Durability of suit shoulders, and is repair possible?

[billiebob]

I don't wear suits very often, but I'm finding that the shoulders of the ones I have become misshapen, puckered, or otherwise screwed up within just a few wearings. These suits are still practically new, but look worked. I use hangers of the correct shape and width, and travel carefully.

I like soft-shouldered suits with minimal padding, but there is always some structure present. It seems that the padding shifts or loses its spring very quickly in my possession. Then a jacket sits higher on one shoulder, and the whole thing looks unbalanced.

On one Polo suit, the structure in one shoulder quickly collapsed (a micro-roping shape almost). When I look at it straight on in the mirror, the bad shoulder is droopy compared with the undamaged shoulder.

On a J Press suit, big puckers developed in the front where the sleeve enters the shoulder seam. I can't steam them out. This happened on the second wearing, and it keeps me from wearing the suit to interviews.

On a Zegna suit, the top seam (leading from the collar to the shoulder) developed some nasty puckering on the first wearing. I can't steam this out either.

Is this a commong repair job for alterations tailors to fix up a shoulder so it looks new again? I've read here that shoulder work (such as removing padding) is quite difficult to get right.

Does anyone have some advice (other than buy neapolitan suits)?
I'm not normally so particular, but I'm interviewing a lot and hope to keep my suits looking new enough until I get a job. A cheap blazer (arnold brant) doesn't hasn't developed this problem, and I wear it often.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Normally, I can't wait for my shoulders to drop in a bit. I think they look better that way.

 

[retronotmetro]

Is it always the same shoulder, and if so, is that shoulder higher or lower than the opposite shoulder?

Not to point out the obvious, but do you carry a shoulder bag?

 

[a tailor]

Originally Posted by retronotmetro

Is it always the same shoulder, and if so, is that shoulder higher or lower than the opposite shoulder?

Not to point out the obvious, but do you carry a shoulder bag?

like he said.

 

[billiebob]

Good suggestion, but I hand-carry my laptop when wearing a suit, and I experience issues on both sides.

My raincoat might be stressing the shoulders out a bit, but I would still expect them to stand up to this for at least 10 wearings.

The Polo shoulder is more delicate than the others. Perhaps I should just be more careful.

 

[Gradstudent78]

So can these types of problems with the shoulders be fixed or is prevention before the fact the only way to go?

 

[j]

Maybe you need some extra padding, or need to work on your traps a bit.