Suits Me

[kevin_standlee]

This will almost certainly come as a surprise to those of you who have been following the significant changes in my life over the past six months or so, but I needed a new business suit for a commitment I have in July. (I will explain that when it happens sometime after Westercon.) I woke up stupidly early — earlier than I usually do for Day Jobbe, even — and was the first customer in the door at the Wigwam after they opened. Later in the morning, I drove to Sparks and into the Jiffy Lube where I get the Astro serviced. I was so early that they had no other customers, so by the time I got back from the Starbucks on the far side of the shopping center's parking lot, they already had both the oil change done and the rear differential fluid serviced.

With the vehicle maintenance done, it was time to head to Men's Wearhouse, where I've never shopped before, as I've owned only a handful (as in less than six) of suits in my life including the one I bought today. I didn't make an advance appointment (I didn't even know that was a thing) so when I checked in, I found that I was number 10 in the queue, with two service people helping them.

Obviously, things were busy, and coming in on a Saturday did not help. Also, I had not considered that a bunch of guys were shopping for suits for the spring proms. Oh, well, it gave me time to browse around.

The last time I bought a suit, I weighed around 330 pounds. I now weigh around 220 pounds. That's why I need to buy a new suit. The only one I have (many of you have seen me wearing it to host Match Game SF) now hangs on me more like a tent than a suit. I didn't even know what size I needed to get.

Wandering around the store, I found myself in the clearance section, and decided to toss on a few suit jackets of a color that I thought suited me (ahem) to check sizes. To my surprise, the very first one I picked up seemed to fit well enough. Finding a pair of slacks of similar size/pattern that fit would prove to be more of a challenge.

Eventually, after perhaps an hour, they called my name and I spoke with a sales specialist. She measured me, and while my nominal jacket size is considerably smaller than the jacket I got from the clearance rack, I think it fits me well enough to go with it. That is in part because I may still end up hosting MGSF and I generally need to be able to lift my arms over my head, which this new jacket still allows.

The specialist measured my waist. I'm in between sizes, and there were not a lot of slacks that were a close match for the jacket. She found slacks in waist sizes 36, 38, and 40 inches. I tried them all. The 36 does not fit at all, and the 38 was tighter than I liked, although it's possible that I will eventually shrink into it as I continue to lose weight. However, I decided that the 40 will work, although I'll have to wear a belt again.

I paid for the new suit and set off for home. I think I got somewhat lucky. The suit was originally priced at $440, but was on clearance for $200 off that. The slacks were not on sale, but $60 was not out of line.

Having forgotten to take pictures of when I was trying on the suit, I put everything back on when I got home. I realized that I've forgotten how to tie a tie, it having been at least two years since I last had to do so. Eventually I managed it.



Here's the fit. I once again forgot to look at the camera lens in the mirror. Also, the shoes I'm wearing here will be what I wear with it in the field, although I will polish them. I might have a pair of wing tip shoes in a box somewhere, but I haven't worn them for more than twenty years.



I moved my SFSFC lapel pin from the old suit to the new one. The tie is a Houses of Parliament tie that Cheryl gave me some time ago, and I will wear it with this suit for the event I'll be attending. (No, it won't be at the UK Parliament!)

The suit seems to work, and it did not cost a fortune, so I think it was a pretty good day's work.

Comments

[ladythmpr]

Spiffy! Both the suit and you!

[kevin_standlee]

Thank you!

[megtreb]

You look really good in that suit. I don’t know why they thought you should have a smaller jacket. That one looks perfect to me.

[kevin_standlee]

I have no idea, unless suit jacket sizing is supposed to prevent you from raising your arms. This jacket is a 50 Long. I'm stunned that the first jacket I picked off the rack turned out to be the right one for me. I carried it around with me for over an hour lest someone else grab it if I were to set it down.

[belak]

It seems like some of the younger set likes tight and formed suits. If they've got the body to show it off, ok, but almost everyone changes sizes over time. A regular fitting suit allows for a little ebb and flow, shall we say. I can't imagine a tighter jacket on you and still having room to move or direct traffic and such. I used to have a suit around here, guess I should look and see if I gave it away in a purge moment or what. Then again I haven't worn one in years either!

The suit looks great on you! Good choice and I hope you find the book.

[kevin_standlee]

Thanks on both accounts!

[a_cubed]

You do indeed look good in that.

I think the current men's fashion is for clothes that look good when in a static standing position but aren't really for moving around much in. I get my shirts made to measure and I've always had them add a centimetre or 1.5 to a couple of the measurements so I can strectch an twist without feeling constrained.

[cmcmck]

If it had been the UK parliament I'd have given you something to beat them with! :o)

[calimac]

That looks very nice, and I like a tie that chimes with, instead of contrasts with, the colors of the shirt and jacket.

I had a hard time internalizing how to tie a necktie, but once I got it down I never forgot it, no matter how long between instances. Once at a party neckties were passed out as a kind of party favor. Most guys just draped them around their necks, but I stunned everybody by showing I knew how to knot one.

[wild_patience]

You look very sharp. I like that color suit and I love the tie color. They work great together.