MEN'S JACKETS & COATS SIZE GUIDE
| Size | To fit Chest Size |
|---|
| Inches | CM |
|---|
| XL | 42-44 | 106-111 |
| XXL | 44-46 | 111-116 |
| XXXL | 46-48 | 116-121 |
For Overcoats, you can go with Navy, Camel (tan), Black or Dark Gray. If this is your first Overcoat, go with Dark Gray or Black. If it's your second, get a Camel Overcoat to inject some color into your wardrobe, as it's still a neutral color that will go with the rest of the Men's Wardrobe Essentials.
Should you buy a coat a size up or down if you are between sizes? Definately, buy the coat slightly larger. Not only will it keep you warmer because of the air pockets on the inside, but it will also allow you to wear layers when the weather gets really cold.
Overcoats are designed to be an outer garment and to be worn in the colder months. Many people feel it's an additional item to a suit, but it has so much more potential. Smart: The overcoat lends itself to smarten your outfit up without needing a suit jacket, this gives your outfit a stronger and boxier silhouette.
An overcoat or a topcoat. First, the difference: An overcoat is a long, heavier coat that is worn on top of something else to protect the wearer from the weather. A topcoat is a lightweight overcoat (like a trench coat) and is usually a little shorter, ending at or above the knee.
A
jacket that is too tight may be
made bigger by letting out some of the fabric from the seams. Most
jackets have double side seams allowing for alterations.
Making a Jacket Bigger
- A seam ripper.
- A tape measure.
- Chalk or marker.
- Matching thread.
- Sewing machine or needle.
- An iron box.
One thing to note about tailoring a winter jacket is that it is extremely difficult to alter the shoulder section of a well-constructed garment. If your winter coat has become too large or small in the shoulders, it may be time to trade it in for a new one.
The shoulders of the jacket should sit no further than ½ inch over your own shoulders. There should be a smooth line from collar to shoulder. Rumpling and dips in the line from collar to shoulder are a sign that the jacket is too big at the shoulders.
Pre-shrunk and Older Garments
- Boil water.
- Soak the garment in the hot water.
- Transfer the garment to the washing machine.
- Wash the garment in hot water using a very small amount of detergent.
- Place the garment in the dryer as soon as the washing cycle ends.
- Check the size of the garment.
Here's how to tell if your suit is too big: The shoulder – the shoulder of your suit jacket should conform to the shoulder on your body. That is to say the seam should rest where your arm meets your shoulder, without hanging over the edges like a linebacker's padding.
How do I find out my jacket size? Measure your chest and hip width in either inch or centimeters. If you chest width in inch is between 34 and 36 inches, and your hip width between 39 and 40 centimeters, your perfect size is “L” (US) or a 40 (European Size).
The first rule of suit alterations is that taking away or reducing the amount of fabric is doable, but you can't make something bigger, at least not by much. 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 exact price depends on the item, the fix, and where you get it altered, but most alterations range from $15 to $75. On the low end, you'll find simple repairs like hemming a dress or pants and shortening sleeves. On the high end are more elaborate fixes, like adjusting the shoulders of a blouse or coat.
Generally, a tailor can't do much to make clothes bigger. Good pants usually have an inch or two in the waist to give, but most coat enlargements are impossible. Even if there's a bit of fabric available, it can change the shape of the coat in an undesirable way.
If you're aiming to wear an overcoat over a suit opt for the sleeves being slightly longer than your suit jackets and the length to be just above the knees, to slightly longer if you live somewhere really cold with snow.
Trench coats can be very very tricky to alter (aside from the lengths). Bear in mind that their are a lot of details and small pieces to be moved and that often is not done cleanly. Also, some jackets have finishes applied to the material post-construction to help with the water-resistance.
You can shorten a coat's length and sleeves at home with a sewing machine. If you have a sewing machine, you can make these alterations at home rather than spending money at a tailor.
Yes, but it depends. Like with suit jackets and sport coats, you should try to make sure your leather jacket fits you well across the shoulders and chest, and that the armholes are high enough. It's not that these parts can't be altered; it's that the alteration can be expensive and risky.
Bigger Isn't Always BetterA winter coat or any coat that is too big, won't insulate as efficiently as a coat that fits just right. All the open, empty space is like the water cooler hangout at the office, the cold air hangs out there and keeps your coat from being productive and efficiently keeping you warm.
Fit should be close enough but not compress the down with full range of motion in the arms shoulders and chest. Tight in the chest and shoulders, loose in the belly, and long in the arms.
A topcoat should be trim. It should reach to just above your knee, and it should be the same size as the suit you wear (not a size larger). You can be like this fellow and go for a dark single-breasted version (it never fails), or maybe you want something bolder.
A down jacket should not be too fitted or too loose. You should allow for adding layers underneath but ensure it's not too roomy as cold air could get in through the hem and arms.
