Complicated suit alteration question

[imageWIS]

I have a Zegna Napoli Couture suit that's about 7 years old that due to intensive gym workouts for the last 2 years, no longer fits me. The jacket has enough extra fabric to be let out to fit, however the big problem is the pants.

The pants have 2 pleats and are cuffed; there is only about an inch left of fabric that can be left out. However, I measured and I need an additional 2.3" for the waist to fit. I know that the pleats can be undone and will give enough extra material for the pants to fit. However, there is the matter of the waistband.

Can a tailor remove the pleats, then remove the cuffs and use the cuff material to create the extra material needed to 'fill in' the rear part of the exterior waistband (so that the fabric matches)?

 

[Despos]

Can be done, how happy you will be with the results is uncertain. It seems unreasonable to do all this work on a 7 year old suit. Better to get new clothes for your new size. That is a bunch of work to do, remove pleats, recutting trouser, expand waistband,etc.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I've had something similar done. I needed a larger waistband, but no room to let it out. You are in a better situation because you have more fabric at the cuffs that matches. I just got some fabric that matches as close as possible and the tailor sewed in a little sliver of an upside down triangle at the back waistband to keep the seat in place and let out the waistband. You could do that with matching fabric and wear a belt. Nobody would know!

 

[lee_44106]

Anything is doable if:

-very competent tailor skillwise and creative
-enough fabric


I had almost the same thing done to a Brioni suit pants where the tailor shortened the jacket and used the extra fabric to widen the pants in the thigh area.

 

[lee_44106]

But I agree with Despo.

Why do that kind of surgery to a 7 year old outdated suit?


Ignore the Zegna Napoli Couture thing. Fight the temptation

 

[imageWIS]

I can get it done for an excellent price. I currently work in one of the flagship stores of a major luxury chain and our master tailor would be doing the work, on the side. I haven't shown him the pants yet, but before I showed them to him, I wanted second opinions.

For about $120 (if doable) I'll have a perfectly fitting top of the line Zegna suit...

Lee, why do you think the suit is outdated?

 

[Looch]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

due to intensive gym workouts for the last 2 years, no longer fits me.

I need an additional 2.3" for the waist to fit.

Not trying to get off topic, and I respect anyone who puts in honest work in the gym. BUT, if you're doing it right, your waist is not supposed to get bigger.

PM me if you want to chat about your w/o program. I can give you some tips on how to maintain the bulk where you want it- probably shoulders and chest, while trimming your waistline. Caveat: its simple, but it ain't easy.

 

[lee_44106]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

I can get it done for an excellent price. I currently work in one of the flagship stores of a major luxury chain and our master tailor would be doing the work, on the side. I haven't shown him the pants yet, but before I showed them to him, I wanted second opinions.

For about $120 (if doable) I'll have a perfectly fitting top of the line Zegna suit...

Lee, why do you think the suit is outdated?


Well, if you can get master-level alteration at reduced price, go for it.

I'm just concerned about the width of lapel, gorge height, that kind of stuff.

7 years is a long time.

I gather you want to convert the Zegna Napoli into flat-front pants, narrower lapel with moderate to high gorge, trim look....etc.

 

[trader]

Originally Posted by Looch

Not trying to get off topic, and I respect anyone who puts in honest work in the gym. BUT, if you're doing it right, your waist is not supposed to get bigger.

PM me if you want to chat about your w/o program. I can give you some tips on how to maintain the bulk where you want it- probably shoulders and chest, while trimming your waistline. Caveat: its simple, but it ain't easy.

+1. waist should have gotten smaller. don't body builders before a competition have a 28-30 waist?

 

[Master-Classter]

would a having a split waistband avoid this? or is 2.5 too much for that?

 

[Looch]

Originally Posted by trader

+1. waist should have gotten smaller. don't body builders before a competition have a 28-30 waist?
You got it. I'm no 'bodybuilder', but I'm 6'2", 190lbs with a 33" waist. Nothing terribly unusual, but proves the point that you don't have to have a 36"+ waist, just because you're a reasonably large guy. P.S. $120 to add a suit to the rotation sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[taxgenius]

For $120 I say go for it.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

So you succeeded in adding body fat?

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

So you succeeded in adding body fat?
Obviously. Look at the date of my post. Look at the time-frame I stated I have been working out for. You can't cut and get bigger at the same time (unless you are on roids). AC, let me know if you have a good cutting regiment, or any thoughts to add to this discussion regarding, you know, my OP.

 

[Looch]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

You can't cut and get bigger at the same time (unless you are on roids). ... let me know if you have a good cutting regiment.
150m sprints, farmers walks, and barbell complexes always get me into incredible shape. For instance, before a Greek cruise last summer, I went from 195 and 14% BF to 192 at 11% BF in 2 weeks. That means I gained 1lb of muscle, while cutting 4lbs of fat . . . fast. The point I'm making not that I turned into a monster in no time, but that if you know what you're doing, you can manipulate your body composition in a reasonably short period of time. So if you have weeks or months, you can make big changes to the amount of fat or muscle you carry. The problem is it takes a ton of discipline and I can't sustain it for long periods, but others might be able to. ImageWIS, take a look at these articles for details on how to cut, while maintaining muscle: http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...edded_physique http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...dical_fat_loss http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...digit_body_fat