Take in waistcoat, leave formal jacket alone?

[frank_a]

Like others here, I have been slowly losing weight. When ordering my new jacket and waistcoat last night, it was easy to see I had dropped a full size.

Years ago I bought a formal jacket and waistcoat for those formal functions we often attend. It is now one full size too large. I think I might easily get the waistcoat tailored to fit, but not worry about the jacket. We never button it anyways.

What do the rabble think? Does this make sense? Take the waistcoat in, leave the jacket alone?

Thanks!

Frank

[Father Bill]

Depending on body shape and all that, yes, it makes sense to me. I like to have my jackets large so that they don't flail about when I raise my arms.

It's a personal preference, but I think a lot of folks wear their jackets far too small and it shows if they do anything but stand straight and still.

[frank_a]

Excellent advice as always Father Bill. Thank you sir.

Frank

[FossilHunter]

Of course you don’t want it too small, but a garment that fits you will always look better than one that doesn’t.

I’d have it tailored.

[frank_a]

Of course you don’t want it too small, but a garment that fits you will always look better than one that doesn’t.

I’d have it tailored.

When you say "I’d have it tailored." do you mean the waistcoat or jacket or both?

Thank you,

Frank

[FossilHunter]

When you say "I’d have it tailored." do you mean the waistcoat or jacket or both?

Thank you,

Frank

Both. It’s pretty easy to take in a jacket to accommodate for reduced weight.

[Tobus]

It's a personal preference, but I think a lot of folks wear their jackets far too small and it shows if they do anything but stand straight and still.

Personal preference indeed. I think most people (Americans, anyway) wear their jackets a size too large. It may be more comfortable and easier to make large arm movements with a loose-fitting jacket, but it doesn't meet the same aesthetic as a well-fitted jacket does in the UK. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say it is one of the major differences that makes it easy to spot an American in a crowd as opposed to someone from the British Isles.

[Steve Ashton]

This may also be due to the difference in the cut of European vs N. American jackets. Most N. Americans find that they need to order a jacket a couple of inches larger than the size they would get from a N. American seller. This is partly due to a different measuring system being used in the two regions.

I ran into this difference with my suit coats. I had to specify a different cut and adjust the sizing to what N. Americans are used to seeing listed. I list my jacket as the actual chest size from a tape measure.

A European jacket and vest are cut narrower in the body. One common cut of many N. American jackets is called a "Sack Cut". Basically straight down from the chest. While a European jacket in the same size tapers as much as 6 inches into the waist.

I solved this problem of size differences by retaining the taper of the waist but increasing the back, right under the arms by 1 inch. This allows the wearer to bring his arms up and elbows almost touching without the jacket flying up like wings.

Just so everyone understands that the European measuring system is different from the N. American system and the cut of a European jacket will be quite different from the average N. American styles.

[Steve Ashton]

And to the OP. You are in a very envious situation. Most guys gain weight in the stomach. The jacket may still fit but the vest will usually have to be let out by adding to the back.

[FossilHunter]

I like to have my jackets large so that they don't flail about when I raise my arms.

I don’t know if this is the case in Canada but here many off the peg jackets have excessively large armholes which makes it easier for jackets to “fit” more body types but prevent arms from being raised without pulling up the jacket.


From: elevatedcitizen.com