The Vintage Tailoring Thread

[herringbonekid]

i agree with Claudio.
suits and jackets in the late 50s - early 60s period aren't difficult to find, so far better to concentrate on finding an original than trying to recut a jacket into something it wasn't meant to be.
altering lapels is a specialist job, and could easily go wrong if you're not experienced.

 

[Giftmacher]

Does anyone have experience with the reduction of very large suits?

 

[Qirrel]

You will need to pick it apart and recut it.

 

[Giftmacher]

It is a quite nice suit, do you think it's worth it?
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn313/Giftmacher/IMG_6755_zpsab8b6384.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn313/Giftmacher/IMG_6756_zpsa61aaa26.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn313/Giftmacher/IMG_6757_zps0acf8eab.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn313/Giftmacher/IMG_6758_zps8b83d7c9.jpg

 

[Two Types]

It seems like a lot of work for a plain black suit. You should be able to find a plain black suit in most sizes. How big is it?

 

[Giftmacher]

Jacket: chest 106 cm, 59 cm sleeve, back length 76 cm
pants: 109 cm leg length, waist 110 cm

 

[Rudie]

If it is truly a large size it shouldn't be recut. Large sizes are scarce while black suits in 38R or 40R can be found quite easily.

 

[Nick D]

It is a quite nice suit, do you think it's worth it?

It does look nice but no, I don't think it's worth it. If it doesn't fit, sell it and use the proceeds to buy a suit that's more your size, or close enough that it can be easily altered and not completely rebuilt (which may not be satisfactory, anyway.)

 

[Rudie]

Agreed. Spare yourself the hassle and make someone else happy.

 

[Fastuni]

Agreed. Sell this big beauty and buy one that fits you.

What size do you need Giftmacher?

 

[Two Types]

IS that correct? the chest is smaller than the waist.

With the large waist measurement, I'd try to find someone who wants a big vintage suit, rather than try to make this one fit you.

 

[Giftmacher]

I would say it's correct. I'll answer the rest of questions when I come home. If someone's interested in it, it's for sale now. On the request I'll send additional photos.

 

[Giftmacher]

Agreed. Sell this big beauty and buy one that fits you.

What size do you need Giftmacher?

Trousers:
waist 90cm
length 99cm
Jacket:
length 74cm
sleeve 64cm
chest 90cm

 

[Fastuni]

I'm sure I'll find something for you! I'll write you tomorrow.

 

[Giftmacher]

Thank you very much!

 

[GHT]

I always chuckle a little when I see a lounger posting something about their wife who sews her own dresses wanting to try her hand at a suit. God bless em, but i don't think they have any idea how complicated it is.

It's usually the husband, impressed by his wife's handywork, who thinks that making a suit could come within her skills remit. My wife has been making her own clothes since she was eight years old, she is the first to admit that she needs tailoring skills learned either at college, or as a tailor's apprentice, to master the construction of suits. She has, with guidance from a tailor, made a number of overcoats, but she has never been impressed with her results. Now that she has retired, she plans to acquire those longed for tailoring skills.

 

[cookie]

The Love Affair With Vintage Suiting

http://parisiangentleman.co.uk/2014/12/04/the-love-affair-with-vintage-suiting-vbc-fabric-academy/

 

[Metatron]

The fabrics in the article are nice,
But over and over again I see this comment, that vintage fabrics are uncomfortable, itchy and heavy. I don't follow? Sounds like propaganda to me.

 

[Nick D]

The fabrics in the article are nice,
But over and over again I see this comment, that vintage fabrics are uncomfortable, itchy and heavy. I don't follow? Sounds like propaganda to me.

Heavy, certainly, compared to the paper usually used in suits today. No idea where they get uncomfortable and itchy, though.

 

[Papperskatt]

Before I got my first real vintage suit I had read over and over again how heavy they apparently are. I was very worried that I wouldn't like it but when I tried it on for the first time, my only thought were something like: "how paper thin are modern suits if this is what's considered heavy?"