Due to the time constraint, many people choose to buy a ready-to-wear suit in an emergency situation. However, it is not every size fits all; having a small size makes you feel tight in specific areas. If you choose a larger size, you may feel as if you’re “borrowing” someone’s suit which is larger than you. So, if you have to buy a smaller size suit, how do you know if the suit can be altered?
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OVERALL CHECK ON THE TIGHT SUIT
Perhaps you need to select a smaller size because the large size is too large, or you are a gym addict with larger muscles than most people. The Sages would like to point out a few details where you can check if the suit is too small.
SHOULDER CHECK
When you look at them, the shoulders are one of the most recognizable areas. When the shoulder padding hugs your shoulder, it creates a smooth line from the collar to the top of the shoulder. Furthermore, the transition from the shoulder to the sleeve should be smooth.
On the other hand, if you notice that the sleeves are stretched, wrinkled diagonally, or the back of the neck has many horizontal wrinkles, and the lapels swell, this indicates that your suit shoulders are too tight. At the same time, the wrinkled fabric from the inside to the shoulder pulls the hem of the suit back, creating a feeling of size and discomfort on your body, as well as compromising the suit’s aesthetics.
COLLAR CHECK
The collar is another detail to pay close attention to because it is one of the most common weaknesses in ready-made jackets. Check the collar by examining the shoulders because traction can cause tight shoulders to strain the top of the jacket. At the same time, the tight chest and shoulder causing the bodice to swell towards the shoulders, making your suit appear ugly.
BODY CHECK
One of the most important parts to inspect is the body. This is not only the part that draws attention from the opposite person, but it also takes up more than two-thirds of your men’s suit. The body of ready-to-wear suits is usually tailored to a specific size (S/M/L) to fit the majority of people. This type of suit jacket is frequently unsuitable for people with unique body shapes, such as wide shoulders or large torsos due to body type or bodybuilding. Button your jacket and check for any discomfort; or if that area has wrinkles due to fabric tension or not. The jacket will be too tight if there are diagonal lines and strong tension in the areas near the chest, waist, and armholes.
SLEEVES CHECK
You can wear your shirt in this checking to increase accuracy. If you feel your biceps are tight as soon as you put the suit jacket on, and the fabric is so tight that you feel like you might tear it, then your biceps are definitely tight.
If it’s not tight when stretching but feels uncomfortable when you bend your arm up, this indicates that the sleeves don’t have enough room for movement.
TROUSERS CHECK
The pair of trousers also requires your attention. If it’s too tight when standing or tight just below the knees, and many diagonal lines in the fabric indicate that the pants are too tight. In order for the test to be more accurate, try to sit down and put your feet up as part of your daily routine. If your legs are stretched out a lot while sitting and resting, it means your pants are too tight.
Please carefully inspect the above instructions to see if your men’s suit has any areas that need to be repaired. If yes, take it to a clothing alteration shop near you, or visit The Sages for specific clothing alteration advice.
CAN A TIGHT SUIT BE ALTERED?
This is a common question that many people have after purchasing a ready-to-wear men’s suit. Fixing a tight suit is a little more difficult than taking it in. A tight suit can be repaired, but depending on how tight it is as well as the amount of seam allowance on the suit and pants.
WHAT IS SEAM ALLOWANCE?
The seam allowance is the extra fabric on the inside of the garment between the sewing line and the edges of the fabric itself. Or an easier way, it’s the extra fabric hanging out on the inside of your clothes. Seam allowance is important for tailoring as it determines whether or not you can let out a garment (aka make it a little bit bigger). Due to the mass production, seam allowance in ready-made suits in general is usually minimal.
HOW TO CHECK IF THE TIGHT SUIT CAN BE ALTERED?
A man suit’s bodice, chest, and sleeves can be extended, but most are only a few centimeters long depending on the seam allowance. Because ready-to-wear suits are manufactured industrially, there is only a small amount of seam allowance left, not as much as in tailored men’s suits, as stated above.
In general, ready-to-wear suit jackets are fully-lined, making it difficult for the wearer to self-check at home. So, in order to check if your tight men’s suit jacket can be altered, please take it to a tailor with a clothing alterations service for a thorough inspection.
If your suit jacket is half-lined, meaning the back side isn’t fully covered with lining, you may be able to see the seam allowance. When you use a measurement tape and see that the total width of the extra fabric is more than 2.5cm, your shirt can expand by 0.5cm in that area.
Simply turn the pants inside out and check for seam allowance along the side seams. If the excess fabric is 2.5cm or more, same with the jacket, you can make more room for the pants. And if the seam allowance is less than 2cm, the pants cannot be let out any further.
When facing these issues, The Sages Bespoke recommends you tailoring a new nice men’s suit for yourself to ensure the best fit for your body. Once tailored, the seam allowance is usually large enough to help letting out for a couple weight changes. It would have to be much easier than a ready-to-wear suit.
HOW MUCH IS THE ALTERATION COST FOR A TIGHT SUIT?
The Sages Modern Bespoke also offers the clothing alterations service. Please bring your tight suit to The Sages, located at 260 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, for our experts to check the product, identify the problems, and see if the product can be altered.
The Sages’ clothing alterations service currently starts from 100,000 VND depending on the type of clothing. A thorough inspection before quoting will help customers understand the problem and get the accurate price before you decide whether or not to fix it.
We hope the blog helps you know how to check if your man suit is too tight and can be altered. If you have any further questions, please contact the hotline +84 886 219 608 or chat with the Facebook fan page for assistance as soon as possible.
