So, yesterday I went to buy a suit.......

[jazzkat]

and ended up with nothing.

I really wanted to get a couple of suits, I'm fed up of wearing separate jackets/blazers and trousers.
I found some great fitting jackets and waistcoats but the trousers......it's always the trousers.

I think the fashion for skinny (shudder) everything means that while I can get the trousers on, I can't sit down or the trousers are so tight around the thighs/seat that I know they are going to be in bad shape pretty quickly.
I'm an average size being 40R jacket and 34/31 in trousers but I could find nothing at all. Even M&S, where I can usually find a pair of trousers to give me some room, had nothing that fit. It's not as if I've got enormous thighs!
I tried 36 trousers, they gave just enough room and while I would be happy with the fit while seated, they looked like I was wearing a nappy!
Is it possible to have a tailor make the 36's look better?
I'm even thinking of going bespoke, not that I can justify spending that sort of cash.

I did do a search but most of the previous threads were about trousers on their own rather than as part of a suit.
Do any of you suit wearers have any advice or recommendations?

 

[vernon]

 

[pauldavid]

DFS usually have a deal on!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Get your suit from an independent menswear shop and they'll be able to alter it for you, local one to me will do the alterations at no extra cost and you'll get a better quality whistle than chain store stuff.

As you're a jazzer you'll probably want a classic mid-1920s jazz suit or a 30s zoot!

 

[Saluki]

Did you try Austin Reed? Hubster is an awkward size and they sorted him right out. Really lovely quality suit - that he rarely wears - but it looks great.

 

[PaulSB]

I don't wear suits often but did have to get one from M&S recently. I went to the out of town Warrington store which is huge, by far the biggest local store, where there is a "suit specialist" who was very helpful in getting me the right combination of jacket length (short) and trouser cut and size (32/29). Free alteration was available.

As I'm 61 I don't look at the cutting edge fashion trousers but do feel the suit was far from old and doddery!! Perhaps you could try one of the large stores and ask if the service is available.

 

[Dayvo]

Have a long weekend to Bangkok. See the sights and sounds, eat well and have half a dozen suits made for you at about £80 a go.

 

[jazzkat]

Get your suit from an independent menswear shop and they'll be able to alter it for you, local one to me will do the alterations at no extra cost and you'll get a better quality whistle than chain store stuff.

As you're a jazzer you'll probably want a classic mid-1920s jazz suit or a 30s zoot!

Well, large lapels are certainly back in fashion, ha ha. A navy chalkstripe zoot suit, hell yeah!

Did you try Austin Reed? Hubster is an awkward size and they sorted him right out. Really lovely quality suit - that he rarely wears - but it looks great.

I did call into Austin Reed, they had an everything must go/closing down sale and they didn't have anything that I liked the look of. Added to the fact that it was late in the day and I was slipping into a clothing based depression!

I don't wear suits often but did have to get one from M&S recently. I went to the out of town Warrington store which is huge, by far the biggest local store, where there is a "suit specialist" who was very helpful in getting me the right combination of jacket length (short) and trouser cut and size (32/29). Free alteration was available.

As I'm 61 I don't look at the cutting edge fashion trousers but do feel the suit was far from old and doddery!! Perhaps you could try one of the large stores and ask if the service is available.

My wife suggested an out of town type place. I'll check the calender for a free weekend and have another go.
I think part of the problem is that I want a classic style suit, not a fashion/throw-it away-tomorrow suit. I'm just so out of fashion

 

[jazzkat]

Have a long weekend to Bangkok. See the sights and sounds, eat well and have half a dozen suits made for you at about £80 a go.

Yes, I believe Hong Kong is good also.

 

[gavroche]

Try Matalan, I find them ok.

 

[Mrs M]

and ended up with nothing.

I really wanted to get a couple of suits, I'm fed up of wearing separate jackets/blazers and trousers.
I found some great fitting jackets and waistcoats but the trousers......it's always the trousers.

I think the fashion for skinny (shudder) everything means that while I can get the trousers on, I can't sit down or the trousers are so tight around the thighs/seat that I know they are going to be in bad shape pretty quickly.
I'm an average size being 40R jacket and 34/31 in trousers but I could find nothing at all. Even M&S, where I can usually find a pair of trousers to give me some room, had nothing that fit. It's not as if I've got enormous thighs!
I tried 36 trousers, they gave just enough room and while I would be happy with the fit while seated, they looked like I was wearing a nappy!
Is it possible to have a tailor make the 36's look better?
I'm even thinking of going bespoke, not that I can justify spending that sort of cash.

I did do a search but most of the previous threads were about trousers on their own rather than as part of a suit.
Do any of you suit wearers have any advice or recommendations?

Do you have a "Slaters Menswear" handy to you?
Mr M gets all his suits and trousers there, (he's only 5'2" with short inseam).
Slaters do all adjustments free .
He recently bought some smart long sleeved shirts there, they don't usually adjust shirts but they did shorten the arms for him. They weren't cheap but best shirts he's had.

 

[PaulSB]

jazzkat just thought a bit more about this. I'm 61, short, not overweight and sadly balding - badly fitting suits make me look old and dumpy very easily. I don't work for M&S........ but immediately felt very comfortable in the M&S Collection range http://www.marksandspencer.com/grey-tailored-fit-suit/p/ds66f59fc48f070074fb8ef0bf59bd094c?mfPartNumber=T152016&associationType=Complete the look with&carousel=Association_PIM

I got a darker grey than this one. The thing I liked was as tailored fit it doesn't make me look dumpy and by buying 34/29 trousers (usually 32/29) I got the extra room needed around the thighs and hips without the trousers looking really baggy. The larger stores tend to stock the whole range and can then mix and match trousers and jackets to get the right fit for you. The thing which really took my eye about these suits is the colourful and detailed jacket lining. I'm not a style icon but this definetley helps lift my own self-image when i'm wearing the suit and so makes me feel confident in it.

 

[jazzkat]

jazzkat just thought a bit more about this. I'm 61, short, not overweight and sadly balding - badly fitting suits make me look old and dumpy very easily. I don't work for M&S........ but immediately felt very comfortable in the M&S Collection range http://www.marksandspencer.com/grey-tailored-fit-suit/p/ds66f59fc48f070074fb8ef0bf59bd094c?mfPartNumber=T152016&associationType=Complete the look with&carousel=Association_PIM

I got a darker grey than this one. The thing I liked was as tailored fit it doesn't make me look dumpy and by buying 34/29 trousers (usually 32/29) I got the extra room needed around the thighs and hips without the trousers looking really baggy. The larger stores tend to stock the whole range and can then mix and match trousers and jackets to get the right fit for you. The thing which really took my eye about these suits is the colourful and detailed jacket lining. I'm not a style icon but this definetley helps lift my own self-image when i'm wearing the suit and so makes me feel confident in it.

Hi Paul, thanks for the input. I think I tried that suit, it certainly looked good but the jacket didn't fit well on the shoulders. You are quite right about how a good fitting suit makes you walk a bit taller.

There's just so much that can go wrong with fitting a suit. I know it can all be tailored to a point but it's knowing how much a tailor can do is the difficult bit and an area I have less experience in.

I found three superb suits, one in Debenhams and two in House of Fraser that were just perfect (and at fantastic prices too) apart from the fit of the trousers.
I probably should have bought them and hoped that a tailor could sort the trousers.

 

[postman]

With much regret i have to say.This suit could be available sometime today.

 

[Over The Hill]

I would say stick with the Jacket and trousers combo.

I find that I can make one jacket last about as long as three pairs or trousers at least. When I worked in a office I only wore the jacket part occasionally.
Depends if you wear the jacket much.

Or get a suit with a couple of extra trousers (but that assumes your size will remain the same).

I find M&S really bad in the last 4 years so they are not the benchmark they were.
Perhaps find an old style outfitters shop. Most do mix and match off the peg.