Getting clothes "adjusted"?
Discussion
I have a rather nice black cashmere double breasted overcoat, but since I bought it I have lot a bit of weight (about 6 stone), I would like it adjusted so it will fit me again as it seems a shame to give it to the charity shop, and buy another, just to get something more fitted. So is it worth getting it adjusted?
So how much (approximately) will it cost?
Anyone done this in the past?
I am not looking for a Saville row job on this, I would imagine this would be easy money for a seamstress or tailor, as I would assume you would just need to draw in the main seem under the arm? rather than re-stitch the whole thing.
It will need bringing in a lot around the waist...
So how much (approximately) will it cost?
Anyone done this in the past?
I am not looking for a Saville row job on this, I would imagine this would be easy money for a seamstress or tailor, as I would assume you would just need to draw in the main seem under the arm? rather than re-stitch the whole thing.
It will need bringing in a lot around the waist...
You can have it done but it's always a bit of a compromise. It's one thing bringing in the waist but on a bigger size everything will be bigger, wider shoulders, arms etc and it can end up a bit of a mess. You either do it all, which ends up the cost of a new one or you accept that you might look like an extra from Dynasty. 
technodup said:
You can have it done but it's always a bit of a compromise. It's one thing bringing in the waist but on a bigger size everything will be bigger, wider shoulders, arms etc and it can end up a bit of a mess. You either do it all, which ends up the cost of a new one or you accept that you might look like an extra from Dynasty.
The appreciate there will be a little of a compromise, but the reason I think it won't be a big job is that it is still me that is wearing it; my shoulders are still almost as wide as they were my arms still big and long, my chest still broad, so across the shoulder line it is approximately correct.What does need changing is the waist, The one thing that no-one in my family has ever needed is shoulder pads...
I'm no expert but I'd guess you'll have lost weight everywhere, it's just most noticeable at the waist. I had it done, and the result was a more fitted waist but still baggy round the chest, kind of like a drape cut. It's definitely not a simple case of making the waist x inches smaller and the rest just fits. I could have gone further but it becomes better to just buy new.
matt666 said:
Yes, 6 stone is a lot (well done)
Cheers, but it was over a longer time frame, but I bought the coat at my largest hence why the comparison was there, and this is as light as I have been since my early teens, so my lockdown loss is only about 10Kg, so not impressive (it wasn't even intended; as I am WFH I just used my 2 hrs a day "old normal" commute time to get fitter, the weight loss wasn't intentional it just happened ).technodup said:
I'm no expert but I'd guess you'll have lost weight everywhere, it's just most noticeable at the waist. I had it done, and the result was a more fitted waist but still baggy round the chest, kind of like a drape cut. It's definitely not a simple case of making the waist x inches smaller and the rest just fits. I could have gone further but it becomes better to just buy new.
OK, point taken. It is odd, I stopped doing heavy weights. My neck went from 18.5" to 17", my waist went from 38" to 32". My larger clothes were really handy for painting the house . Unfortunately, an overcoat is not handy when painting.So the consensus is:
"Hey bear, give the £500 overcoat to the local Oxfam (so there will be a very large and well dressed student out there somewhere.
), and buy your self another overcoat, if you still want one".Having had a few suits adjusted along the way, although for the opposite reason, you would be better off getting a coat that fits your current size and having that altered to fit you exactly rather than trying to get some one to take apart and remake your current coat. I could see doing that if the coat had sentimental value - there's a jacket of my grandfathers that I really really wish I had hung on to - but this doesn't sound like that.
It's worth asking a local seamstress what they could suggest. They may be able to pin it up quickly to give an idea. I had a zip replaced on something fairly unusual and a local alterations shop did it like it had just come out from the factory, I was amazed.
It should be cheap. The second-hand market for quality clothes is pretty much non-existant so you have nothing to lose.
It should be cheap. The second-hand market for quality clothes is pretty much non-existant so you have nothing to lose.
Cheers again.
Collectingbrass said:
but this doesn't sound like that.
There is slight sentimental value, but that is being rapidly silenced as I realise I am overthinking (again), I am a bit of a hoarder by nature and need to remind myself occasionally (about once a week, usually bin night) I am being stupid and I should get rid of almost everything I own.Gareth79 said:
It's worth asking a local seamstress what they could suggest. They may be able to pin it up quickly to give an idea. I had a zip replaced on something fairly unusual and a local alterations shop did it like it had just come out from the factory, I was amazed.
It should be cheap. The second-hand market for quality clothes is pretty much non-existent so you have nothing to lose.
I think there is one in a local market, so I might ask them, what they think and how much they want... if they say £100 it will be a NO, as I have never used it that much due to the amount of rain we get. I am also trying to declutter the house, hence why the coat seen daylight again in the first place.It should be cheap. The second-hand market for quality clothes is pretty much non-existent so you have nothing to lose.
I was given a lovely cashmere coat that was my uncle’s. Although we were the same width shoulder wise he was a lot taller and a lot wider. When I looked into having it altered I was told pretty much the same as above that it would need to be taken apart and remade. The waist chest arms and even arm holes would need taking in. Then when you draw it all in the pockets end up being somewhere odd so they need redoing. I ended up giving it charity in the end after having kept onto it for about 10 years.
On the flip side I was given an old Barbour by my dad. Same sort of size as me but this was one of the old boxy type ones so I had it taken in a little on the biceps. As it was about an inch off the biceps and forearms and about an inch off the chest it wasn’t too much of a task for the tailor. Cost me £40 from memory.
On the flip side I was given an old Barbour by my dad. Same sort of size as me but this was one of the old boxy type ones so I had it taken in a little on the biceps. As it was about an inch off the biceps and forearms and about an inch off the chest it wasn’t too much of a task for the tailor. Cost me £40 from memory.
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