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Altering bespoke

post #1 of 11
7/4/11 at 4:09pm
Thread Starter 
For those who have bespoke tailored clothing, have you ever sent finished pieces back for alterations, and if so what has been the result? The alterations could have been for style reasons or to accomodate a change in your body.

I ask this because I have a bespoke suit that I was thinking about altering (and by "thinking" I really do mean "thinking"; I am perfectly happy to not put it under the knife). Namely, I would (1) nip the waist a touch, (2) reduce the coat length by 1/3", (3) remove the shallow double reverse pleats on the pants, and (4) narrow the leg a touch from the thigh down.

If this sounds unadviseable, by all means say that I'm an idiot. With the exception of the first alteration, which would be a result of a slight body change, the other three are just totally stylistic.
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post #2 of 11
7/4/11 at 4:11pm
Yes
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post #3 of 11
7/4/11 at 4:15pm
I think it depends on what needs to be "fixed" or adjusted, and your own personal level of tolerance for "imperfections." I've taken a garment back that had a sleeve pitch problem and a bit too much pulling around the waist. Other garments, where the adjustments are fairly minor (e.g. extending sleeve length by 3/8") I've not really bothered with (yet!), because the slight difference in sleeve length was something I could live with.
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post #4 of 11
7/4/11 at 4:39pm
I had a bespoke suit that I'd never quite been happy with, until I finally figured out what was wrong - too much room in the sleeves (I should have just posted a pic here, would have been told within minutes!). I had about 3/4" taken out of the sleeves recently and though it doesn't sound like a major change, it has made the whole thing so much better. Mainly, I suppose, because I'm now happy with it. So I say go for it!
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post #5 of 11
7/4/11 at 5:08pm
It is not uncommon to want adjustments after you have lived with the suit a while and familiarized yourself with the garment. Stylistic changes are a different matter and would depend on who chose the styling details, you or the tailor.

May I suggest having a second plain front trouser made up. You would have pleated and plain front. you may grow to appreciate the pleats. Several of my clients who originally preferred plain front have moved on to pleated trousers due to the elegant aesthetic and comfort. Your present tastes may change before you ever wear the suit out.
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post #6 of 11
7/4/11 at 5:16pm
The first byes, the others are probably best left as they are not significant (coat length) or important (leg width). The change to the pleats would count and is not to be recommended - Depos, as ever, offers the best advice in this regard.
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post #7 of 11
7/4/11 at 6:29pm
I've done it, for both growth and stylistic reasons. If its purely stylistsic, I'd advise to leave it, and go with your gut. For fit, of course alter it. It won't be EXACTLY like you may have wanted it when you first had it made, but it will improve the fit. Good luck. You can see in my sales thread a jacket (the seersucker) that just can't be altered anymore...it fit me MUCH better when it was made, but I was a skinny malink then, 15 pounds of muscle changed the fit drastically on me to the point where I'm no longer comfortable in it, despite my wife telling me that "I'm the only one who doesn't think it fits." But she's not met you clowns, so...
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post #8 of 11
7/4/11 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewYorkRanger View Post
I've done it, for both growth and stylistic reasons. If its purely stylistsic, I'd advise to leave it, and go with your gut. For fit, of course alter it. It won't be EXACTLY like you may have wanted it when you first had it made, but it will improve the fit. Good luck. You can see in my sales thread a jacket (the seersucker) that just can't be altered anymore...it fit me MUCH better when it was made, but I was a skinny malink then, 15 pounds of muscle changed the fit drastically on me to the point where I'm no longer comfortable in it, despite my wife telling me that "I'm the only one who doesn't think it fits." But she's not met you clowns, so...

You are not
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post #9 of 11
7/4/11 at 10:12pm
you say "send the pieces back". does that mean overseas, as in to honkong?
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post #10 of 11
7/5/11 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post
May I suggest having a second plain front trouser made up. You would have pleated and plain front. you may grow to appreciate the pleats. Several of my clients who originally preferred plain front have moved on to pleated trousers due to the elegant aesthetic and comfort. Your present tastes may change before you ever wear the suit out.

FWIW: this is what I typically get.
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post #11 of 11
10/26/11 at 7:10am

Of course alteration is part of the bespoke tailoring process, I had mine altered a few times but nothing as severe as what you're suggesting.

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