How to Achieve the Perfect Fit with Your Jacket
A well-fitting jacket can completely transform an outfit. It adds structure, enhances posture, and creates a flattering silhouette. Whether you’re throwing it over a casual t-shirt and jeans or pairing it with something more formal, the right jacket can elevate your look. However, achieving the perfect fit with off-the-rack jackets can be a challenge, as most are designed based on average body measurements. While a fully tailored wardrobe may not be realistic for everyone, you can still make your store-bought jacket fit like a dream with a little help from tailoring.
Why a Well-Fitted Jacket Makes a Difference
A jacket that fits properly can make your outfit look more polished and expensive. On the other hand, a jacket that doesn’t fit well can have the opposite effect—drawing attention to poor posture and making the entire look feel off. Even a high-end jacket will appear unflattering if it doesn’t fit properly. When your jacket fits right, you’ll feel confident and likely get more compliments.
How to Choose the Right Fit
Finding the perfect jacket off the shelf can be tricky, as it’s rare to find one that fits perfectly in every area. Luckily, tailoring can address many fit issues, but it’s important to understand the common alterations and the ones that will make the most impact without breaking the bank. While you may have a feeling that something’s off with a jacket, pinpointing the problem can be difficult. Here are some key areas to focus on to ensure a great fit:
Shoulders: The shoulders should align neatly with your natural shoulders. If they’re too wide, you may end up with excess material and awkward puckering. A jacket with overly wide shoulders will make you appear bulky and could cause the material to bunch up between the neck and shoulder pads. If the shoulders are too narrow, it will feel tight across your upper back, and you may struggle to move your arms freely. Altering the shoulder width is possible but can be complex, so it’s important to evaluate whether the cost is worth it.
Back and Neck: The collar of the jacket should sit comfortably against your shirt collar or the base of your neck if you’re wearing a more casual top. If it gaps, the jacket is too big. If it presses against your neck and feels uncomfortable, the fit is wrong. Fixing a collar that doesn’t sit right requires significant work, so carefully consider whether it’s worth altering.
Waist: Jackets that fit well on the shoulders can sometimes be too tight around the waist. If you have this problem, you might find yourself leaving the buttons undone, which is perfectly fine. However, if you want to button up your jacket, it’s relatively easy to have the waist let out by adjusting the side seams. On the other hand, if the jacket is too loose or bulky around the waist, taking it in can help define your shape. For those with a short waist, the jacket may fall below your natural waistline, causing excess fabric to gape at the chest and upper back when buttoned. This issue can often be fixed by adding a seam at your natural waist or, if needed, shortening the jacket, though the latter can be a complex and costly alteration.
Arms: One of the most common adjustments made to off-the-rack jackets is the sleeve length. Jackets often come with sleeves that are too long, but shortening them is typically a simple fix. However, if your jacket has functioning buttonholes (surgeon cuffs), shortening the sleeves requires more time and skill. If you need to lengthen the sleeves, this is also usually possible with plain cuffs, as there is often enough fabric for a small adjustment. For sleeves that are too wide, the seams can be brought in to reduce the circumference. If the arms feel tight due to changes in your body shape, extra material can be added at the seam, though it may be challenging to find a perfect match for the fabric.
Tailoring Can Transform Anything
As we’ve discussed, there are plenty of alterations that can help you achieve a perfect fit. Whether it’s adjusting the fit of a jacket that’s a little off or restoring a vintage piece that no longer fits well, tailoring can make it look and feel fabulous again. If you have a special jacket, whether it’s an investment piece or something with sentimental value, don’t hesitate to take it to a professional. There’s almost nothing that tailoring can’t fix to ensure your jacket fits perfectly.
