[aginsburg123]

I'm trying to figure out what is going on with my suit jacket. When I stand straight up, put on the jacket, and then pull the jacket down - like what happens at the tailor - it looks fine to me (with my untrained eye). See the "before" picture here (and yes the sleeves are uneven, which I plan to get fixed).

After I walk around, get up/sit down, though, it looks bad. When I then get in the same standing straight position after that movement, the lapels are flaring up (a little hard to see in the pictures) and the sides have wrinkles (particularly on the right). See the "after" picture here.

Is a suit jacket supposed to return to form when you stop moving? If so, why is mine not doing that? Too small in the waist an/or sides? Can a tailor fix it? I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[eagle2250]

Your suit jacket is too tight at the waist and perhaps less so throughout the body. I suspect the fabric distortion you are experienced is the lining hanging up on your 'love handles.' Don't get upset, as we all have them to some degree. If sufficient excess fabric is available at the seams, it is not a difficult alteration to complete. Check with your Tailor or seamstress. Good luck in your quest.

 

[Peak and Pine]

^
I'm not sure about that. Assuming the jacket is well tailored...and it looks that from the first pic..., buttoned, pull the jacket up an inch or two. Notice how the diagonal crease from the side downward appears and gets greater the more the jacket is hiked. And so the converse, pulling the jacket down, erases this, in combination with standing tall. Again tho, assuming good tailoring to start. Live with it. Stand tall, pull down.

(And if you have fear of being hunched, and you probably don't, but I do, being half way through the f'ing 70s, set your rear view mirror a littlte higher than comfy, forces you to sit up straight while at the wheel.)

 

[aginsburg123]

Your suit jacket is too tight at the waist and perhaps less so throughout the body. I suspect the fabric distortion you are experienced is the lining hanging up on your 'love handles.' Don't get upset, as we all have them to some degree. If sufficient excess fabric is available at the seams, it is not a difficult alteration to complete. Check with your Tailor or seamstress. Good luck in your quest.

Thanks! Do you think it looks good at rest (before pic) or it looks tight even then at the waist? Why does the movement seem to mess it up? Besides asking to let out the jacket, what other alteration should I ask for specifically?

 

[SG_67]

That before and after picture makes no sense at all.

Are you standing the same way? The bottom quarters do seem to break a bit wide suggesting a tight waist, but the button closure seems ok, which is where I would expect to see more pulling.

What’s happening is not unusual if you’re sitting down with the jacket buttoned. Most people will unbutton for that exact reason. Try that, assuming you haven’t.

oh, and the sleeves are too short.

 

[aginsburg123]

^
I'm not sure about that. Assuming the jacket is well tailored...and it looks that from the first pic..., buttoned, pull the jacket up an inch or two. Notice how the diagonal crease from the side downward appears and gets greater the more the jacket is hiked. And so the converse, pulling the jacket down, erases this, in combination with standing tall. Again tho, assuming good tailoring to start. Live with it. Stand tall, pull down.

(And if you have fear of being hunched, and you probably don't, but I do, being half way through the f'ing 70s, set your rear view mirror a littlte higher than comfy, forces you to sit up straight while at the wheel.)

Thanks for your perspective! You are correct - if I pull the jacket up by the button an inch or two, that same crease appears. Any idea what this means?

And while I'm not in my 70's, I do have a fear of being hunched - I have terrible posture. I don't think tailoring for an OTR suit can really address my posture issues though, especially since when I go to the tailor they don't ask to slouch!

 

[aginsburg123]

That before and after picture makes no sense at all.

Are you standing the same way? The bottom quarters do seem to break a bit wide suggesting a tight waist, but the button closure seems ok, which is where I would expect to see more pulling.

What's happening is not unusual if you're sitting down with the jacket buttoned. Most people will unbutton for that exact reason. Try that, assuming you haven't.

oh, and the sleeves are too short.

I'm standing the same way. The only difference in the before and after pictures is walking around for awhile.

And yes, I'm aware the sleeves are too short. My bigger problem is they are uneven - that I plan to get fixed.

 

[SG_67]

The jacket must be pulling somewhere that is not visible on the pic.

 

[EclecticSr.]

I'm standing the same way. The only difference in the before and after pictures is walking around for awhile.

And yes, I'm aware the sleeves are too short. My bigger problem is they are uneven - that I plan to get fixed.

Your not standing the same way, first pic your arms and shoulders are relaxed. In the second it appears your arms and shoulders are further to the rear especially the right arm and the crease is more prominent on that side. You admit having a fear of becoming hunched and admit to poor posture, Look for yourself . Perhaps your doing it without realizing it to correct for your consciousness of it Otherwise the jacket seems to fit viewing the first pic.

 

[Color 8]

Whatever you decide to do, I don't think I'd go back to the tailor who did the sleeves.

 

[eagle2250]

Thanks! Do you think it looks good at rest (before pic) or it looks tight even then at the waist? Why does the movement seem to mess it up? Besides asking to let out the jacket, what other alteration should I ask for specifically?

The button appears to be pullig pretty solidly against the button hole and the fabric exhibits evidence of stretching in both pictures. I wear mine fitted to allow a bit more airspace between the jacket fabric and my body.

 

[Matt S]

Did you have this jacket altered, or was it like this off the rack?

 

[medhat]

Sleeves aside, I don't necessarily think the jacket is too tight, but as @eagle2250 suggests, it may indeed get "hung up" on you as you walk, love handles or simply a baggier than desired shirt (can't tell, and you don't need to post naked pics!). From the "before" picture I wouldn't necessarily say it needs to be let out, and if it's something you notice it's perhaps simpler enough to just give the bottom of the jacket a gentle tug down when you arrive at your destination. Reminds me of a brief throwaway (but intentional) scene in the Daniel Craig James Bond movie, Skyfall, where he just avoids certain death after the rear end of the train is violently sheared off, yet he takes a moment to straighten his jacket cuffs... like a boss, or a 00.

 

[JBierly]

The snugger the fit the more likely to bind. I find it more common on my modern cut trousers - never used to happen in the days of overly wide trousers. It's a good reason to keep the fit a bit on the loose side without being baggy.

 

[aginsburg123]

Did you have this jacket altered, or was it like this off the rack?

It is OTR, but I had the jacket altered after purchase. It is a slim fit suit; I had to have the jacket let out a bit after I bought it. Maybe it wasn't let out enough.