Question re quality of jacket from BR

DeniseP

I recently got the "Barbara striped knit blazer" from Banana Republic and it fits like a glove.

At home, I looked closer and noticed that on the back of the garment are two darts on the shoulders, and the stripes don't match up!
Is this a defect in quality?

Went back to the store and the one on the mannequin had matched up stripes darts, and all the others on the racks had mismatched stripes.

I bought this in hopes of updating my wardrobe to a more modern classic style.
Your opinion please - would you return this and get a solid color blazer?

Here's the link if you care to look. You can zoom over the dart area to get a better idea. Thanks.

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....pid=429821

I thought BR had fairly good quality -- now I'm not sure.

14 years ago

Shopping

9 replies

Latest reply was from Travelgal Nicole

Mochi

Veteran

I don't think other people would notice, but YOU'D know and be bothered by it...and for that amount of money, it should all match up IMO.

14 years ago

Sylvie

Veteran

Poor quality/non matching stripes seem to be found at almost all retail levels, unfortunately. IMHO BR and most chain stores' quality have dropped from what they were 5-10 years ago.

Being picky means that if you care about stripe matching, you don't keep an item that doesn't match your requirements. I vote for returning.

14 years ago

Anonymous

I vote for returning. I wouldn't say it's a defect in quality, as the garment may wear well and last a long time. However, it IS a defect in workmanship.. a lack of attention to detail. My mom used to meticulously match up the stripes (or plaids) whenever she sewed for me, and I know that's the way it's supposed to be. I would not buy a garment that has a mismatched pattern. Take it back!

14 years ago

Stephanie

Veteran

Is the one on the mannequin your size? Could you just swap?

14 years ago

Classically Casual

Veteran

Yes, definitely return. At my local BR all the jackets had mismatched stripes at the darts, including the display model. It actually caught my eye from across the room as some sort of weird optical illusion and so I had to visit it up close to see how that had occurred.

14 years ago

DeniseP

Active Member

Mochi, you're right -- it would bother me, just knowing it's there!
And I agree, for the price, it should match up.

Sylvie, thanks for reminding me about being picky. It's only been several days ago that I said Angie's "Triple P Purchasing Principles" were going to guide me -- and picky is one of those. How soon I forgot!

Ruth, I wholeheartedly agree - it's a lack of detail. And I pay attention to details. Actually, I border on perfectionism, and try not to go there.

Stephanie, I called the store and the mannequin is size 2 -- I'm an 8.

Classically Casual, Yep, I've called three stores in my area, and all of them have mismatched stripes.

Thanks everybody! You pushed me over the edge, and I will return this jacket.
I will be patient, picky and practical!

14 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

The link now says out of stock, so I can't see the picture. I agree that I would return - stuff like that bugs me. But I will say that there are certain dart locations that make it impossible to match stripes - shoulder darts are fairly uncommon in jackets these days so the manufacturer may not be used to dealing with that issue.

14 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

i cant see the picture...

14 years ago

Travelgal Nicole

Veteran

I'd agree returning it. Especially if it is giving some people a weird optical illusion.

14 years ago

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