Suit advice?

[darkxshade]

A friend of mine bought a suit several years ago and has since lost a lot of weight and now the suit jacket is pretty big and baggy on him. He has a wedding to attend next month and was thinking of taking it to a tailor to have it altered to fit his new frame. Problem is that the suit pant has already been altered twice and the jacket once. So this will be like his 3rd alteration on the same suit. To the best of my knowledge, he's lost about 30lbs down to 170ish from 200 so I imagine this alteration will be pretty significant.

I had suggested to him that this might not be a great idea... I just can't imagine a suit turning out ok having gone through so many transformations but admittedly I don't know much about how alterations work. My suggestion to him was that maybe he should just get a new suit that fits better and have that altered as necessary but he's on a budget. What say you all? Thanks

 

[theflyingpig]

lol. It's easy to make a suit smaller. Nothing to worry about here. Everyone knows this.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Tell him to get the alterations. Altering a suit isn't like sanding a hard wood floor, there isn't a certain number of times it can be done without getting a new one. While thirty pounds is significant in society's terms, it isn't to the cut of the suit unless he only shops at Seville Row.

 

[Bignate603]

It's easier to make it smaller than it is to make it bigger. A good tailor will tell him if its possible.

 

[darkxshade]

ok, that's all I really needed to know... if there's a "limit" on alterations. I guess I was wrong. I will relay this to him, thanks for clearing it up all.

 

[darkxshade]

It's easier to make it smaller than it is to make it bigger. A good tailor will tell him if its possible.

lol. It's easy to make a suit smaller. Nothing to worry about here. Everyone knows this.

I knew it was possible to make suits smaller, I just didn't know if it'll make it look like a bad fit. I've only had suits tailored to make minor adjustments but I don't know what the end result would look like if I say went to a store and bought a 50R when I'm really 40R and took it to a tailor.

 

[JS80]

I knew it was possible to make suits smaller, I just didn't know if it'll make it look like a bad fit. I've only had suits tailored to make minor adjustments but I don't know what the end result would look like if I say went to a store and bought a 50R when I'm really 40R and took it to a tailor.

Yea but you're talking 200 lbs to 170 lbs, which is like 40R to 38R.

 

[darkxshade]

Yea but you're talking 200 lbs to 170 lbs, which is like 40R to 38R.

Granted, I was just making the case that my initial concern was warranted in that constant alterations although possible doesn't mean that it will result a successful end product. And like I said initially that the suit was altered twice already. In any case, I suppose alterations one more time is possible so I will make that suggestion to him.

 

[alkemyst]

Why are you posting playboy topics from last month?

 

[DainBramaged]

It will all depend on the coat. You might be able to pull it off, you might not. Ask the tailor.

 

[alkemyst]

From Playboy August 2010:

Last year I spent a good amount of money on an Armani suit. Later, in a separate development, I lost 40 pounds and dropped a couple of sizes. Does it make sense to have the suit altered, or will such a drastic reduction ruin the cut? -- J.M., New York, New York

In the end buy a new suit to show off that new body. Changing a suit so much would be expensive and the cut would be ruined.

If the suit is a typical department store one then your friend has already spent too much time and money.

Have him rent a suit if it's just for an event or buy one on sale for $100-200.

 

[daniel1113]

A friend of mine bought a suit several years ago and has since lost a lot of weight and now the suit jacket is pretty big and baggy on him. He has a wedding to attend next month and was thinking of taking it to a tailor to have it altered to fit his new frame. Problem is that the suit pant has already been altered twice and the jacket once. So this will be like his 3rd alteration on the same suit. To the best of my knowledge, he's lost about 30lbs down to 170ish from 200 so I imagine this alteration will be pretty significant.

I had suggested to him that this might not be a great idea... I just can't imagine a suit turning out ok having gone through so many transformations but admittedly I don't know much about how alterations work. My suggestion to him was that maybe he should just get a new suit that fits better and have that altered as necessary but he's on a budget. What say you all? Thanks

While the number of alterations isn't likely to be a factor here, the loss of 30 lbs is probably going to prohibit obtaining a proper fit through alterations. If I were your friend, I'd buy a new suit.

 

[paulney]

Class action all the way.