Question about suit alterations

[Reynard369]

I'm planning on buying a couple new suits in the next few months. I don't have much experience with suits, I only own one, and I'm probably going to go with a couple nice OTR ones that I can get a good price on. Most likely I'm going to have to get them altered and I'm curious about what can or cannot be altered.

On the suit jacket and pants:
1) What alterations are made pretty easily?
2) What alterations are possible but tricky?
3) What alterations are pretty much impossible?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Despos]

Originally Posted by Reynard369

I'm planning on buying a couple new suits in the next few months. I don't have much experience with suits, I only own one, and I'm probably going to go with a couple nice OTR ones that I can get a good price on. Most likely I'm going to have to get them altered and I'm curious about what can or cannot be altered. On the suit jacket and pants: 1) What alterations are made pretty easily? 2) What alterations are possible but tricky? 3) What alterations are pretty much impossible? Thanks for all your help.
1) What alterations are made pretty easily? Taking in or letting out the waist seat and crotch on trousers and hemming the bottoms. Tapering the leg to a more narrow silhouette Taking in or letting out the sides of the jacket, shortening or lengthening the sleeves 2) What alterations are possible but tricky? Anything to do with collars, shoulders and where the sleeves are sewn to the jacket and how they hang. Shortening the jacket length. Shortening or lengthening the rise of the trouser 3) What alterations are pretty much impossible? Adjusting a RTW garment for irregular posture such as stooped or erect, very full chest or round back. The more extreme your posture the more difficulty to adjust. Shortening or lengthening the rise of the trouser.

 

[polarcreamsoda]

sorry to hijack the thread but are alterations to shirt shoulders as hard as alterations to suit shoulders?

 

[Despos]

Originally Posted by polarcreamsoda

sorry to hijack the thread but are alterations to shirt shoulders as hard as alterations to suit shoulders?
There is no canvass, pad, sleeve head or lining in a shirt compared to the construction of a jacket shoulder so it is easier to work on. How do you want to change the shirt shoulder?

 

[polarcreamsoda]

i ordered a shirt on modern tailor and the shoulders are a bit too wide. the point where the sleeve meets the shoulder has a bit of overhang onto my bicep area.

this is what i get for being a bit too hasty and doing the measurements myself. the second round should go much better.

 

[phxlawstudent]

Its doable, but not worth the cost.

 

[dbc]

Originally Posted by Despos

1) What alterations are made pretty easily?
Taking in or letting out the waist seat and crotch on trousers and hemming the bottoms. Tapering the leg to a more narrow silhouette
Taking in or letting out the sides of the jacket, shortening or lengthening the sleeves

2) What alterations are possible but tricky?
Anything to do with collars, shoulders and where the sleeves are sewn to the jacket and how they hang. Shortening the jacket length.
Shortening or lengthening the rise of the trouser

3) What alterations are pretty much impossible?
Adjusting a RTW garment for irregular posture such as stooped or erect, very full chest or round back. The more extreme your posture the more difficulty to adjust.
Shortening or lengthening the rise of the trouser.

+1

Good stuff, this.