Buy Bigger Chest Or Smaller Waist Suit Jacket

[emmitt1219]

I am facing with the issue of either getting a suit jacket with a biggest chest size or a smaller waist size. I am slightly over 36 in chest and slight under 33 in waist. It seems that if I get a 38'' chest suit jacket, the waist would fit perfectly but the chest would be slightly too loose. If I get a 36'' chest jacket, the chest would fit perfectly but the waist would be too tight. My question is whether it is easier for a tailor to take in the chest or to let out the waist. That way, I would know whether to go with a jacket slightly biggest around the chest or slightly tighter around the wait. Thank you for your input!

 

[cbbuff]

Chest and shoulders are the hardest to change, you really don't want to try to change either. See if there is enough material to let the waist out. If not, get another suit or go MTM.

 

[emmitt1219]

Got it. Sounds great. Thank you for the information, cbbuff!

 

[GBR]

MTM

 

[comrade]



I am facing with the issue of either getting a suit jacket with a biggest chest size or a smaller waist size. I am slightly over 36 in chest and slight under 33 in waist. It seems that if I get a 38'' chest suit jacket, the waist would fit perfectly but the chest would be slightly too loose. If I get a 36'' chest jacket, the chest would fit perfectly but the waist would be too tight. My question is whether it is easier for a tailor to take in the chest or to let out the waist. That way, I would know whether to go with a jacket slightly biggest around the chest or slightly tighter around the wait. Thank you for your input!

The 36 chest probably won't fit perfectly. It will be too snug. I beleive it is a rule of thumb
that the jacket chest measurement should be a couple of inches bigger than the actual chest.
So a 38 should fit and you can have the waist taken in

 

[chogall]

Take 38.

 

[emmitt1219]

Thanks everyone for your input. Your feedback is invaluable to me.

I have gone to a local tailor. He recommended that, as many of you have suggested, go with 38 with an Euro suit and a 36 with an US suit (w/ the assumption that most US suits are a bit more lax with their measurement, and that was certainly the case with my Alfani suit).

Also, as many of you have pointed out, he shared with me that chest/shoulder is much harder, if not impossible, to alter compared to waist. Now I know!

Really appreciate everyone sharing his/her knowledge here. Hope you all have a great rest of the week!

 

[Pochette]

The 36 chest probably won't fit perfectly. It will be too snug. I beleive it is a rule of thumb
that the jacket chest measurement should be a couple of inches bigger than the actual chest.
So a 38 should fit and you can have the waist taken in

Um, no. This is already taken care of for you in the sizing. For example, a 36 jacket will have an actual chest measurement of 37-40 depending on the maker and cut (38 would probably be the most common).

OP, since you have an unconventional drop, your best bet is probably going to be either suit separates or MTM depending on your budget and access.

 

[JLibourel]

I believe a 3 1/2- or 4-inch drop is pretty close to standard for most American-made suits. I am surprised that the OP is having such problems in finding a good RTW fit. Does anybody make size 37s?