Narrowing Shoulders on Jacket?

Hey All,

I have a suit jacket and the shoulders are a bit too broad, about 1/2 inch on each side. How difficult is this to fix? I've had two tailors say "no," even when I agreed to pay whatever it took.

no

It's supposedly possible, but it would be both difficult and time consuming. You would need to find an experienced tailor, and not just someone who specializes in simple alterations.

it's possible, i've had it done. however results will vary.

if you want more information, this topic has come up a number of times, a quick search may give you the information you need a lot faster.

Shoulder alteration is very difficult. Only very experienced tailors can do them. These people are hard to find, so in effect you are out of luck.

Try buying something that fits you better next time.

If tailors are saying no, then I think you have your answer.

It can be done. I have had it done at least a dozen times, though it is expensive.

Originally Posted by lee_44106

Click to expand...

Shoulder alteration is very difficult. Only very experienced tailors can do them. These people are hard to find, so in effect you are out of luck.

Try buying something that fits you better next time.

Very well stated. But, if you must have it done, there are tailors that are capable.

I just had the shoulders narrowed about 1/2 inch on both sides of an Oxxford DB suit I got very cheap NWT on ebay. The tailor that did it works at a store that makes bespoke suits called Cicchini Custom Clothiers in Birmingham, Michigan. The alteration cost about $150. I actually like the way they did the shoulders better than the original Oxxford way, although I lack the technical knowledge to explain why.

The one downside is that the functional buttonholes, that I had done previously, moved further up the arm. The sleeves became shorter, and the cuffs had to be let out. The buttonholes are now slightly in the wrong place, which annoys me, but only slightly.

Lesson learned--make sure everything is perfect before cutting functional buttonholes.

In this case, the shoulder operation was very well worth it, because the suit was high quality, purchased at a low price and the operation was successful.

Try to find a tailor that knows how to make bespoke suits--I would think shoulder narrowing is beyond the capabilities of a typical alterations person.