First let me apologize if this comes off as a pretentious post. That is the furthest from my intention. Without some background on the suit and its value, to most people (myself included) scouring the internet for a specific fabric to remake a sleeve sounds insane and idiotic.

With that being said... here goes.

When I turned 21 (15 years ago) my dad took me to get my first “real” suit (his term not mine) “everyone needs one suit that fits them like it were made for them” was his logic (he’s gotten a lot less.... like That since he had a stroke and got older; he actually doesn’t wear suits anymore funny enough. Anyways, it’s a fully bespoke 3 piece winter (fully lined) suit, in my opinion one of the prettiest suits I have ever seen; and my favorite suit (possibly my favorite piece of clothing I own).

Anyways, somehow over the past decade and a half my arms got longer, but the rest of me stayed the same (within reason). I don’t really wear the suit a lot, maybe 2-3x a year as it’s a little too formal for work. I go to put it on a month ago... wtf you can basically see my elbows (not literally, but the sleeves were way too short). I took it to my seamstress and she let them out ALL THE WAY (to the point she had to add material to the back of them as seen in the one picture). My seamstress was one of the head tailors for Ralph Lauren for decades, so is more than capable but said she cant find the fabric.. The suit maker said he doesn’t have it anymore either.

Besides the fact this suit cost a small fortune, it’s sentimental and I’m not willing to sell it or give it away. Does anyone have any idea where I can begin looking for such a fabric? She said I need a yard for her to make me new sleeves.

Your socks don't match.

The suit looks fine. Very 1920s English.

Give it up. I could scour Fabric Row for three hours and not get an exact match. And if I finally did, the shade would be a hair off. There is a reason a fine suit is all cut from the same cloth (bolt).

I'm finally fitting into a Hickey-Freeman sport jacket (and complimentary black Tencel trousers) I bought in 2003 (it fit me all of 15 minutes back then). Wore it to a funeral last week. Not sure what is up with the style, but it does seem to hang a tad low. Not looking forward to the cost of a real suit; this will do for the rest of my life if I do not balloon up too big.

Unless you can find another suit from the same maker/era to scavenge, you may be screwed. It may in fact be easier to shorten your arms.

What size do you need? I have one that I will never be able to wear in my lifetime (since cancer surgery) that looks similar.

I don't think you'll ever match it. It would have to be fabric from the same batch, if not the same bolt. And even then, washing and exposure to sun would subtly change the color.

Yeah, even if the sleeves were the correct length, it's not a very flattering look.
Lapels are too wide. Vest doesn't ride right. Collar is too spread and the knot is way
oversized. You could cannibalize the trousers to make sleeves and wear it as a sport coat.
Or just start over.

great suit. Do you have extra from the bottom of your pant legs?

quote:

You could cannibalize the trousers to make sleeves and wear it as a sport coat.

This, finding a match is going to be difficult for all the reasons stated, since you value it either leave it as is and put in a bag or have your seamstress use the pants to fix the jacket, a great idea and you get to use the jacket vs leaving it in a closet...

Use the vest fabric. As someone stated, the lapels are quite broad and the vest is exaggerating the proportions.

Best to cannibilize the vest for the sleeves, should open up your chest and make it more in line with the proportions.

Just give Charlie Sheen a call, he can help you tailor it up.




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/M0rCyHL9Gbs

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
It may in fact be easier to shorten your arms.

Hmmm, I know a guy who knows this guy...

Hell, I have a knife, an ax and a chainsaw.

My grandfather was a tailor. He worked in downtown Chicago crafting suits for those in power. He could feel the fabric and tell you the percentage of the various textiles.

It is going to be impossible to match the fabric and much work needs to be done because the suit is out of style.

I would hang it in the closet and get a new suit.

if anyone could help you it would be Nicolas Lowery from the Antiques road show,
maybe e- mail him

I just wouldn't wear the jacket.
Good luck with whatever you do.

If it was me ,I would sacrifice the vest for the required material to correct the arm length!MG

Hmmm. Mine usually shrink around the midsection.

That’s a really interesting idea sacrificing the vest.. I didn’t even consider that as an option. I’m running home now to see if it’s long enoug (I have long arms, but to make matters worse, one is an inch+ longer than the other.) I’ll be at my tailors in 20 and report back. Definitely would be a shame to have to destroy the vest, but truth be told I have never actually worn the vest. Hell.. maybe she’ll have enough material left to make some picket squares from the lining, maybe a headband too

I don’t care if the lapel style is dated for some; the fabric does look very nice and rich looking.