Fit: what does it mean?

[Fuuma]

Discuss

 

[TheFoo]

Here's my stab at it.

"Fit" is the ratio between a garment's conformity to a wearer's body over a reasonable range of motion to the quantity of material constituting the garment. The bigger the number, the better the fit.

 

[unjung]

Can I suggest it's more of an aesthetic (and therefore inexact and arbitrary) thing?

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Here's my stab at it.

"Fit" is the ratio between a garment's conformity to a wearer's body over a reasonable range of motion to the quantity of material constituting the garment. The bigger the number, the better the fit.

So lycra is god's gift tp those who want a perfect fit? Don't encourage that Vox chap.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

So lycra is god's gift tp those who want a perfect fit? Don't encourage that Vox chap.

Well sure, Superman's uniform fits extremely well. Doesn't mean it looks good or I'd want to wear it.

Also, when added to cotton, lycra causes fabric to bunch, wrinkle, and move funny. This hurts the first number in the ratio.

 

[unjung]

Mafoofan, I am bad at math, but aren't you basically saying that fit equals minimal fabric? Does this mean sack suits don't fit?

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by unjung

Mafoofan, I am bad at math, but aren't you basically saying that fit equals minimal fabric? Does this mean sack suits don't fit?

I'm saying good fit is using the least material possible to create a garment that conforms to you as well as possible as you move around.

 

[yachtie]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Here's my stab at it.

"Fit" is the ratio between a garment's conformity to a wearer's body over a reasonable range of motion to the quantity of material constituting the garment. The bigger the number, the better the fit.

So drapey jackets fit poorly?

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I'm saying good fit is using the least material possible to create a garment that conforms to you as well as possible as you move around.

I wouldn't disagree with you from a productivity point of view (say you're making military uniforms). Although I'd add functionality and durability to these characteristics and replace "material" by "material + work". Not sure that's what I want to discuss here but it's an interesting point nonetheless.

 

[unjung]

So a British jacket has a better "fit" than an American jacket?

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by yachtie

So drapey jackets fit poorly?

They arguably allow for better conformity along a wider range of movement.

Originally Posted by Fuuma

I wouldn't disagree with you from a productivity point of view (say you're making military uniforms). Although I'd add functionality and durability to these characteristics and replace "material" by "material + work". Not sure that's what I want to discuss here but it's an interesting point nonetheless.

Originally Posted by unjung

So a British jacket has a better "fit" than an American jacket?

If you mean a sack suit versus a traditional, well-executed Savile Row bespoke suit, yes. But that doesn't make it better or worse. The sack might still look better. And maybe it allows for more motion, even if the fit is 'worse'.

 

[MiniW]

this may be an over-generalization, but to me the best "fit" is the one in which the wearer feels the most confident and comfortable while other people tend to agree.

Yeah, you may say, "eff other people", I like my balls to show when I wear my skinny jeans and that is the best fit for me. But consider this scenario, on day 1 you are dressed casual and wear skinny ass jeans (deemed by the public to be too skinny). You may get some awkward stares from strangers and comments from friends saying, man, those jeans are too tight. Of course you'll have some embarassment and you won't feel comfortable and how can this translate to a good fit? Don't forget that you'll also be physically uncomfortable if the jeans are too skinny and you can't sit down for a long time without your stomach hurting (I've been there in the past).

On the other hand, if you wear a nice pair of straight leg jeans, dark and clean. You may feel good but not so unique, however you get compliments almost the entire day you wear them (because you don't look like a emo kid or an abercrombie dude, you look just like a grown man). You will feel good and you will wear the jeans more often. This in many (not all) circumstances = a better fit.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

So lycra is god's gift tp those who want a perfect fit? Don't encourage that Vox chap.

I use this around the jumblies:

Cuts down on friction.


- B

 

[voxsartoria]

Fit is simply thus:

It is the individualized adaptation of standard forms. These forms differ by place, time and culture, and some forms are more sensitive to variations in construction than others.

- B

 

[voxsartoria]

Let's concentrate the discussioin.

Sometimes a departure from fit using loose forms, like an ascot instead of a necktie, can yield thought-provoking results:

- B