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Can a bad suit be saved by good tailoring?

jagmqt

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I searched and couldn't really find this addressed...

I know there are good suits that can be made better with the experience of a good tailor...

But what about the bad suits...

I've got some good-looking, but bad quality suits (Men's W, Jos Bank) that I've purchased in a bind and now have.

Can a good tailor bring these suits to something respectable? Or at least that looks respectable?

jag
 

gomestar

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you might have to drop a lot of money on each suit to amke it look respectable. Is it worth it?
 

fcuknu

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the fit can be made better, but that fabric sure as hell aint going to drape well.
 

jagmqt

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I guess that's the bigger question...Is another $200 for tailoring into a $200 suit able to produce a good result?

I'm already down the purchase price--cut my losses, or attempt to save the item?

jag
 

Bill Smith

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I think it's a case of good money chasing after bad. I figure save some money, and get something decent.
 

MrG

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I was in a wedding where the groom had us all buy suits instead of buying/renting tuxedos. To keep costs down he had us buy a tan MW suit. I was able to get it to look pretty good with the right alterations, though they were quite expensive and only worth it because we had to have identical suits. It's never going to match nicer suits, but the fit isn't bad after being altered to my specs. In fact, I still wear it occasionally. It's particularly useful for occasions where I dress down the suit to be sure I'm among the better dressed without overdressing too severely. The construction is what one would expect from MW so I don't predict a long life for the suit, but I actually like the color, and it has served well when I want to wear a suit but want something that isn't as formal as a dark one.

I know my situation is a bit different than yours, but I have been able to find a use for it.
 

yerrow

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i''d much rather see someone spend money on good tailoring of a marginal suit as opposed to having a great suit and not springing for the appropriate alterations to really make it shine.

its like someone told me he didn't want to pay the extra $20 to have the coats center and side seams in so he'd wear it as is...it was a $1200 suit he paid about $400 for. you just saved about $800 and you're willing to let the $1200 suit look like poo because you don't want to pay $20?
 

greyinla

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Can a good tailor bring these suits to something respectable? Or at least that looks respectable?
Yes, but it depends on what it needs--in other words, how does it fit now? Understand that, quality aside, these are cut to be conservative businessmen's suits. You're not going to get a MW suit to fit like a narrow-lapeled, open-quarters fashion suit. But you can certainly have the sides taken in and sleeves adjusted, maybe even have the shoulders narrowed or collar adjusted, and pants can easily be taken in. If the fit is close and the cloth and pattern are respectable, why not? On the other hand, if you're a 38S and you've bought a 40R, forget about it.

That said, if you are going to experiment w/ alterations, a $200 suit is probably a good place to start....
smile.gif
 

Egdon Heath

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Originally Posted by greyinla
You're not going to get [with alterations] a MW suit to fit like a narrow-lapeled, open-quarters fashion suit.
Actually, you can.
On the other hand, if you're a 38S and you've bought a 40R, forget about it.
And you can do this too.​
 

Sator

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If you really wanted to you could get a tailor to take it apart completely and recut all of the panels. The fusing could be peeled away and replaced with interfacing. It would cost you more than bespoke because of the extra labour required in unstitching everything as well as putting it back together again.
 

Charles55

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Don't waste more money for alterations on that ****. Sure, the fit can be make better but the quality isn't changeable. Save some money and buy one or two suits made from a good quality. If you have small money think about a well-kept and pre-owned piece, maybe from E. Zegna in a 100`S fabric.
 

Patrician

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Originally Posted by jagmqt
I guess that's the bigger question...Is another $200 for tailoring into a $200 suit able to produce a good result?

I'm already down the purchase price--cut my losses, or attempt to save the item?

jag

How can you possibly tailor fit a suit for $200??
 

Reckoner

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Unfortunately you're better off getting a new suit.
things like the size of the arm holes, and the quality/fusing can't ever be repaired unless you take it apart completely. What's the point of that? You might as well start from the beginning.
Getting a tailor to fix it, is like starting at the beginning + taking it apart as well ... even more work.
 

David Reeves

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No chance. A new client the other day asked me if I could alter his suits. I don't usually do alts because they are not worth my time but he was a freind of a freind. When I took a look I was mortified. It shouldn't have been so bad as they were Boss but the fit was appaling. Massive armholes and sleeves, shoulders, long 3 button jacket. I felt sick just looking at it. I advised him not to but he spent $200 altering each one plus my call out fee.

We have an expression in England: You can't polish a turd!
 

Edward

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I just gave away a "cheap" suit that I bought because I liked the color and it seemed to fit well, needing only a minor adjustment in the shoulders, and letting out the pants. I took it to my usual tailor and it ended up looking worse. I took it to another, more expensive, tailor who said that the original suit was hopeless and not worth spending money on. In fact, he refused to touch it. The money I spent on it went down the drain.
 

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