To tailor or not to tailor? When cost becomes the question

[Guttersnipe]

Alas the Surgeon's cuffs pretty much fix the sleeve where they're at...

...if you were willing to go for that comically, yet cinematic, "just knocked somebody out, and took thier tux to sneak into the party look," it might work...

44 is great! Easy to let down the sleeve-cuffs and leg-cuffs to make it a 44L. My actual size varies between 42L and 43L/44L. Let's talk ...

Never heard of Hite Beer, but always love a drink ...

 

[Forgotten Man]

Let me toss in my two bits here,

Now, I'm all for slight alterations, however, if you look at some of the suits that were altered, (there was a 1927 Suit someone had that was massacred a few years ago I recall) they most often times come out wrong or will not be what you'd hoped. To reconstruct a suit coat is a huge undertaking. The work and time and construction that went into that coat is remarkable and the German's were notorious for details and fit. Only a German tailor of that era could make the proper adjustments to make it fit.

I fluctuate between weights now and again, seeing I have skinny and also fat clothes lol when I'm in my "skinny" shape, I'll still wear the fat clothes just tighten up the belt a little and enjoy it... and people think the coats still look fine. Then, I'll gain some and then fit into the bigger stuff and it still looks swell.

Maybe it's just me but, I believe there's a little too much focus on "perfection" and not so much focus on just enjoying one's clothes, I mean, everyone wants to look sharp, but let's not forget that these clothes are 70+ years old and that we can only do so much with them. If it fits a little baggy, wear it anyway, I'm sure it will still look fantastic! And how much of a chance do you really have to wear a tux from the 30s? I know I don't, all my formals are hanging up in moth balled closets. lol

Maybe when you need to wear it, you'd have put on an inch or so? Who knows the future... we have all been given busted crystal balls so, we can't really for tell the future.

My suggestion is to just enjoy it and not focus on "perfect" fit, enjoy a little room, it's not a bad thing.

 

[dakotanorth]

Suits fitting?

Hit the gym and get the chest to fit again.

I agree! Think about it- you'll be in good shape AND have a great tuxedo to top it off! You'll probably look and feel better too.

 

[Dr Doran]

when I'm in my "skinny" shape, I'll still wear the fat clothes just tighten up the belt a little and enjoy it... and people think the coats still look fine. Then, I'll gain some and then fit into the bigger stuff and it still looks swell.

Maybe it's just me but, I believe there's a little too much focus on "perfection" and not so much focus on just enjoying one's clothes, I mean, everyone wants to look sharp, but let's not forget that these clothes are 70+ years old and that we can only do so much with them. If it fits a little baggy, wear it anyway, I'm sure it will still look fantastic!

I have always agreed with this, but I don't know very many other people who do. My wife, for example, HATES loose suit-jackets on me, and would rather see me in a t-shirt than in a vintage suit jacket if the suit-jacket is not snug.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Actually that's the problem, I've been dropping inches, not gaining them. I'd seriously need steroids to fill the size disparity between me and the jacket with "gym" incheslol

I agree! Think about it- you'll be in good shape AND have a great tuxedo to top it off! You'll probably look and feel better too.

Ironically enough, my tailor new the tux was German without me telling him. He told me he knew it was German because he apprenticed with a German tailor (probably of that era, guessing from Mr. Ernesto's current age). So I'm not sure whether I'd apply this one to the "yea" or "nay" column.

To reconstruct a suit coat is a huge undertaking. The work and time and construction that went into that coat is remarkable and the German's were notorious for details and fit. Only a German tailor of that era could make the proper adjustments to make it fit.

 

[mike]

I agree! Think about it- you'll be in good shape AND have a great tuxedo to top it off! You'll probably look and feel better too.

lol Hey, he could hit the taco truck regularly and have it fit better too!

How's about some images of this monkey suit to stoke the philosophical fire some more!

 

[Dr Doran]

Now, a real solution.

After sleeping on this last night, I came upon the true solution. See, unlike the rest of you, I actually know Guttersnipe personally, and I know he is a slender fellow. So exercise won't make the suit fit better.

The answer (drumroll please): a fatsuit under the tuxedo. Eddie Murphy Style, but it will be cheaper than 10,000 dollars, which is how much a fatsuit costs, because it will only be a few inches of "fat" all over.

I am extremely pleased with my solution to this difficult problem and I expect applause.

Images -- yes please.

 

[Guttersnipe]

YES!!!!

lol a fat suit kinda fits with the whole 1930's fat-cat in a tuxedo vibe - after all, the tux was custom made in 1932, arguably the worst year of the Great Depression!

After sleeping on this last night, I came upon the true solution. See, unlike the rest of you, I actually know Guttersnipe personally, and I know he is a slender fellow. So exercise won't make the suit fit better.

The answer (drumroll please): a fatsuit under the tuxedo. Eddie Murphy Style, but it will be cheaper than 10,000 dollars, which is how much a fatsuit costs, because it will only be a few inches of "fat" all over.

I am extremely pleased with my solution to this difficult problem and I expect applause.

Images -- yes please.

 

[Forgotten Man]

after all, the tux was custom made in 1932, arguably the worst year of the Great Depression!

Yeah, and ESPECIALLY for Germany!

 

[reetpleat]

Excellent question. I see no problem with alterations, but I fear that your size is just too small. Cutting down a size or two is one thing, but may be too much to really work well. Maybe two. is the body length, and the sleeves if you pull them into your armpit okay. if so, i think it would work.

If it were a suit, I might feel different. One the one hand, tuxedos are not hard to find for cheap. But one like this you will never see again. And, you are unlikely to et much for this one anyway.

then, there is the cost. Do you have money laying around? Would you pay that price for this tuxedo? Would you pay this price plus $150 bucks which you could probably sell it for, maybe more?

Do you expect to wear it much? Is $500 bucks worth it for a great tuxedo you rarely wear. Of, if you wear it a a lot, then maybe it is not so bad a cost.

I say, don't worry about the ethics of it. Treat it as a practical endeavor. This is not going to go to a museum. It did not belong to Teddy Roosevelt.

 

[Guttersnipe]

reetpleat, you have a grasp on my dilemma exactly.

Questions:
1) can it be done. 2) is it cost effective. 3) is a comparable item obtainable.

Answers (or my thinking thus far):
1) the tailor says yes, he can take the pants waist/seat in about 3" and raise the cuffs up 1 1/2". As for the jacket. He feels taking the chest and waist in by 3" is not a problem, although to do it right, he has to do a fair amount of work. Likewise, taking the sleeves up and inch or so presents not to much problem since the shortening won't interfere with surgeon's cuffs. Will I be happy with the results? I don't know. I've had a similar, though less extensive, re-do done before, and it turned out peachy! But I'm really not that knowledgeable about tailoring

2) The tailoring is pricey yes, but let's put it this way. I bought the tux plus a DB 3 piece for (much) less than what folks routinely spent on fedora. The amount of money I have in thus far is, limited. I wear a tux twice a year during the holiday season.

3) From what folks are saying, and again, formal wear - or 30's garments for that matter - aren't really my area of expertise, but I think the answer is no, a comparable tux isn't going to be readily available (although if I find one, it'll be rather affordable).

Obviously, I have to make the ultimate decision about how to spend my money, but what do you think about #1 and #3?

Excellent question. I see no problem with alterations, but I fear that your size is just too small. Cutting down a size or two is one thing, but may be too much to really work well. Maybe two. is the body length, and the sleeves if you pull them into your armpit okay. if so, i think it would work.

If it were a suit, I might feel different. One the one hand, tuxedos are not hard to find for cheap. But one like this you will never see again. And, you are unlikely to et much for this one anyway.

then, there is the cost. Do you have money laying around? Would you pay that price for this tuxedo? Would you pay this price plus $150 bucks which you could probably sell it for, maybe more?

Do you expect to wear it much? Is $500 bucks worth it for a great tuxedo you rarely wear. Of, if you wear it a a lot, then maybe it is not so bad a cost.

I say, don't worry about the ethics of it. Treat it as a practical endeavor. This is not going to go to a museum. It did not belong to Teddy Roosevelt.

 

[mike]

What size are you/the suit?

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Actually, he said he didn't want open up the back because for that exact reason. He thinks he can do it by taking it in from the side seams and loosing inches where the arms meet the body, if that makes sense.

When someone only THINKS it will work on something this major...my opinion...don't. You stand a really good chance of something that's an incredible fine, full of old-world craftsmanship the like of which is a long-gone art being ruined.

 

[HatRak]

Cutting a suit down to size and having it fit impeccably can be done. Cutting a suit down to size and having it become a disastrous mess also can be done, depends on the skill of the cutter and the limitations of the original.

Back in the mid '70s I bought a killer gray flannel suit from a local upscale mens haberdasher who's store caught fire. All of the contents were smoky, but otherwise undamaged. I paid something like $30.00 for a then $300.00 suit. I wore a size 38, it was a 42. My tailor took it apart, recut it, and turned out the best fitting suit I've ever owned. But, she was a retired Tel Aviv-trained cutter for YSL couture during the '60s and early '70s. If you are confident that your tailor is good enough, have a go at it. If not, sell it. What's the point of having a tux around that you'll never wear? You're not a museum are you? Is your goal in life to collect and archive old clothes or to incorporate elegant attire into your life? For me, if I can't/won't wear it, it's gone.

 

[Guttersnipe]

My chest measures at 41" inches and tapers down to 37" at the waist of the jacket and pants. I generally wear a 42 regular (although, I find with modern garments 40R tends to fit more to my liking).

The tuxedo is kinda an odd duck. The fellow who originally owned it had a frame very close to mine, except with a rather prodigious belly. The chest of the jacket fits like a 42/43 regular but the waist of the jacket and pants fit like something bigger. The waistband of the trousers measure about 41" and the midsection of the jacket measure about 41-42"

What size are you/the suit?

 

[filfoster]

Fatsuit

After sleeping on this last night, I came upon the true solution. See, unlike the rest of you, I actually know Guttersnipe personally, and I know he is a slender fellow. So exercise won't make the suit fit better.

The answer (drumroll please): a fatsuit under the tuxedo. Eddie Murphy Style, but it will be cheaper than 10,000 dollars, which is how much a fatsuit costs, because it will only be a few inches of "fat" all over.

I am extremely pleased with my solution to this difficult problem and I expect applause.

Images -- yes please.

And...he could wear it underneath his Adam West 1966 Batman suit. Please don't report this on the 66 Batman Board where I post under the same name. (in Jim Gaffogan falsetto: "Same name? Why would he do that? No imagination?"- -Yes, at my age I can't remember a whole bunch of loopy aliases).