Adjusting suits- worth it, cost, results

[jakesmith]

I have recently lost a reasonable amount of weight- have gone from 14 stone to 11 and as a result none of my clothes fit properly. I was right in 34” trousers, now I’m 32”. Jackets / hoodies I was M/L now I’m more like XS/S.

I’ve got 4 suits that are Austin Reed / Cerruti from Moss abroad, nothing amazing but probably £200-£300 each roughly. I hardly ever wear a suit. I’m not remotely bothered about the most incredible tailored perfection but is it actually viable to have the jacket and trousers taken in to the point that the suit looks like an ok fit? How much would you expect to pay for this roughly, any success / horror stories?

[So]

jakesmith said:

I have recently lost a reasonable amount of weight- have gone from 14 stone to 11 and as a result none of my clothes fit properly. I was right in 34” trousers, now I’m 32”. Jackets / hoodies I was M/L now I’m more like XS/S.

I’ve got 4 suits that are Austin Reed / Cerruti from Moss abroad, nothing amazing but probably £200-£300 each roughly. I hardly ever wear a suit. I’m not remotely bothered about the most incredible tailored perfection but is it actually viable to have the jacket and trousers taken in to the point that the suit looks like an ok fit? How much would you expect to pay for this roughly, any success / horror stories?

Yes.

The trousers will cost you about £20 and the jacket £30-£50 depending upon how much you've shrunk.

Tell the tailor that you've lost weight and ask him leave some fabric in, in case you get bigger again. You don't think you will, but you might.

Don't go to the local dry cleaner who also shortens trousers. Go into the "proper" men's clothes shop in your town and ask them who does jacket alterations for them.

[anonymous-user]

Always worth doing with any suit, even a £200 M&S one, it makes all the difference.

The one thing that will be expensive and possibly not worth it is if you want the shoulders adjusted.

[mholt1995]

That could well be too large a jump (in the best way of course, congratulations!).

For instance, shoulder fit on your jackets could well be quite far out if you've gone down potentially two alpha sizes.

Alterations tend to be limited to a couple of inches. If your suit previously was a perfect fit and you've lost 4 inches off your chest then you're going to struggle getting that jacket altered to match.

Definitely worth getting a consultation (be worth seeing if anyone is doing online stuff as I highly doubt tailors will be open at present) as they'll know whether it will be a waste and if you're better off just getting a new suit or two and having those altered instead.

Seconding So's post and agree that you should find someone used to and trusted to complete regular alterations on menswear (my go-to was suggested by a chap in the menswear section at M&S when I bought my dinner suit and he's fantastic).

Not sure where you are geographically but most cities should have a decent offering.

[Fleckers]

I lost just over 30kg last year due to illness

Like you suits were way to big 2 tailors said replace as the size drop was too great

I ended up replacing everting except shoes and socks

[jakesmith]

Ive lost 16kg (2.5 stone). Went to a tailor and he said he could do it but it involves tapering legs, taking the waist in, taking sides of jacket in etc. Seemed like a hell of a lot of work. I very rarely wear a suit as in maybe once a year. I’ve got 5 suits now that don’t even remotely fit! He pointed out the cuffs and legs need adjusting too.

Might get one done and see how it comes out and go from there I guess...

[craigjm]

As said within reason it’s possible, maybe three inches on a suit coat and two on trousers say. Beyond that you get into the realms of serious changes. Where are you based? Maybe someone can make a recommendation for a proper alterations tailor local to you?

[Monkeylegend]

Quite a few years ago now I went from just over 16 stone down to 11.5 stone in a few months so went from a 38" to a 34" waist.

Part way through I bought three new 36" suits not expecting to lose anymore and within 4 months or so I had to buy three new 34" suits, all needed for work, so I had 6 suits ie three at 38" and three at 36" that were too big.

At 11.5 stone my Doctor told me I had lost too much weight and to put some back on which i did. I was struggling to hold it at that level without making myself ill anyway.

I went back to 13 stone ish and fitted nicely in the 36" suits, so then had three 34" that were too small and three 38" that were too big, and that is how it is today.

I am retired now but I often look at the 34" suits knowing I only got about three months wear out of them and they still look new. I have 6 suits that have hung unworn now for a few years, can't bring myself to get rid of them. Just in case.

All that money hanging there wasted

So the moral of this story is to either get suits made of elastic or don't bother to lose weight.

[So]

Monkeylegend said:

Quite a few years ago now I went from just over 16 stone down to 11.5 stone in a few months so went from a 38" to a 34" waist.

Part way through I bought three new 36" suits not expecting to lose anymore and within 4 months or so I had to buy three new 34" suits, all needed for work, so I had 6 suits ie three at 38" and three at 36" that were too big.

At 11.5 stone my Doctor told me I had lost too much weight and to put some back on which i did. I was struggling to hold it at that level without making myself ill anyway.

I went back to 13 stone ish and fitted nicely in the 36" suits, so then had three 34" that were too small and three 38" that were too big, and that is how it is today.

I am retired now but I often look at the 34" suits knowing I only got about three months wear out of them and they still look new. I have 6 suits that have hung unworn now for a few years, can't bring myself to get rid of them. Just in case.

All that money hanging there wasted

So the moral of this story is to either get suits made of elastic or don't bother to lose weight.

If they are reasonable quality suits there may well be enough cloth in them to have them let out 2".

[Thankyou4calling]

I’ve had quite a few jackets altered.

Each cost about £30.

I just wanted a more fitted look really and took them to a local dry cleaners who do alterations on site.

Stood in the shop while the guy pinned the jacket at the back and when it was where I wanted I said “Now”

They look good and I feel comfortable in them.

Took 3 or 4 days but I guess it depends on there workload.

[Monkeylegend]

So said:

If they are reasonable quality suits there may well be enough cloth in them to have them let out 2".

I have never bothered to look to be honest.

I wore a suit and tie for work all my working life and vowed never to wear one again when I retired. I do put the 38" waste trousers on occasionally as a reminder to maintain my current weight

The other issue now is fashion and mine definitely do not fit the current criteria. I would need to take about 6 inches out of the leg width and about 4 inches off the length

[So]

Monkeylegend said:

So said:

If they are reasonable quality suits there may well be enough cloth in them to have them let out 2".

I have never bothered to look to be honest.

I wore a suit and tie for work all my working life and vowed never to wear one again when I retired. I do put the 38" waste trousers on occasionally as a reminder to maintain my current weight

The other issue now is fashion and mine definitely do not fit the current criteria. I would need to take about 6 inches out of the leg width and about 4 inches off the length

If it's decent cloth it may be worth doing. A full leg taper and shortening is about £30.