Altering jacket from 44 to 42

[Horace]

Gentleman:

I've a few coats from my father and I want to have them altered. I take a 42 RTW and these are 44RTW. They're older Brooks tweeds.

Now, I take a 42R perfectly in that the collar fits well without gap. However ona 42R I usually have to let out the back about an inch for lats and, unfortunately of late, let out a bit for the gut.

My quesiton is this: a 44R fits me well with the exception of the collar and shoulder, both of which need to be taken in.

Is it possible to have such an alteration done? That is to say, if I were to have it done, would it ever fit right, or would it be an exercise in futility in that it the shoulders themselves could not be altered without throwing off the whole jacket?

Simply put: is it easy to alter a 44R for one who wears, in essence, a 42R? Will the coat always look like a 44R that's been cut down, or will proportions be possible to achieve. What are the easy portions of the coat to alter and what are the more difficult ones to alter?

With thanks for your counsel,

H.

 

[spatten]

Horace,

I think you will have good luck with altering the 44's. I am not a tailor, but I speak on experience of altering larger sizes to accomadate my frame. Take it to a good tailor that you trust and they should tell you. Since they are tweeds, I am guessing they are casual sportcoats - and in my opinion the fit is not as hard to achieve as for a suit.

Good luck,
Scott