How much does it cost to get a blazer altered?
Taking In A Suit Jacket Or Vest
Depending on the type of alterations needed and the level of effort from the tailor, these jobs can range between $20 and $90. A Suit Jacket with multiple seams will cost more to alter than those with just two.
A suit jacket's length can be altered. However, it cannot be made longer – only shorter. It's a risky alteration because the spacing of the pockets and button holes cannot be changed and if a jacket is shortened too much, you run the risk of compromising the balance of the garment.
It is possible to alter the fit of a blazer that is too big in many different ways. If it is too big in the body, the side seams can be taken in, or if the sleeves are too long, they can be taken up. An experienced tailor can alter a too-large blazer to a great fit.
The rule of thumb is that you can go down two sizes at a maximum, but a suit jacket or blazer only one size too large is a safer option. The problem is always that jackets that are too large can also be too large in the shoulders, which is a more challenging thing to alter.
Yes, but you'll have to find a great tailor and pay him a lot. It's actually more work to make a jacket without a lining, since all of the seams are revealed and need to be clean finished. A lining is really used to clean up all the dirty work on the back-side of the sewing work.
If you've lost a little around the waist or simply have a jacket that's a little large around the middle then you can take it in or tailor it to fit you better. A good seamstress (we have one in store) can work on the material and jacket style to give you a great fit and breathe new life into your jacket.
Measured to not hang over your hands or rise up your arms, the sleeves should land somewhere between your wrist and your thumb. When buttoned, the lapels of your blazer should only be loose enough to fit a tightened fist between the fabric and your chest, and they should be snug to your chest.
Body. With the top button fastened (never the bottom button), the blazer should lightly hug your midsection, but not feel tight or constricting. It shouldn't be pulling at the button, creating an ugly “X”.
Style tip: A pair of structured trousers pair so well with an oversized blazer. Add a pair of heels or chunky boots for a street-style approved fit. Style tip: When wearing shoes with less of a heel, I like to pair my oversized blazer with jeans that have a higher hemline and a little more of a straighter structure.
With a classic style, the hem should hit at approximately the same height as the sleeve cuff or slightly higher, although this is relatively flexible for women's etiquette. Depending on the torso length, the blazer should end around two or three finger widths from the crotch-line.
Can Blazers be tailored shorter?
If you're getting a ready-made jacket that is too long and doesn't look good on you, you can get it shortened. Even though the procedure is fairly simple, it requires extensive craftsmanship to shorten perfectly from all sides.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Suit Tailored? If you are a new client to the tailor, then this process will take a bit longer since they will need to start from scratch. However, typically, you should expect a 2-to 4-week total from purchase to complete set. With smaller shops you can get it as fast as 2 days.
If the original suit had some margins (extra fabric provision), depending upon that one can add a little bit more loosening without disturbing the original structure and the construction. So its only half or three fourth of an inch max increase in size, which generally should be possible.
Always size up. It's much easier to make things smaller (via alterations) than to try and squeeze into a too small blazer.
It depends on how you like your clothes to fit. Generally I would suggest buying it in your regular size, since it's meant to be an oversized fit. But if your regular size feels too oversized for you, then I would suggest sizing down 1 or 2 sizes until it feels right to you.
It is fairly easy to change the length of your sleeves, but you will need some basic sewing skills and a sewing machine. You will need to measure to find the new length, mark your fabric, cut it at the desired length, and then hem the sleeves to finish them.
Suit Jacket:
Shorten/Lengthen Sleeves With Button Holes): $150. Adjusting Side Seams: $65. Letting Out or Taking In Back Seam: $40-$65. Shortening Jacket: $75-$120.
Conventional wisdom states that you always button your suit jacket. This is good advice: a buttoned suit jacket is more slimming than an unbuttoned one. What's more, it shows off the cut of the suit itself to the best possible effect. When in doubt, you should always fasten your suit jacket.
Although you should always button your blazer when standing and unbutton it when seated; for fit purposes, there should be a little bit of room — say three inches or so — between your body and the top button when you sit down.
Oversized. This season bigger really is better. Look for lightweight pieces that play up the shoulders and balance the oversized proportions out with a belt that cinches the waist.
How do you shrink an oversized blazer?
Run the washing machine on the hottest water setting and longest cycle time. You do not need to use detergent to shrink your jacket. Just run the washing machine with plain water. Polyester generally takes more exposure to heat to shrink, whereas cotton can shrink after just one wash cycle.
Essentially, oversized blazers are a year-round outfit staple, and will undoubtedly become the most versatile piece in your wardrobe.
As for the colors, for the best results, it's better to pair a lighter-colored blazer with a darker top and pants so as to visually slim the figure. This chromatic pairing, which can be applied to all kinds of jackets and coats, creates a vertical line that elongates your legs, slimming your whole figure.
Grey blazers are arguably the most versatile, which means there are plenty of ways to wear one. For example, for work, you could pair yours with a pair of slim-fit trousers in black, brown or navy. And, they can be layered over a formal or casual shirt, a jumper, or a T-shirt.
Your suit jacket should cover about 80% of your butt and crotch. Generally, the bottom edge of a jacket should end between the two knuckles on your thumb. This rule can be pushed a little bit when wearing a casual sport coat because they tend to be a little shorter.
Remove any buttons on the cuffs and put aside. Using the seam ripper, unpick the cuff seam. Ensure the cuffs are laid flat, then use tailor's chalk to mark how much to shorten the sleeves – above the original cuff fold line. Carefully cut off the excess sleeve length.
Your suit jacket/blazer sleeve should end right above the top of your wrist bone (or the hinge of your wrist). That said, for your suit jacket to appear as if it fits correctly, your dress shirt must also be the correct length. A properly fitted shirt sleeve should end at the base of your hand.
Cinching the sides, waist, chest, on the other hand, is not a major surgery (more on these alterations later). The general rule is that you can go down one size at most, but a suit jacket or blazer that is only one size too big is a safer bet.
Ideally, you should see about half an inch of linen from your shirt exposed, separating your hands and the jacket sleeve. If the jacket sleeves go beyond this length and cover up all of your shirt linen, it's probably too big.
Taking in a suit jacket, vest, or blazer is commonplace, and will often be under $100—sometimes as low as $20. Double-breasted jackets and jackets with three seams will cost more than “normal” two-piece jackets. Suit sleeves are adjusted from the shoulder, so expect to pay $20-$40.
Can a tailor change the size of a jacket?
The waist can be nipped, the length can be taken up (although even that is a big job that most tailors will discourage because it affects where the pockets sit), but the shoulders can't be changed without taking the whole thing apart, an exercise that might cost you more than your money-saving coat did.
A simple suit alteration: simple alterations include (but are not limited to) hemming sleeves, or taking in the sides. We ask one week turnaround time for this work to be completed.
The waist can be nipped, the length can be taken up (although even that is a big job that most tailors will discourage because it affects where the pockets sit), but the shoulders can't be changed without taking the whole thing apart, an exercise that might cost you more than your money-saving coat did.
Coats are somewhat complicated structurally. This item of clothing has a lining, padding, seams, stiffening and collar. However, an expert tailor will have no problem making the alterations you desire. Keep in mind that shortening the length of the coat, sleeves or collar is fairly simple.
Can it be fixed?: Yes, but shortening a jacket is deceptively easy. It requires extensive craftsmanship to shorten the length correctly on all sides. Shortening too much will also throw off the balance of your suit, and may mean altering the pockets, buttons and vents, increasing the costs.
The suit jacket is too long or short
And if you're still wearing jackets down to your fingertips, you need to correct that situation as well! Your suit jacket should cover about 80% of your butt and crotch. Generally, the bottom edge of a jacket should end between the two knuckles on your thumb.
Handshake Test
If the suit raises up as you raise your arms, then your armholes are too low. The area around your armpit should snug but not too tight. There should also be enough room for you to wear a dress shirt without it constricting your arms.