes some time to adjust to new looks on me. Over time, if I love something and wear it happily, he always comes around.