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Suit dimensions and fit?

needler

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I recently got a nice armani suit as a gift. It didn't fit well, specifically if I moved my arms like I was going to hug someone (moving my arms out from my body) it felt like it was taking the lower part of the suit with it and was very awkward to move in.

I thought it was because the dimensions were too big but then realized I actually have another suit that is ostensibly larger in the chest and the same in the shoulders but feels extremely comfortable to move my arms in. Is this a sign of the mysterious "low arm hole" phenomenon? Or can it still be too big in the chest/shoulders despite the measured size being comparable?

The suit went back but I'm looking at some things on ebay and concerned that just matching up my measurements might get me a suit that still doesn't fit.
 

apropos

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Originally Posted by needler
I recently got a nice armani suit as a gift. It didn't fit well, specifically if I moved my arms like I was going to hug someone (moving my arms out from my body) it felt like it was taking the lower part of the suit with it and was very awkward to move in. I thought it was because the dimensions were too big but then realized I actually have another suit that is ostensibly larger in the chest and the same in the shoulders but feels extremely comfortable to move my arms in. Is this a sign of the mysterious "low arm hole" phenomenon? Or can it still be too big in the chest/shoulders despite the measured size being comparable? The suit went back but I'm looking at some things on ebay and concerned that just matching up my measurements might get me a suit that still doesn't fit.
Exactly right, 'low arm hole phenomenon' strikes again. To ensure their items fit as many potential customers as possible, RTW designers make suits that fit fatties. Or people with arms like starfishes, I'm not sure which.
 

needler

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Originally Posted by apropos
Exactly right, 'low arm hole phenomenon' strikes again.

To ensure their items fit as many potential customers as possible, RTW designers make suits that fit fatties. Or people with arms like starfishes, I'm not sure which.


Thanks. What's the solution to this if you're looking at suits online? Only buy suits where you can try that model on somewhere? I saw an older BB suit on ebay that I liked but I'm loathe to get another case of reverse Chris Farley fit (little guy in a fat-armed suit). Or perhaps avoid certain designers altogether? I wouldn't have guessed Armani would be tent-like.
 

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