Made to measure or off the rack?

[This.Screenname.Isnt.Taken]

Hello, I've been looking and looking for a suit for a long time but can't seem to find something that is close enough to fitting to get it tailored! I'm considering giving up the search and opting for something made to measure instead.

I wanted to know if people thought that going made to measure was worth it. And what sort of places or websites have been used. I did try on a ton of stuff at a bunch of different stores but nothing was even close to fitting. So I'm getting tired and I'm doubtful I'll be able to find something that fits enough that it could get tailored. It's frustrating because I carry a lot of weight on my hip bones, and have narrow shoulders making it difficult to find things that fit.

[Guest Clair Dufour]

I doubt you need custom made clothes but unless you can sew it would help to find a tailor or seamstress. Places that have drag have one or more who know how to create illusion. The main trick is to pad the top to match the bottom. Think of it as instead of binding. filling in the rest. You can pad a sports coat or a shirt that you can wear as an undergarment with a loose shirt. A good

example of this is a policewoman wearing a bullet proof vest under her shirt.

[Charlize]

Getting a custom tailored suit seems a lovely idea but i have never gone that route. For me finding suits is difficult for the opposite reason you are finding. My waist and hips are smaller a 10 to 12 and my shoulders are much bigger with a 14 being ok but at times a bit snug. Perhaps that is why i prefer a mixed outfit or a dress.

Could you find a store that would allow you to mix suit tops and bottoms? if so a small amount of tailoring might be enough.

Hugs,

Charlize

[This.Screenname.Isnt.Taken]

I doubt you need custom made clothes but unless you can sew it would help to find a tailor or seamstress. Places that have drag have one or more who know how to create illusion. The main trick is to pad the top to match the bottom. Think of it as instead of binding. filling in the rest. You can pad a sports coat or a shirt that you can wear as an undergarment with a loose shirt. A good

example of this is a policewoman wearing a bullet proof vest under her shirt.

I'm not really looking for an illusion. I'm looking to just have something that fits. I'm a heavy guy so more padding=look bigger/fatter. Not exactly a good look.

[This.Screenname.Isnt.Taken]

Getting a custom tailored suit seems a lovely idea but i have never gone that route. For me finding suits is difficult for the opposite reason you are finding. My waist and hips are smaller a 10 to 12 and my shoulders are much bigger with a 14 being ok but at times a bit snug. Perhaps that is why i prefer a mixed outfit or a dress.

Could you find a store that would allow you to mix suit tops and bottoms? if so a small amount of tailoring might be enough.

Hugs,

Charlize

Yeah, I've found places that do mix and match but the suit jacket itself is where I have a bit of trouble. I mean, bottoms I have problems with for other reasons (too big in the seat, too long, leg too wide, etc). Focusing specifically on the jacket, there hasn't been anything I've seen that fits in the shoulder and is close enough to fitting in the waist/hip where it could be let out. I can find ones that are close enough to fitting in the waist and hips but I think they're too big in the chest, too big in the shoulder and have bunching behind the collar. So getting everything fixed might end up costing a lot where it isn't worth it.

[tracy_j]

It's nice to get something that fits, although from the male perspective the only thing that went that way was my RAF dress uniform which was adjusted when I first got it. I seldom have ever worn suits so they have spent more time in the wardrobe than out!

Luckily I can sew so with a little care in buying and then minor adjustments when needed, women's clothing of the styles I wear are not too much of a problem.

I think I would look at how my body shape was and whether it is likely to change to any degree in the near future. For people on hormones or a weight loss program then getting made to measure would only be right for a short time. That said, if I knew things were not going to change and I wanted to look good then made to measure would certainly be a consideration. It would really be down to price.

Tracy

[This.Screenname.Isnt.Taken]

Giving a bit of an update. I've been to about 15-20 stores that sell suits, sports coats, and blazers. Just a few shops I remember on the list includes Jos A Bank, Men's Warehouse, Macy's JC Penny, Sears, Brooks Brothers, Suit Supply, Neiman Marcus, and a bunch of other places I can't remember off the top of my head. In most of the stores I was told about the various things that could be fixed but got different opinions on how to fix certain things.

Just, as an example, one issue I have is bunching behind the collar going from one shoulder to the other. One sales person at a store said it was because the jacket was too small across the shoulders (in my opinion it was too large). Another place said the solution was lowering the collar.

The estimated cost for alterations at shops were well over $100 and included things like letting out the hips and waist, lowering the collar, shortening the jacket, shortening sleeves and pant legs, taking in the seat, taking in the shoulder, taking in the chest and back. At this point, some of the places would push me for discounts off the suit to make the alterations cost less. This wasn't so great because all together it would end up being the same cost of a suit that's custom.

So...I think I'll have to go custom. I don't feel that what's available off the rack fits me properly. Despite being on hormones for several years my hips are too large and my shoulders too narrow to find a sportscoat, blazer, or suit off the rack that could be altered.

[Nicole W]

Second hand stores may be the place to go they have a lot of stuff that may work out for you, only suit i have ever owned never fit and was semi tailored via US ARMY . but i have never looked for a suit in male clothing before , but i wish you the best of luck

[This.Screenname.Isnt.Taken]

Second hand stores may be the place to go they have a lot of stuff that may work out for you, only suit i have ever owned never fit and was semi tailored via US ARMY . but i have never looked for a suit in male clothing before , but i wish you the best of luck

I guess I have a hard time trying to wrap my head around the idea of there being something at a second hand shop. I mean, if I can't find something at a regular shop then how would a second hand place have something that will fit?