Do you agree with my tailor?

[Dantes]

Some advice please...

I'm new to the area and have only used my tailor for minor alterations - hems, etc. I have a 32" waist.

I have the chance to get a wonderful price on a Valentino suit OTR in a 41L. The flat front trousers have a 36" inch waist. I assumed ought to steer clear, and a couple of posters on the Ask Andy board advised as much. There are questions about the pockets looking awkward/too close together as well has having to cut the seat and crotch way down.

Out of curiousity I spoke with my tailor, who does all the work for a local mens store. He says he can do this alteration, and almost spoke as if it is not a problem to handle it. He mentioned something about cutting at the sides if necessary to avoid the pocket problem.


Any opinions on whether I should proceed or not?

Is this tailor blowing smoke or not?

Has anyone here had a trouser waist altered by as much as 4"?

 

[grimslade]

How many inches are there between the two back pockets on the pants?

 

[rjmaiorano]

A good tailor can do this, although it will cost you. A friend of mine had a pair of pants recut from a 36' to a 32' and they ended up looking good in the end. But I can't say I would recommend it, nor would I ever have it done for myself.

 

[Despos]

The trouser waist can be reduced 4" but the question is how good is the result? The answer depends on how good your tailor is. If he is cutting on the side, does he mean the side of the back or the side of the fronts? If he recuts the front, as he should, he will have to move/remake the pocket. If he is cutting the side of the back only and not reducing the fronts, it will make the back pocket too close to the side seam and the backs too small in relation to the fronts. Reducing the crotch has limits, so that outcome depends on how big the trouser is. If the rise is too long for you, he will need to lower the rise from the top and that brings the pockets closer to the waistband seam. All this will alter the look of the trouser as well as the fit. As a side note, when most tailors recut trousers this much, the most common error they make is making the seat too tight.
Can he do it well? Will you be happy? Don't know.

 

[Dantes]

Originally Posted by grimslade

How many inches are there between the two back pockets on the pants?

6 3/8" - also are cut fairly slim so there may not be much required to cut in the hips/seat. Does this help?


It looks as though this comes down to how much I trust my tailor.

 

[MTM]

I've done recuts many times before I started getting MTM's suits. I wear 42R jacket and 32 pant. I was always pleased with the results. It all depends how good a tailor is.

 

[Despos]

The point of my post is to give you info to ask from. Find out if how extensive his recut is. Is he remaking the front pocket or just trimming down the side, etc. Then you will know what you are getting. The more involved his work, may get you a better result. If he is taking short cuts you may be less pleased.

 

[MTM]

Another thing to check for is the kind of pockets. Is it quarter top or besom pockets. You can get much better results with quarter top.

 

[Dantes]

Originally Posted by Despos

The point of my post is to give you info to ask from. Find out if how extensive his recut is. Is he remaking the front pocket or just trimming down the side, etc. Then you will know what you are getting. The more involved his work, may get you a better result. If he is taking short cuts you may be less pleased.

Thank you for the explanation, as I'll have a much better idea of what to ask him when I visit with him.

Another thing to check for is the kind of pockets. Is it quarter top or besom pockets. You can get much better results with quarter top.

If it is significant, it has front off seam pockets with a FOB pocket and button welt back pockets.

 

[mmkn]

I have noticed a desperation lately with my alteration tailors to take on any jobs and stretch the reality of how well a job can be done.

My own practice after having wasted my money in learning so is to alter my size to fit me, rather than having alterations to change a suit's size. The quality of major surgery on a suit can never compare to what very expensive machines at a factory can do.

It is your money though. At this point it is about the selling skill of your tailor.

- M

 

[jefferyd]

Originally Posted by mmkn

I have noticed a desperation lately with my alteration tailors to take on any jobs and stretch the reality of how well a job can be done.

My own practice after having wasted my money in learning so is to alter my size to fit me, rather than having alterations to change a suit's size. The quality of major surgery on a suit can never compare to what very expensive machines at a factory can do.

It is your money though. At this point it is about the selling skill of your tailor.

- M

+100

 

[bigbris1]

Originally Posted by mmkn

I have noticed a desperation lately with my alteration tailors to take on any jobs and stretch the reality of how well a job can be done.

My own practice after having wasted my money in learning so is to alter my size to fit me, rather than having alterations to change a suit's size. The quality of major surgery on a suit can never compare to what very expensive machines at a factory can do.

It is your money though. At this point it is about the selling skill of your tailor.

- M

Amen.

 

[a tailor]

to get a good idea of how it is done, from the most simple to the most complicated.
go to ask andy, use the search, ask for "to alter trousers" scroll down to that title.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by jefferyd

+100
+1