Waistcoats/vests @ Target

[Derek Conley]

I went and located these, they look great. Unfortunately, I have the following problem:

1. I put on a size Large, and it fit perfectly in the shoulders/chest, and had far too much fabric on the sides/waist.

2. I put on a size Medium, and it was far too tight in the shoulders/chest, and fit just fine on the sides/waist.

I wonder if purchasing the large and having it tailored would be worthwhile?

[Bugbear]

I went and located these, they look great. Unfortunately, I have the following problem:

1. I put on a size Large, and it fit perfectly in the shoulders/chest, and had far too much fabric on the sides/waist.

2. I put on a size Medium, and it was far too tight in the shoulders/chest, and fit just fine on the sides/waist.

I wonder if purchasing the large and having it tailored would be worthwhile?

Those are the commen problems with off the rack vests. I could be wrong, but I would say that having it tailored would probably be a waste of money. However, if you are able to tailor it yourself, or have someone you know that will do it for next to nothing, then yes.

You would probably do best with the fit that is fine at the shoulders and chest, but too big at the waist, as you are thinking. You could almost do that one with safetypins.

[Derek Conley]

Eh... true enough, but.... I mean... it's really bad. A lot of fabric. As much as I tried and tried and tried again to convince myself it was fine... I just couldn't.

[auld argonian]

Well, Derek, you can do what I did...just keep drinking beer for twenty years until your stomach "fills out" and the Large will fit nicely.

Serously, those off the rack vests have the band on the back to make the adjustment. Lots of vests are made that way so it won't look unusual for you to have the band adjusted and the extra fabric won't look excessive. I do have to tighten up the Target vest a little bit but I find that the band keeps slipping out of the little buckle thingie so I'll have to find the correct position and put a few stitches in the band to hold it fast.

Best

AA

[bowser]

Well, Derek, you can do what I did...just keep drinking beer for twenty years until your stomach "fills out" and the Large will fit nicely.

Tell me have you also found that stuff you put in the wardrobe, 20 years ago has some how "shrunk" over the years, I swear that when I put it in there it fitted me fine and now I find that its two or three or more sizes too small
I just dont understand how it can happen ?

[auld argonian]

Tell me have you also found that stuff you put in the wardrobe, 20 years ago has some how "shrunk" over the years, I swear that when I put it in there it fitted me fine and now I find that its two or three or more sizes too small
I just dont understand how it can happen ?

I think that that's just a consequence of aging and for it not to happen or for the change to be minor is the exception rather than the rule.

In high school, I took a size 36 jacket and a 29 waist on my jeans...this was the late 1960's. Right now I'm a 42 jacket and take a 34 waist in jeans...not too much of a shift over forty years, all things considered. Don't forget, though, that those clothes from the seventies were cut really slim...that disco look sort of spilled over into the mainstream. I've had a couple of suits that I really loved and that I wish still fit...one very nice wool tweed double breasted from the early eighties in particular...but c'est la vie!

Trust me...women feel the burden of this phenomena worse than men. I can think of one who justified the fact that she got larger as she got older by saying that "her bones settled"...not sure what school of natural philosophy that concept comes from but I'd bet that it's not really a medically recognized process. Just that not many people can face it and say, "I got older, I slowed down, I ate/drank more than I burned off and I got larger as a result." It is a real chore to stay in the shape that you were in in your twenties well into middle life and most folks are too busy living life to dedicate themselves to the diet and exercise that it would take to do it.

Best

AA

[billmcc]

I wonder if purchasing the large and having it tailored would be worthwhile?

As Ted suggested, you will probably have the same problem with any off-the-rack vest/waistcoat. Keep in mind that a traditional kilt typically adds 2 to 3 inches of bulk at the waist so you want the vest to be a little larger at the bottom than what you would wear with trousers.

Simple alterations aren't that expensive. When I was in the military, I had my uniform shirts taken in at the waist for about $10 each. The cost will depend on who is doing the alteration and how much work is involved. Do you live near a military base? If so, there should be a clothing/uniform store in the area that will do relatively inexpensive alterations.

My suggestion is to buy a large size vest and keep the sales receipt. Take the vest to a tailor or seamstress and ask how much he/she would charge to do the alteration. If it is more than you are willing to pay, simply return the vest. Be sure to wear your kilt when the tailor/seamstress is doing the fitting.

[Earl D]

I went and located these, they look great. Unfortunately, I have the following problem:

1. I put on a size Large, and it fit perfectly in the shoulders/chest, and had far too much fabric on the sides/waist.

2. I put on a size Medium, and it was far too tight in the shoulders/chest, and fit just fine on the sides/waist.

I wonder if purchasing the large and having it tailored would be worthwhile?

I picked up a grey wool waistcoat that had the satin back. Like yours the waist was a bit large. I put the vest on inside out and the Mrs. took in the extra material with two darts. Now the vest fits as if it is tailor made. If I happen to "expand" about the middle, she can undo the darts.

[Bugbear]

That is what I ment by my safetypin comment. Just don't tell anyone you did it, and it will probably be fine.

[Downix]

I wonder if I can fit XL...