Menswear

[plummeting_sloth]

Matt; DM or @reply me on Twitter tomorrow with your decision.

To go waaay back to plummeting_sloth's pic, I think the style looks pretty good, but it's impossible to tell fit and colour matching with that photo and pose. If you could post a better one, I could cut you down much more easily...

When good camera is less blarg I will try to do that

[Dutch guy]

Avi, the best way to get a good tailored shirt would be to take one of the shirts that fits at breast height and have that tailored to fit better at the waist and hips. Like you said, taking IN a shirt is not hard. Making it bigger is (Unless you have EXACTLY the same material, from the same batch the shirt was made out of. Otherwise you'll end up with color differences that make it look weird)

That jacket does seem a little too small in the shoulders. (Notice in your pics how the jacket sleeves drop outside the shoulder seem?) It's also very certainly too small in the chest area. It's not bad in the waist it seems but it's hard to see as it gets pulled out of model at the chest.

The pants are very certainly too big. They just flabber around a bit and are way too long at the bottom.

I think it's going to be hard to find an OTR suit thats going to fit you, due to your "ample bosom". If you really want to get something like this, first find a tailor and have a talk with him about what can be altered and what can't be, so that you can find something that fits well where it can't be altered. Then the rest can be adjusted.

[Matt]

Does anyone know if the book "Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion" was wever released in paperback?

-m

[Aeralis]

So at work today, I came across a rather nice waistcoat. Rather inexpensive, too, so I was all over it. I tried it on when I got off, but it ended up being way too big. Rather disappointing, considering it was the last one we had. We also have a few single-button jackets that match it perfectly, but again, too big on me.

I'm gonna do some research on tailoring for it, but I was just curious what everyone else's experiences were in shopping for things of this nature. Is it difficult to find waistcoats that actually fit? Is tailoring a normal and expected step in the process, and would it be more worth it to just get sized and get a custom order? I'm not familiar with any kind of menswear shops around here that aren't big & tall shops, so I'm gonna have to do all the digging I can!

[Matt]

Theme of the thread: OTR will get you close, but if you want it to fit right, you'll need to have it tailored.

This applies to every item of clothing you own, barring, maybe, underwear.

-m

[Metcarfre]

I've seriously considered getting MTM underwear before; even before I got into #menswear (it was for hiking).

Waistcoats can fairly easily be taken in on the sides, at least a few inches. Length, stance, etc. are essentially unchangeable. Another situation of 'take it to your tailor'.

[plummeting_sloth]

Hey, speaking of waistcoats and bargain scrounging, have people here much success in finding waist coats that can even be tailored to fit at thrift shops and such? I realize every areas different, but are the something you've ever found in quantities there? I'm thinking of hunting myself, after the sad shape of my tweed.

[Metcarfre]

They aren't popular here, so usually they are only found as part of a 3-piece suit, which I avoid. So I can't help you.

[theDreamer]

The pants are very certainly too big. They just flabber around a bit and are way too long at the bottom.

I don't think Avistew was wearing any heels in the picture, and women's pants are made to be worn with them, like men's pants need shoes.

[Avistew]

Pants are always too long for me unless I get them from the petite section. I would have them hemmed. However I'm not sure if the comment was that they're also too wide? Because they felt okay, they weren't falling or anything.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Matt, I'm assuming you didn't mean shoes, or can shoes be tailored too?

[Matt]

I didn't mean shoes.

-m

edit: although shoes can be stretched slightly, and can be repaired/rebuilt by a cobbler.

[Metcarfre]

Not women's shoes, though, usually.

[theDreamer]

I can say avistew, that given my knowledge of women's pants, if they were the correct length for whatever shoes you would wear with them, I think the pants fit correctly.

[plummeting_sloth]

Well, I shall hunt anyway and if Baltimore holds a treasure trove, I shall recommend it to one and all.

[Metcarfre]

I got my shoes but none were in Matt's size. Dang.

Still flop-sweating from making such a large purchase.

[Avistew]

Sorry Matt

[Metcarfre]

They had 12, 13, 14, 15 all in D.

There were some other AEs but they were other styles with rubber soles. Lower quality.

[Matt]

CRUSHED.

-m

[Dutch guy]

To me they also look a little too wide in the legs. Might just be me though .

[Avistew]

To me they also look a little too wide in the legs. Might just be me though .

They fit on my hips. Then yes, they're loose. But I've never had pants fit all the way down.

What I learned today/yesterday: my breasts are too low and/or big, my butt/hips/thighs are too big
For regular clothes, I mean. I'm hot as shit.

Maybe I should consider making my own clothes and calling it a day. Sadly the craft store in town doesn't sell fabric (what's up with that?)

[JustAName]

There's a Discount Fabrics in Berkeley, but I'm sure you could find something closer.

[Metcarfre]

So, do I post pics of my new shoes and make Matt terribly jealous, or leave it be?

[Matt]

DIAF.

-m

[Matt]

I'm kidding. post away.

-m

[Metcarfre]

-n?