[Jeff84]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but dress trouser sizing is actual measurement right? For instance if my suit and dress trousers are a 32, they can be taken in up to 2"?

Also, if you drop almost 2" in the chest, in your experience, is it possible to have it altered correctly?

I (unintentionally) lost and kept off some weight and hoping to save my wardrobe. I had been a 38R for years. Measuring myself, I'm about 36" in the chest, down from 38" at my heaviest. I was about 37.5" when I bought most of my clothes.

Does it look like I'll need to go down to a 36R, or might I be safe? Keeping in mind, I had this sport coat let out last year. If you go down a size, how much tighter is it in the shoulders?

 

[upr_crust]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but dress trouser sizing is actual measurement right? For instance if my suit and dress trousers are a 32, they can be taken in up to 2"?

Also, if you drop almost 2" in the chest, in your experience, is it possible to have it altered correctly?

I (unintentionally) lost and kept off some weight and hoping to save my wardrobe. I had been a 38R for years. Measuring myself, I'm about 36" in the chest, down from 38" at my heaviest. I was about 37.5" when I bought most of my clothes.

Does it look like I'll need to go down to a 36R, or might I be safe? Keeping in mind, I had this sport coat let out last year. If you go down a size, how much tighter is it in the shoulders? View attachment 50792 View attachment 50793

In my experience, you can have clothes taken in about 2 inches maximum, without the garments looking strange, or needing a total re-cut of the garment involved. Much beyond that, however, things get dicey, but your alterations tailor will be the expert on what he (or she) can or cannot do.

 

[Mathematicus]

Trousers alterations: you are pretty much safe up to 2-3'' inches provided you can tolerate back pockets getting closer each other. If you are reducing a big amount (say 3'' and more) the front pockets will feel significantly shifted towards the back; that's because you cannot reduce the front part of the trousers. I had this problem when brining down an old 36'' waist (not mine) to a 32'' and it is not good.

Altering chest in a coat: it entirely depends on where you feel the excess cloth. Since alterations are only really possible from the back, if you have extra cloth in there you will be fine. If, however, the excess is in the front, the same alteration will make the back narrower so it can pull the front and claim to have "taken in" the front chest. What you get, however, is a jacket that is too narrow on the back and shifted out of balance.

I'm not saying it is a disaster; it may work decently for small amounts but it is not a real solution as a tight back means (to me) an unusable jacket.

As far as I know, it is possible to reduce chest from the front side seam but I have yet to see an alterationist doing that.

 

[ran23]

When I lost 95 lbs, I was down to a 38 jacket. Over Winter, I was using 15- and 20 lb hex-bells to work out. Come Spring I grabbed a cotton-linen blazer to walk in. surprise to find I couldn't button it. I measured my self at 39". About 4 jackets (including my charcoal suit are going to my Niece's son, about my size). He is wearing polo's, Japanese denim and chino's I sent already.

 

[MarcDavidMiller]

Thanks everyone for contributing to this post. I am down about 20 pounds and would like to go down about 10-15 more. There are some good tips here as to what is salvageable when taking pants & jackets in.

REGARDING SHIRTS: any tips on this? I have a significantly thick neck (17 to 17.5), and when I buy off the rack shirts they generally are very large for my frame.

 

[medhat]

Thanks everyone for contributing to this post. I am down about 20 pounds and would like to go down about 10-15 more. There are some good tips here as to what is salvageable when taking pants & jackets in.

REGARDING SHIRTS: any tips on this? I have a significantly thick neck (17 to 17.5), and when I buy off the rack shirts they generally are very large for my frame.

If you're ultimately going to be down 30-35# I'm sorry but it's time to celebrate with a brand new wardrobe! But in the meantime (I went through this many years ago myself) I would tailor only when and what you need to, and resign yourself that the new and improved you will have to start from scratch, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But the aforementioned guidelines about how much you can tailor down a jacket or pants are in the ballpark to my own experience; beyond that and it simply looks off.

 

[MarcDavidMiller]

Thanks for the wisdom! The good news is that much of my wardrobe (actually the better MTM pieces are from my relatively thin period, before the turn of the millennium, but I do recognize that at some point tailoring is no longer a cost- or style-effective option.

If you're ultimately going to be down 30-35# I'm sorry but it's time to celebrate with a brand new wardrobe! But in the meantime (I went through this many years ago myself) I would tailor only when and what you need to, and resign yourself that the new and improved you will have to start from scratch, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But the aforementioned guidelines about how much you can tailor down a jacket or pants are in the ballpark to my own experience; beyond that and it simply looks off.

 

[ran23]

When I lost my weight, I was about 60. Now, 66, I can't lose any-might be the under active thyroid I am being treated for.

 

[The Great Garbanzo]

To the OP:

You may want to wait until after the holidays.....Try as I might I already feel like a Grizzly bear getting stocked up for hibernation the past week or so.

I come from a house where gravy is considered a beverage!!

 

[eagle2250]

To the OP:

You may want to wait until after the holidays.....Try as I might I already feel like a Grizzly bear getting stocked up for hibernation the past week or so.

I come from a house where gravy is considered a beverage!!

LOL, I too feel your pain!

 

[Guest]

In my experience, you can have clothes taken in about 2 inches maximum, without the garments looking strange, or needing a total re-cut of the garment involved. Much beyond that, however, things get dicey, but your alterations tailor will be the expert on what he (or she) can or cannot do.

In my experience, you can have clothes taken in about 2 inches maximum, without the garments looking strange, or needing a total re-cut of the garment involved. Much beyond that, however, things get dicey, but your alterations tailor will be the expert on what he (or she) can or cannot do.

I lost around 50 lbs from strenuous work and diet changes, namely eliminating soda. My 46R HF fit like a glove, off the rack, save for unfinished jacket hem and trouser leg. I bought a dozen different suits. All wool, with wool cashmere. Tucked the jacket a notch which should have been done to start with and tucked trouser waist two inches. Thank God. All suits and Tux saved.

My tailor was very skilled. Very fortunate.

 

[drpeter]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but dress trouser sizing is actual measurement right? For instance if my suit and dress trousers are a 32, they can be taken in up to 2"?

Also, if you drop almost 2" in the chest, in your experience, is it possible to have it altered correctly?

I (unintentionally) lost and kept off some weight and hoping to save my wardrobe. I had been a 38R for years. Measuring myself, I'm about 36" in the chest, down from 38" at my heaviest. I was about 37.5" when I bought most of my clothes.

Does it look like I'll need to go down to a 36R, or might I be safe? Keeping in mind, I had this sport coat let out last year. If you go down a size, how much tighter is it in the shoulders? View attachment 50792 View attachment 50793

It's entirely possible to take in the shoulders of a jacket or suit coat, but it is a complex operation. I am very fortunate in having a highly skilled tailor who has done it on three or four occasions for me. Although my own tailor charges me so little in my opinion (I will. on occasion, add an extra amount to his bill because I think he is undercharging me), in most places, altering shoulders can be quite expensive.

 

[dr.butcher]

I lost over 30lbs five years back and had a number of bespoke suits and odd waistcoats taken in. It was done by the tailor who made them and he worked wonders. Alterations on MTM or OTR have been done by an alterations tailor but only work on smaller weight loss. Photo of the first instance attached. It's not a great photo but shows how much was taken in.

It's never ideal but held me over until I replaced pieces one by one. Some of the original pieces still in rotation though.