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Suit jacket too tight, what can be done?

trigirdbers

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I bought a cheap suit a while back and have been paying the price ever since. After numerous trips to numerous tailors, it actually looks pretty good on me. However, I can't reach forward to do things like wash my hands. Can a tailor fix this problem?

FWIW, the jacket is a 40L but im actually probably a 41 I've come to discover.
 

ter1413

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Buy new suit.
 

alliswell

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Nothing can be done except to learn the lesson about cheap suits.
 

patrickBOOTH

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Your problem could be unrelated to chest size actually. Post pics of you in normal positions and positions of concern for a better assessment.
 

trigirdbers

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Originally Posted by alliswell
Nothing can be done except to learn the lesson about cheap suits.

I mean, the wierd thing is, it LOOKS fine, I just couldn't wear it all day in an office. What if I had the armholes raised?
 

patrickBOOTH

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Originally Posted by trigirdbers
I mean, the wierd thing is, it LOOKS fine, I just couldn't wear it all day in an office. What if I had the armholes raised?

It is impossible to raise armholes only drop them. It could be that they are too low, but it could be the chest like you said, or sleeve pitch.
 

trigirdbers

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Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH
It is impossible to raise armholes only drop them. It could be that they are too low, but it could be the chest like you said, or sleeve pitch.

I feel the tug in the back when I reach forward and the edges of the armholes dig into me. Sleave length is perfect, chest is fine.
 

patrickBOOTH

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Originally Posted by trigirdbers
I feel the tug in the back when I reach forward and the edges of the armholes dig into me. Sleave length is perfect, chest is fine.

It is most likely the armholes then, not the size of the jacket, but I stand by my comment without seeing pictures.
 

MikeDT

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Originally Posted by alliswell
Nothing can be done except to learn the lesson about cheap suits.

What has that got to do with it?. It would be exactly the same if the OP bought an expensive suit which was too small.

The actual lesson here is: Buy a RTW suit of the correct size to start with.
 

Despos

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Take a straight pin and pin the center back seam taking it in 1/4" on each side of center back seam exactly where the under collar meets the center back seam. Try the same movements you tried before. If it helps, you can have your tailor take the seam in like you have it pinned. If not you have other issues. This is a shot in the dark but it sometimes helps.
 

asdf

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^This is interesting.

What is the mechanism there? Is the idea that you are "lifting" the armholes by taking the jacket in there?
 

Despos

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Yep, sometimes it makes enough of a difference to make the jacket wearable.
 

alliswell

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Originally Posted by MikeDT
What has that got to do with it?. It would be exactly the same if the OP bought an expensive suit which was too small.

The actual lesson here is: Buy a RTW suit of the correct size to start with.


My assumption - and it sounds like I was wrong - is that the OP thought that the price of cheap suit that didn't fit right plus some alterations would still give him a bargain. My conclusion is the same as yours.

Chris had some interesting information.
 

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