Stella McCartney Iris Blazer review: worth it or skip?

What the Stella McCartney Iris Blazer does well

The headline: wool blazer. The details: Fabric: Wool; Construction: Half-canvassed; Fit: Regular; Made in: Varies by line. In our list it is the pick for: sustainable tailoring. It usually sells for $1,600–$2,200 in the US.

Sustainable.

The trade-offs

Good: sustainable, sharp. Not so good: pricey. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want heritage.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Max Mara Wool Blazer ($1,400–$2,000): single-breasted wool blazer. Better if you want a quality office blazer.

Instead, consider the Victoria Beckham Tailored Blazer ($1,800–$2,400): sharp blazer. Better if you want sharp.

Instead, consider the Max Mara Madame Coat Suit ($2,000–$3,000): wool suit. Better if you want a work pantsuit.

Before you buy

Shoulder fit: the shoulder is the one part tailors cannot really alter, so fit that first. Construction: canvassed jackets keep their shape better than fused ones. Fabric: wool and wool-blend suiting breathes and travels well; heavy polyester creases and traps heat.

Buyer tip

Suits from great houses are among the best value in end-of-season sales, because classic navy, black and gray barely change from year to year.

Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.