Suit Tailoring Question

[slim jim]

Hi all. I have a question for you guys. I recently bought 2 pieces out of a 3 piece suit from express.
They didn't have my suit jacket size. So I waited till it went on sale again which it did.
But by the time I got home from work it sold out
The size was a 38s. I was going to have to tailor it anyway since I fit a 36.
Now the only size left is a 38r.
Can this be done?

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Well, the chest can be taken in easily, but the problem is that the shoulders will be wider too, and they cannot easily be changed. Try it on and see if the shoulders fit okay, if they don't then I would stay away. Then again, you've already bought 2/3 pieces, so I guess you don't really have much choice...

 

[a-rock]

so the suit jacket will not only be too big, but too long as well? i think possible amt of tailoring you'll need to do wouldn't be worth it. it might be cheaper to just call the first 2 pieces a sunk cost.

 

[trex]

I would buy the jcket and try to get it tailored, especially if you already own the trousers and vest

 

[furo]

You can't get a refund on the other two pieces?

 

[Albern]

As it was mentioned above, if you can part ways you should really try to return the other two pieces. While there has been some mention of going down 2 sizes (in this case 38 to 36) it can get really messy partially because this needs to be reviewed on a case by case method. On top of that you need to shorten the jacket from a Regular to a Short which is dependent on a number of factors - how much length you need and how badly would this disrupt the proportions of the jacket (eg. pocket displacement).

To shorten a jacket is one thing, but to play around with the shoulder is a completely different monster altogether since the shoulder and the shoulder line determines how the rest of the jacket would fall into place. Two methods that I've personally done to my jackets are to either reduce the shoulders (which can be costly) or to take them in from the collar (is less expensive but can only be done to a lesser degree - essentially if you need to take off an inch per side it likely can't be done via the collar).

Once you take the shoulders into account as well as how you plan on addressing them, a reduction in the shoulder could severely throw off the pitch of the shoulder (the natural angle at which the sleeve falls). You would notice this if when you stand straight with your arm falling naturally to the side that there would be wrinkling of the fabric down the sleeves. The wrinkling can go two ways - either there's too much pitch forward or backwards; the results would still be the same.

Anyway, I'm not trying to scare you but just be prepared with what might be involved to get this fixed.

 

[Nicola]

What do the pants and vest look like? I'd get an odd jacket and go that way if the pants can pass.

 

[Blackl3232]

Can you buy the jacket online? Or contact other stores in the area and see if they can ship it to you?

 

[JohnD356]

Originally Posted by Blackl3232

Can you buy the jacket online? Or contact other stores in the area and see if they can ship it to you?


See if the store can order it. Especially since you know the style/size you want. All these alterations are going to cost a fortune. Likely more than the suit jacket.

 

[a tailor]

in most cases there is 1 1/2 inches difference between a short and a long.
to shorten would bring the pockets too close to the bottom of the coat.

ask your tailor what it would cost to alter the 38 reg,