Are Isaia Jackets Worth It? (Luxury Italian Menswear Review)

#isaia #review #notsponsored

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VIDEO CREDITS:
→ Script: E.J. Daniels & Sven Raphael Schneider
→ Camera: Chris Dummer
→ Editing: Jonathan Oster
→ Visual Supervisor: Preston Schlueter & Jack Collins

IMAGE CREDIT:
→ The Rake

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Gentleman's Gazette

00:00 Isaia Suits & Jackets Introduction

When it comes to Neapolitan RTW suits and jackets, in the US, Isaia along with Kiton is probably one of the most well-known brands. That’s why today we’re going to help you determine whether or not a suit from Isaia is worth it. As always, these assessments are not sponsored, we bought the garments with our own money and reflect our genuine opinions.

01:30 History of Isaia

Started as a fabric retailer in Naples, Italy in 1920 founded by Enrico Isaia. According to family history, worked with Cesare (Che-sar-eh) Attolini, son of Vincenzo (Vin-chen-zo) Attolini, Vincenzo Attolini is often credited with styling the modern Neapolitan style suit.

In 1957, is the “true” birth of the modern Isaia brand. For several decades, Isaia produced suits for other luxury Italian suitmakers.

In the early 1980s, Isaia leveraged brand recognition to expand directly into more European markets, as well as North America and Asia.

05:00 What Makes Isaia Special?

Isaia leans heavily into the idea of Neapolitan cut suits. Isaia suits often have a trim silhouette, higher lapel gorge, unpadded & softer shoulder, shoulder roping, wider peaked lapels, open quarters, and bold patterns & color palettes.

06:37 Products & Prices

07:37 Product Sizing and Details

Isaia provides a rough size guide. Listed jackets range from 36 to 50 US but when looking at actual individual availability, we found that many suits tended to only be available from a 38 to a 46. Isaia also offers Corto (Short) and Lungo (Long) sizes but again, the selection was more limited for these irregular sizes.

When it comes to online shopping, Isaia provides a decent amount of information about the item you’re looking at but this isn’t overly consistent.

09:22 How Are Their Suits Made?

Isaia RTW suits are available in a variety of natural fabrics. Also, specialty fabrics developed exclusively by Isaia like Aquaspider 160s or exclusive fabrics for Solo Otto suits. In general, Isaia provides a moderate amount of information about fabric quality but not a sufficient amount to make informed decisions on all occasions. Isaia places great emphasis on being “Made in Italy”.

15:38 How Isaia Garments Fit

18:56 Is It Worth It?

In most cases, we feel that Isaia is not worth the original retail price. While we are impressed with the workmanship overall, the materials in most of their RTW suits are only okay. For a comparable amount of money, you could have a tailor-made bespoke suit assembled.

However, Isaia suits can be an excellent purchase second-hand. That’s how Raphael got most of his Isaia garments.

We hope that this video has helped you figure out whether an Isaia suit might be right for you.

21:27 Outfit Rundown

[MircoWilhelm]

Made the mistake to stop by one of their flagship stores a few years ago to check the products for a few minutes. Took me two hours to get out again. The amount of detail knowledge on a store level was pleasantly surprising. On the price side of the argument, they do have seasonal sales which should bring down your spending enough

[jonahwilliams]

I don’t buy these new, I buy them second hand but they really are fantastic. I can wear a Isaia suit like I’m wearing a t shirt. They have such great quality fabrics and they move with your body really well. If I could afford to buy some of them brand new I probably would

[JT-dkmw]

I would rather buy a bespoke sports coat instead of paying that much for a RTW one, at least it will fit me better and last longer

[mrhamzariaz]

Raphael can you please make your ENTIRE suit collection and blazer collection video? I think we all would appreciate that.

[Konsaliki]

As with Attolini, Kiton or Brioni: If you know which of their sizes fits you quite well, buy your Isaia jacket/suit used and get it altered. If you can't be bothered visiting one of their stores to get a sense for their sizing conventions: take your 3 - 5000 bucks and go to reputable bespoke tailor.
I've spent a good amount of years now living the sartorial life and if there's one thing I've grown tired off, it's seeing people wearing well made, expensive ready-to-wear items that don't fit well. The jacket that Raphael is wearing in this video clearly shows, that, while tolerable, the fit is far from 3000$-good.

[konstantinkennedy]

I love Isaia. Twice a year you can catch a sample sale in ny and la, also ebay has Tons of nwt and nwot Isaia for ip to 90% off. Shop smart my brothers

[anthonyandaleon]

I buy mine from Saks off fifth Avenue. Suits that are like $5000, I get them for about $1100. Which makes them a good value for me.
Then I spent about $100 $200 for alteration from a good tailor

[markmaiello]

Gentlemen’s Gazette is essential viewing...if you really care...I enjoy the honest, forthright vibe...plenty of good advice you can use or lose if you desire...very nice.

[alexwest]

Never really knew much about Isaia until watching this video yesterday. I got on ebay afterwards and found a sport coat I really liked. The seller made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I just bought it. Can't wait for it to get here!

[lance-biggums]

One thing I do love about their jackets is the high gorge/button stance and the corresponding shorter lapels. I really like that look. Their lapels also all look like the perfect width.

[carlmeiner]

Love both the professionalism of the video, along with humor surrounding the insane prices of some of those garments!

[bw]

Have a second-hand Isaia jacket that I love, but a blue/grey melange field jacket of theirs is one of the most favorite things I own.

[vishnuramesh]

Wanted to know the answer to this particular question and the video is out! Love you gg!!!

[scottmarkey]

I have criticized you in the past, but you nailed everything about

[solomonbaffoe]

Thank you for the information, I have one velvet black sport coat from them and I do like it a lot.

[gnoter]

Shirt/jacket looks superb on you. Nice cut (hair) too. Nice video, very informative! Like the lapel pin, too. Hard to find. Eventually....thanks!

[sammathias]

Cheers Sven, good video especially the sizing advice.

As a younger guy I respect Isaia for sticking with such a distinctive house style and integrating it into the modern era with a lot of their more casual suits, ones that you can wear with some nice sneakers and a t-shirt on a summer day and still look distinguished while being totally comfortable.

I keep my eye out all the time for those deep discount sales, there seems to be a continuous supply of deeply discounted NWT past season items out there from brands like Cucinelli, Isaia, Zegna, even Brioni.

[whatwelearned]

Anything from a company with a strong brand is never going to be worth it in terms of value so the question is whether you're interested in the brand. For me, I'd rather put my money to a suit that was just as well made but from a company with smaller margins.

[jakublulek]

I inherited Isaia suit from my grandfather, so they literally make jackets that my grandfather would wear.😁
Anyway, it's very British-style, navy blue, double-breasted suit which was made-to-measure in mid 1980s. It was made as a summer suit for British summer, so it has lining and pants aren't as slim as ready-to-wear Isaia ones, and from afar or if you are not into menswear, you would think it's just Saville Road suit with some italian touches. My grandfather used to be a politician, Conservative MP from Birmingham area, and when he won elections, he was told he should look the part to represent his constituency. Which was for him, tweed-wearing, ford cortina-driving, lower middle-class gentleman, kinda uncomfortable. He thought this "peacocking" was unnecessary. But even when he was driving Jaguar and wearing his Isaia suit, people still flogged to him and he won 2 consecutive elections after that. That pretty much tells me that good, quality clothes just enhance, what kind of person you really are, they don't make you good or bad.

[finsensetv]

Greetings Sven & Company. I love your channel and I started following pretty recently. Have you done a video or videos on whether Savile Row, Turnbull & Asser and Pini Parma are worth it? I would love to hear your insights. Thanks for the good work. Cheers