Does your suit jacket fit too tight?
For today's question, this is what came in:
I've recently bought a new navy colored suit jacket from the department store for my brother's wedding.
It's a slim fit style and it gives a snug fit. I really like it, but when I showed it to my mother, she thinks it's too tight mostly due to my belly.
Worrying that I may not be comfortable moving around in the jacket, she suggests that I exchange it for a larger size. However, there is already about a half inch to a three quarters inch excess on the shoulders of my current jacket. A larger size means broader shoulder pads. Therefore, is it okay to keep the current outfit or is it recommended I get one size larger?
Most men are wearing jackets that are too large for them. Realize that the suit jacket is not an exercise or jogging suit or workout suit. I've had people purchase clothing from me and they show me in a video.
They're like, “You know, I can't jump up on a pull-up bar and knock out 30 pull-ups.”
And I'm thinking, “Why are you doing this in your suit?” It is for dressier events. This is not a workout outfit.
You do want your suit and your clothing to fit a little bit closer to the body especially if you've got a good one. Most people were just used to our clothing fitting so loosely because almost everything we own is made to fit a bigger man.
But let's say it is a little bit tight in the midsection. Should you just go buy a larger suit?
My quick answer is going to be no because it already sounds like it's a little bit too big in the shoulders.
He's right. If he purchases the next size up, the shoulders are going to go out another half inch to a quarter inch on the sides. And also, he's going to have a full inch excess on the shoulders, and that is not going to look good.
Instead, he should just have the jacket opened up. It's a $50 to $100 procedure and any good tailor can get this done and a seamstress as well. This is a common alternation and most jackets should have room to be opened up approximately one and a half to two inches at the most.
Once you get past that, proportions start getting out and it's not a good idea, but I would say it sounds like even just adding an inch there, an inch and a half in the midsection, it's going to look like a much better jacket.
Take it to a tailor. He can open it up on the bottom and peek in there and make sure there's enough fabric.
If not, even the best tailor in the world cannot open up a jacket if there's no fabric to expand open, but if he can open up that jacket, that should solve your problem.
Another thing to think about is that it's okay that your shoulders are a little bit out there.
I like my shoulders to be a bit out there and the reason is I'm a pretty thin guy.
I always want a little bit of build on my shoulders because when you build out the shoulders, it changes your silhouette and it can help give you a more masculine look.
As for your excess stomach, you don't want to have the Grimace look, the figure who mysteriously disappeared from McDonald's a while back.
If you look at Grimace, he is shaped like a pear. This is not a manly look.
Flip that over and you'll have a more masculine look where actually your shoulders in that area goes in an inverted triangle. That's the image you want to portray.
I know a lot of men can't do that so go for a rectangle. It's better to have a square look than it is to have a round, pear look.
But again, this is your brother's wedding. It sounds like you are taking everything you need to into account. Make sure that the trousers have a good fit. That's it! Have a great time.
Hopefully, this helps.
I also got an entire article over at The Art of Manliness talking about alternations.
I'll see you guys over there!