Can a suit be altered down a size?

The first rule of suit alterations is that taking away or reducing the amount of fabric is doable, but you can’t make something bigger, at least not by much. The rule of thumb is that you can go down two sizes at a maximum, but a suit jacket or blazer only one size too large is a safer option.

How are suits supposed to fit?

The seam that connects the shoulders to the arms of the jacket is a reliable indicator for fit. Basically, the seam should be at the edge of your shoulder, right where it slopes down to your arm. The shoulders on a suit should be flat and smooth. You don’t want any rumpled fabric or creases.

How are suit pants supposed to fit?

Suit pants should fit perfectly around your waist with no need for a belt to hold them up. They should hit around the high hipbone area, or even slightly higher. If it feels like you’re going to split your pants, they’re way too tight. If you’ve got a bunch of extra fabric around the butt, they’re much too loose.

How should a suit fit?

How do you size a suit?

To correctly determining your suit size, you need to measure your (1) height, (2) chest circumference, (3) hip circumference, and (4) waistband. You also need to know your (5) step length (along the leg, from crotch to the ground) and (6) your side length (from the waist over the hip to the sole).

How do you know if a suit is too big?

As a quick recap, here are the signs your suit doesn’t fit:

1. The jacket shoulders sag or bite.
2. The button pulls or the button stance is higher than 1-3 fingers above your belly button.
3. The jacket chest gapes open or breaks.
4. The jacket doesn’t cover around 80\% of your butt.
5. The trouser seat isn’t smooth.

Can you alter the basic fit of a suit jacket?

This first alteration video shows you how to alter the basic fit of a jacket through the centerline of the bodice. When a suit jacket is too loose, it can make your body look bulkier, less defined, and more wrinkled.

How do you know if your suit fits?

It all starts with the shoulder. The foundation of suit fit begins with your shoulders (collars technically, but not as important) and works its way down from there. If your suit is too loose or too tight at the shoulders, it’s going to be reflected in the rest of your jacket, and subsequently look.

What happens if a suit jacket is too loose?

When a suit jacket is too loose, it can make your body look bulkier, less defined, and more wrinkled. However, Mary Beth shows how a few well-placed pins, readjusted lining, and a new center stitch can drastically improve the fit of a suit jacket.

Does the collar size affect the look of a suit?

This is not an area that jumps to mind as having an impact on the look or even fit of a suit, but a collar that is overly large for your neck will result in the dreaded “collar gap.” If this is something that affects your suits, you may be tempted to do something about it by having the collar removed and re-cut.