Shrinking the Waist on Trousers

[babygreenspots]

Is it possible for a skillful tailor to make a 36 waist into a 32? I would also want the trousers to be slimmer everywhere, probably. I suppose this would inolve basically remaking the trousers, but is it possible?

Thank you very much for answering my question.

 

[mrchapel]

Originally Posted by babygreenspots

Is it possible for a skillful tailor to make a 36 waist into a 32? I would also want the trousers to be slimmer everywhere, probably. I suppose this would inolve basically remaking the trousers, but is it possible?

Thank you very much for answering my question.

It depends entirely on the tailor. I would not imagine this to be an easy task. It would basically require remaking the trousers entirely, as its not so much that it is hard to adjust the waist, but, arguably, tailoring the rise to match the 4" drop in the waist. As a general rule of thumb, anything more than 2" is going to be difficult, whether it is letting out or taking in. This is truly a game of dominos; tailoring the waist in 4", realigning the rise, adjusting pant length, etc. But I am no tailoring expert, just looking at it logically.

 

[VMan]

The tailor would have to re-cut the pants legs, as previously stated, so that the overall look would be kosher.

You'd have to take it to a real tailor and not an alterations place, and I recall that in the past, members have posted about this and I believe the price range was something like $60-120 to have this alteration. Of course, it depends also on the tailor.

 

[Dan-]

This question is somewhat related. My waist is 31-32", but my thighs are about 23" from rugby, so when I tried on every pair of pants this past weekend at Bloomingdales in Chestnut Hill, all the pleats (double and single) pulled open and the flat fronts' pockets stuck out. If I go up to a 34" waist or higher to accomodate my thighs, will it be possible to alter them such that they fit?

What would that cost? How does that compare to some custom job from someone like Mr Ned, considering the price of the pants plus alterations and the higher quality of fabric I'd be able to get?

As for why I did not just try on larger sizes while there, I did not trust the people at the store to help me with a more complicated fitting; the guy was wearing a jacket almost to his knees and tried his best to sell me an Armani suit, telling me long suits were all the rage.

Thanks.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by Dan-

If I go up to a 34" waist or higher to accomodate my thighs, will it be possible to alter them such that they fit?What would that cost?
.

Taking in around two inches is doable, over that it's dicey and may require a re-cut which is more costly.

 

[tiratela]

I took some pants to a tailor that needed to go from 33 to 31. Because I had back pockets, the tailor said that it wasn't going to look good.. I spent $14.00 and had new ones made..

G'Luck..

 

[philosophe]

Originally Posted by Dan-

This question is somewhat related. My waist is 31-32", but my thighs are about 23" from rugby, so when I tried on every pair of pants this past weekend at Bloomingdales in Chestnut Hill, all the pleats (double and single) pulled open and the flat fronts' pockets stuck out. If I go up to a 34" waist or higher to accomodate my thighs, will it be possible to alter them such that they fit?

What would that cost? How does that compare to some custom job from someone like Mr Ned, considering the price of the pants plus alterations and the higher quality of fabric I'd be able to get?

As for why I did not just try on larger sizes while there, I did not trust the people at the store to help me with a more complicated fitting; the guy was wearing a jacket almost to his knees and tried his best to sell me an Armani suit, telling me long suits were all the rage.

Thanks.

Taking in more than 2" in the waist is iffy. Good RTW pants can be let out in the seat and thighs, but you'd do better with a tailor. If you can afford it, go to Mr Ned.

 

[a tailor]

Originally Posted by babygreenspots

Is it possible for a skillful tailor to make a 36 waist into a 32? I would also want the trousers to be slimmer everywhere, probably. I suppose this would inolve basically remaking the trousers, but is it possible?

Thank you very much for answering my question.

yes it can be done
go to ask andy and use the search. type in trouser alterations.

 

[Thurston]

I have found it far easier to expand my waist from 32" to 36". In fact, I kept going to 38".

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by tiratela

I took some pants to a tailor that needed to go from 33 to 31. Because I had back pockets, the tailor said that it wasn't going to look good.. I spent $14.00 and had new ones made..

G'Luck..
new pockets?

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

new pockets?

He's in India, I assume you could get at least one pair of pants made there for $14.

 

[jastevenson]

Error - please delete.

 

[a tailor]

FOR ANY ONE STILL INTERESTED IN THIS.
GO TO THE TUTORIALS AND SCROLL DOWN TO 'MAKING TROUSERS SMALLER'.