The Suit Trap

StrawMouse
StrawMouse Posts: 30 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, for blokes, this is the suit trap:

It's as if suits are designed to make a belly look large if the suit isn't big enough - the jacket flapping about, the pale shirt bulging over dark trousers, and in case anyone missed it, a tie to show off the curve.

YET if you really believe you're going to lose weight, there's no point in splashing out for a larger one which might make you look better!

Is there a way out?

Replies

  • farway
    farway Posts: 1,259 Member
    Wear a boiler suit :wink:

    Love the Eagle "Dan Dare" pics BTW, takes me back 60 years
  • abyt42
    abyt42 Posts: 1,358 Member
    Also: check out Salvation Arm/good will/thrift stores. Sports coats and slacks are relatively inexpensive, and help keep the professional image.
  • Roboartist
    Roboartist Posts: 99
    If you do invest in a suit to fit you at a larger size pick one out that doesn't have a stripe or pattern to it so that you can have it professionally tailored when you get smaller. If you go to a good suit shop the tailor there might be available to help guide your choices.
  • martintanz
    martintanz Posts: 280
    Always a dilemma. Judging from appearances, lots of men in my city are holding off on buying new larger suits in the hope thatl they drop that extra 30 to 50 lbs. Either that or they bought their suits too small to begin with.

    The problem with off the rack and overweight is, nothing really looks quite right. 48, 50 or 52 suits are mostly cut with an NFL lineman in mind, not an average guy who should be a 42 or 44, but gained 30, 40, or even 60 lbs. Bespoke is great, but I cannot bear the thought of shelling out thousands of dollars for a bespoke fat suit.
  • martintanz
    martintanz Posts: 280
    If you do invest in a suit to fit you at a larger size pick one out that doesn't have a stripe or pattern to it so that you can have it professionally tailored when you get smaller. If you go to a good suit shop the tailor there might be available to help guide your choices.

    I have been there. Generally, there is only so much a tailor can do with big weight loss. I know from my last weight loss, each 30 lbs or so is a suit size. OP is looking to lose almost 60 lbs. My advice is not to invest too much just yet. When you get to your midpoint, go try on suits and see where you are. If you are between sizes, wait a bit longer.
  • danwood2
    danwood2 Posts: 291 Member
    Yeah, I'm swimming in all of my "professional attire" as I dropped 52 pounds and went from a 46 Regular to a 40 Regular (just had to get a tux for a wedding). I seriously need to go shopping but am trying to hold out!!
  • StrawMouse
    StrawMouse Posts: 30 Member
    This has all been brilliant - thank you!

    I'm self-employed, so wear a suit rarely - it really was looking either expensive or uncomfortable for occasional meetings.

    I think my strategy shall be to see if there's one in charity shop for now. An easily adjustable suit is a terrific idea - I normally buy off the peg, but even then, they usually offer a service to have the trousers taken up - more investigation will help I'm sure.

    And, alas, it is absolutely true that the plan is to lose enough weight for an altered suit to apply for a while...
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    I brought my last suit when I was a 36 inch waist. I'm now 30'. Hoping I don't need a suit soon! Luckily, in my profession (a lab-based scientist) I never need one for work!
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    One place that I've bough a couple of suits from includes alterations after the sale, if you put on a few pounds they can let it out (within limits) and if you lose weight they'll take it in (but you pay for it in the price of the suit)

    As much as I hate sending my hard earned $$ offshore my last couple of suits have been custom made by one of the Hong Kong traveling tailor outfits. Nicely tailored suit for about half of retail.
  • martintanz
    martintanz Posts: 280
    Yeah, I'm swimming in all of my "professional attire" as I dropped 52 pounds and went from a 46 Regular to a 40 Regular (just had to get a tux for a wedding). I seriously need to go shopping but am trying to hold out!!

    You are pretty close to your goal weight. If you need a new suit, might as well get one now. A few lbs shouldn't be a problem either way. It is a problem to have a tailor alter a suit after you lose 50 lbs or more (if it can be done at all, the labor involved in recutting pants and jacket often is more than the cost of a new suit), and impossible to alter a suit up when you gain that much. (not enough material) Trust me, I have looked into it both ways.

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