I don't look good in a suit.

[phxguy]

I didn't post pics here because I didn't want to invoke a bunch of eye-rolling after how strongly I emphasized the issue in the OP. Really, the point isn't that I look bad...it's that my slacks and jackets separates look a lot better.

So, instead, I read a lot here and have tinkered with suits and tailors since...

How can you be 6+ feet tall with broad shoulders and be able to squeeze into a 42?

Well, I'm since told by tailors I generally shouldn't. While I usually like the shoulders better in a 42 or 43, the chests usually puff out when buttoned. So, I now accept I'm really a 44L in most suits.

And I think herein the two main problems.

One, with OTR suits, the drop is usually 6, no? I wear a 36" waist on a normal day and 34" if I'm shape. And two, while 44 jackets fit in the shoulders, they otherwise fit like tents. So, I have mediocre tailors doing a lot of reshaping and the results are generally not great.

So I'm trying a couple things. One, I'm right now simply looking for a suit that is more trim cut than I'd probably wear for purely stylistic reasons. And two, I'm going to try an online MTM....probably Black Lapel based on my budget for the experiment and what I've read here.

Losing weight is an under-emphasized method of looking good in clothes.

Beyond the suits...yeah, I'm not proportioned like Brad Pitt...and I could get in a better shape.

Thanks, all.

 

[Academic2]

Help! I thought it'd get better with a better tailor and nicer suits, but so far I haven't made much progress. (Bear in mind, "better" with respect to the tailor doesn't mean "good.")

Here's the deal: I have skinny legs (knock kneed at that), a narrow waist that moves quickly into a bit of a belly, not much of a chest, pretty broad shoulders, long arms and an oblong shaped head. (6'2 230 / 42 or 44L ) Inevitably, structured coat shoulders make my head look even thinner (sort of a la Phil Jackson) and my torso even bigger relative to my waist and legs. And I"ve had trouble getting suit trousers that "grip" comfortably at the right part of my waist...they inevitably slide down or get creases for being cinched up too tight. And for as awkward looking as I've made myself sound, I don't have a hard time finding slacks and a dress shirt that -- without a coat -- look decent. It's frustrating to look worse as I dress up.

What should I be looking for to de-emphasize these body dynamics? Do shoulders in dress suits come in are varying degrees of "structured"? Is my shirt collar an important factor? And is there is some particular reason I have a hard time find suit trousers that sit comfortably on the waist?

Incidentally, I generally get a 44L and get the pants and coat taken in. Could my main problem be that I need to start with a 43L, particularly given my challenge with finding a good tailor (in Phoenix)?

Comments are much appreciated!

What's your budget?

Cheers,

Ac

 

[phxguy]

nm