Windows Phone Thoughts: Does Wearing This Make Me Look Like a Well-Dressed Geek?

What Pockets!
One of the advertising messages that SCOTTeVEST is using with their new Sport Jacket is “Imagine what would happen if Giorgio Armani and Bill Gates were stranded on a desert island, and you’ll have a good idea of what the TEC Sport Jacket offers.” Unfortunately, every time I try to imagine the two of them trying to eke out a living in the wilderness, my brain can’t get past a Gilligan’s Island-inspired image of Bill and Giorgio trying to work together using a sewing machine built from bamboo and coconuts. The analogy works, though, because the Sport Jacket does have features that are both stylish and geeky.

The Sport Jacket has a sleek, European cut and style to it, but is still markedly traditional. I prefer this more traditional look, mostly because the situations in which I wear suits and sport jackets require a conservative style. I also think this makes the Sport Jacket more versatile, but this may not suit the tastes of men preferring very contemporary design.


Figure 2: Inside are all SORTS of cubbyholes, pockets and extras.

Of course, the true value and uniqueness of the Sport Jacket lies in its pockets and other “Personal Area Network” (PAN) features:

Fourteen hidden pockets – These are designed to be much more discreet than the pockets in the more casual SCOTTeVESTs. There are the usual exterior slit pockets, interior breast pockets, and so on, that most “normal” sport jackets have. In addition, the SCOTTeVEST Sport Jacket has large, zippered interior pockets above and below the breast pockets; the lower pockets are actually large enough to easily hold a paperback novel. A large pocket in the back is large enough to hold an 8” X 11” notepad, and one especially well-concealed pocket serves well to store cash or car keys. There are also useful pockets for things like pens and earbuds/hands-free sets.

Improved PAN – Earlier vest versions concealed cables and wires in Velcro-closed flaps. That adds to overall bulk, so the Sport Jacket instead allows you to thread the wires through buttonhole-like openings into the jacket lining. I found this to be a much more versatile way to run my wires, but it also takes more time. Once you thread the wires into your Sport Jacket, you’ll want to leave them there.

BadgeGrabber – This is a clear plastic pouch that you can insert your work ID or convention badge into. On my trip to Tampa, it kept my conference badge at the ready, but also allowed me to flip it into the front breast pocket once I left the tradeshow floor, thus eliminating that goofy “still wearing his nametag” look.

Key Holder – Like most other SCOTTeVESTs, the Sport Jacket has a coiled-cord key holder in the right pocket. Some people may find this especially useful, but I seldom use it. In fact, I’d prefer to be able to remove it and replace it as my needs change.

Collar Loops – These are little elastic loops at the top end of the collars that help keep hands-free and earbud wires organized. I almost always use a hands-free set with my SCOTTeVESTs, so I find this feature especially nice.