The Most Worn Jacket in a Chicago Wardrobe
Dress codes in this city have loosened, and the sport coat absorbed the change. It carries a client lunch in River North, a board meeting in the Loop, dinner in the West Loop and a Saturday in Winnetka. Because it is worn more often than a suit jacket, fit and cloth matter even more — and a jacket cut to your pattern is what makes an open collar look deliberate rather than undressed.
Sport Coat, Blazer or Suit Jacket
A sport coat uses textured, patterned or seasonal cloth and reads as its own garment. A blazer is the plainer navy or dark solid workhorse, often with metal or horn buttons. A suit jacket is woven to match its trousers and rarely works alone. ESQ makes all three, and we will tell you plainly which one your wardrobe is missing.
Construction You Can Feel
Every jacket is fully canvassed and handcrafted using traditional tailoring techniques. You choose shoulder expression, from an unstructured Neapolitan-inspired soft shoulder to a clean structured Chicago silhouette, plus lapel style and width, patch, flap or jetted pockets, side or center vents, working surgeon's cuffs, pick stitching, silk linings and genuine horn or mother-of-pearl buttons.
Odd Jackets for Weddings and Events
White dinner jackets for warm-weather black tie, velvet jackets for the holidays, and coordinated jackets for groomsmen who are not wearing full tuxedos are all part of the wedding work we do. Timelines, fittings and finishing details are managed for the whole party, and jackets can be matched to trousers you already own or ordered as part of a full commission.
Serving the Loop, North Shore and Beyond
Clients come to our LaSalle Street showroom from the Loop, River North, the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park, and to Winnetka from Wilmette, Glencoe, Northbrook and Evanston. Your 34 measurements and personal pattern are kept on file, so a second or third jacket can be ordered with a short appointment or a virtual consultation from anywhere in the United States.
Custom Sport Coat FAQs
How much does a custom sport coat cost in Chicago?
Pricing follows ourbespoke tailoring, which begins at $3,295 for a suit, with jacket-only pricing confirmed at your consultation based on the cloth and construction you select.
What is the difference between a sport coat and a blazer?
A sport coat uses textured or patterned seasonal cloth and stands alone; a blazer is a plain dark solid, usually navy, often finished with horn or metal buttons and worn as a year-round staple.
Can you make a jacket to go with trousers I already own?
Yes. Bring the trousers to your appointment and we will select a cloth, weight and color that pairs correctly rather than clashing slightly, which is the usual failure of a mismatched jacket.
How long does a custom jacket take?
Five to six weeks is typical, followed by about one week for any alterations after your second fitting.
Do you make unstructured summer jackets?
Yes. Lightly padded or fully unlined jackets in hopsack, fresco, linen and cotton are made for Chicago summers and travel, cut to keep their shape without heavy internal structure.