Buying a Blazer - Sizes

snorepez

For blazer jackets, what size should I get? My chest measurement is a 38" and I'm 6'0" tall. I've read that the blazer's chest measurement should be 2" larger than your actual chest measurement (to allow for adequate movement). So, according to that, I would get a 40" - is that correct?

I know each blazer/jacket varies in cut, etc., but I am just asking about a general rule of thumb.

Thank you!

tinwhiskers

Go to a store, try some on. At 6' you might need a long depending on how donkey kong you are. Maybe you just have little flapper arms and will need the sleeves tailor. Do you even lift bro? cause then you need more room in the shoulders. Do you have a 6 pack, or maybe more of a pony keg, cause being able to button it is nice.

Djeet

Found this on reddit. Generally it's pretty good advice. The stuff on jackets would apply to blazers too.


Edit: specifically rules 4, 5, 13 and 19.

hsu

Jackets from different stores, hell, even different jackets from the same store, will fit differently. Additionally, jacket sizes lie - they never measure 38", they are always a bit larger, but how much larger again depends upon the style and the store. This is true of all clothing, not just jackets.

Which means, you've got to try on a bunch of different jackets, in multiple sizes, from multiple stores, before you'll find a jacket that fits right, where "fits right" means finding a suit that seems to use your size as the manikin (although you'll probably still have to get the sleeves re-hemmed).

My experience is that my best looking clothing always feels slightly tight.

snorepez

@hsu: I just read that jacket sizes lie. A jacket labeled 38" is actually a 40" when measured. That's good to know, thanks.

Thanks everyone else for their input.

NotYou

Like most clothes, despite what the jacket says it's size is, it can vary by brand.

Try on a jacket. Keep sizing down smaller and smaller until it's too tight. Then go up one size and buy it.

Things to think about.

Overall length: I like mine a little shorter than traditional. This can be hemmed by a tailor.
Sleeve length: This can be hemmed unless the buttons are functional and you want to keep them functional.
Number of buttons: Buy a 1 or 2 button jacket. Never button the bottom button on a 2 or 3 button jacket.
Button stance: Some jackets are made to have the buttons, button higher on your torso than others. A lot button stance generally looks a bit more stylish to me.
Vents: Double vents are more fashionable. A jacket with no vents is bad. Don't buy it.

cookiekrush

Go to a store and try them on. And when you do, move. Raise your arms, swing, do something when you try them on. Different blazers have different styles and cut, and some may be flattering when you're not moving, while once you move, you can see if it's a fitted jacket or a loose jacket.

Arm length is so important. You don't want to look like you're wearing a much too big hand me down jacket. You want it tailored to your body. Also, you don't need to get a vest. It always depends on the situation, and not every occasion needs a vest.

Are you looking into having this as casual wear or business? The usual rule of thumb for colors (currently) are dark grey for business/every day, and black with more formal/wedding/funerals events.

ThunderSaid

Here's a guide from Nordstrom that might help you out. It's basically saying that your chest measurement is your jacket number, unless you have big arms, in which case you should go up a size.

If you actually wear a 40 long (that's your size according to the chart if your arms are reasonably well filled out), you may be able to get a jacket off-the-rack without any tailoring. Lucky you.

As for me, I look ridiculous in a jacket that hasn't been tailored, because of the "drop" that is built into a standard suit jacket. To quote from the link:

Suits have what is called a "drop," which is the difference between the size of the jacket and the size of the pants. Classic-fit suits typically have a 6" drop, meaning that a size 38R jacket is paired with size 32 pants. Trim-fit suits typically have a 7" drop.

That works fine for a lot of people (particularly if you're in the 40-ish size range), but it doesn't work for me. I need a size 56-long jacket, and I wear size 40-waist pants. That means I need something like a 16-inch "drop" in my jacket for it to fit well. Unfortunately, that kind of jacket isn't mass produced by anyone that I've found (if anyone knows of someone who makes them, I'm all ears). So, I normally find a trim-fit jacket in my size and have it tailored down so that it fits reasonably well. Unfortunately, you can only alter a jacket so much before it deforms in a weird way, so I have never actually managed to get an off-the-rack suit that truly fits, even with tailoring. I'm currently saving up to try having a suit made for me from scratch, which I hope will mean finally owning a suit I like to wear.

Anyway, the moral of my little story is that you can use a size as a good starting point, but that doesn't mean that a jacket in that size will fit you, and you may have to get some alterations done. Because of those two things, I would personally never recommend buying a jacket that you haven't actually tried on.

Nija

There is a lot of good advice in here.

So this is something I have to tell myself every time I try a upper body garment on:

Stop sucking in your gut.

You need to know how it's going to look when you aren't staring at yourself in a mirror, so you can get some semblance of how others are going to see you.

Noquar

Go some place nice -a Mens Wearhouse or something similar and get measured. I'm 6'3" and 275. I only say that because I use Destination XL for suits, jackets, etc. Every time I go in they spend a good 15-20 minutes measuring me and showing me various cuts and styles that I can try on that all fit properly. It will be worth the time to have someone experienced help you out.