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Eyeing up measurements?

ryoneo

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I went to have an Oxxford suit altered at Centofanti today, located in Ardmore, PA. He is considered one of the best. Little did I know, he was on vacation in Florida, but his assistant was there. I am usually measured by Centofanti in his shop. So I put on the suit and asked for the basic waist, sleeve and pant alterations. For some reason the assistant did not take out the ruler and measure, but rather just made the markings on the sleeves and pants without pinning them down. I asked politely if he needed to use the ruler to measure, he replied with a "no, it's okay". Basically the tailor eyed up the length of the pants and sleeves and made what he deemed appropriate with markings. Also, the shop was closing in one hour after my arrival, so I was thinking he was trying to rush me out. Is it normal at all for a tailor to "eye" up measurements? Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be worried?
 

Holdfast

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No ruler or tape is perfectly fine. But to do it without pinning at all to double-check the adjustments being proposed is quite daring. A very good fitter can probably do it but more common is to pin first and then mark up. Not every alteration proposed can always be adequately pinned, esp. if it's quite complex, so sometimes an experienced eye & chalk is required... but for waist adjustments, sleeve shortening and trouser hemming, I'd say pinning is commonplace.

Still, if your tailor is good, then I'd just trust them... and deal with any problems if they actually arise rather than worrying in advance!
 

JimInSoCalif

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The tailor at the store where I purchase my tailored clothing uses chalk - I don't believe he has ever pinned anything. Except for the shoulder on the side where I have a broken collar bone, most of what is needed is just trouser waist and cuffs and sometimes lowering the collar.
 

a tailor

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for the alterations you mention a ruler is seldom needed.
if you were wearing a dress shirt with the proper sleeve length, the sleeves should be ok. if he chalked the point where the trouser bottom pouches the shoe thats ok. were you wearing your trouser belt? taking in the coat sides should be ok as long as he chalked from the top to the bottom of the side seam.
 

ryoneo

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Originally Posted by Holdfast
No ruler or tape is perfectly fine. But to do it without pinning at all to double-check the adjustments being proposed is quite daring. A very good fitter can probably do it but more common is to pin first and then mark up. Not every alteration proposed can always be adequately pinned, esp. if it's quite complex, so sometimes an experienced eye & chalk is required... but for waist adjustments, sleeve shortening and trouser hemming, I'd say pinning is commonplace.

Still, if your tailor is good, then I'd just trust them... and deal with any problems if they actually arise rather than worrying in advance!


Thanks for the clarification. I almost didn't enjoy my New Yr's because of it
laugh.gif


Originally Posted by a tailor
for the alterations you mention a ruler is seldom needed.
if you were wearing a dress shirt with the proper sleeve length, the sleeves should be ok. if he chalked the point where the trouser bottom pouches the shoe thats ok. were you wearing your trouser belt? taking in the coat sides should be ok as long as he chalked from the top to the bottom of the side seam.


Yes, he did chalk the bottom. And I was not wearing a belt.

Thanks again, gentlemen!
 

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