The London Lounge

I remember a story of my childhood - that a real gentleman will give his new suits to be worn for two years to his butler, and then he will wear them! Some of my tailored suits, canvassed, felt like I will be secure walking in Kerbala reading loud from a Bible (i.e. bullet proof vests). It is the quality of the canvas, the skill of the tailor or just wear them and they will become softer?

I have heard that it is a good idea to hang new tweeds, rather in the same way as the game which you will pursue in them - but, in the case of the clothing - in some damp and draughty place to season them. As for new city suits - try rolling around on the floor of the Bourse to loosen them up.
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:I have heard that it is a good idea to hang new tweeds, rather in the same way as the game which you will pursue in them - but, in the case of the clothing - in some damp and draughty place to season them. As for new city suits - try rolling around on the floor of the Bourse to loosen them up.
NJS

I remember my former tailor when I took delivery of a heavy (19 oz.?) houndstooth J.G. Hardy 3-piece suit, some twenty years ago, saying something to the effect that it would have to be worn in the rain once or twice before being fully "seasoned" (my wording, not his). I find very few occasions to wear tweeds, alas! That suit is still like new and will certailny outlive me.

Frog in Suit

It's always worth bearing in mind that nothing should look too new........not battered and tattered.... but just not too new.....
NJS

it takes wearing to break in anything suit, shoes etc.
anything new feels new and different.
or could it be a bit tighter than the rest of your suits?

a tailor wrote:it takes wearing to break in anything suit, shoes etc.
anything new feels new and different.
or could it be a bit tighter than the rest of your suits?

Tight? God, no! Anything but.

I had to have it altered the year before last, to fit my, ahem, expanding girth, but then it is a 1987 suit! It wears very comfortably after alterations. Sadly it has not been worn much...It does not look new; I just cannot find enough occasions to wear it. Now if we could trade our Parisian weather with western Scotland...

Frog in Suit

Frog in Suit wrote:

a tailor wrote:it takes wearing to break in anything suit, shoes etc.
anything new feels new and different.
or could it be a bit tighter than the rest of your suits?

Tight? God, no! Anything but.

I had to have it altered the year before last, to fit my, ahem, expanding girth, but then it is a 1987 suit! It wears very comfortably after alterations. Sadly it has not been worn much...It does not look new; I just cannot find enough occasions to wear it. Now if we could trade our Parisian weather with western Scotland...

Frog in Suit

...I understand that England has been doing pretty well :for a cold, wet, windy summer, on its own account - poor, poor, dear place - well, what' left of it!!!!!!!!! I know, I know, but if you traded your British and French climates for here you would be fighting off mildew - even in the (so-called) winter.
NJS
NJS

koolhistorian wrote:I remember a story of my childhood - that a real gentleman will give his new suits to be worn for two years to his butler, and then he will wear them!

If he were lucky (?) enough to find a Butler the same size as himself maybe - but he would have to be very careful that the Butler did not dress himself from the Master's wardrobe more regularly....

Might as well just buy from Oxfam in the first place!
NJS

In my experience coats that have a soft structure (light canvas, few layers, handpadding on the entire chest piece) will be soft from the outset and breaking in refers to developing more visible drape, molding to the back and shoulders etc. Coats with a heavier structure do soften somewhat with time, but will never become as soft as the others, mostly because of the heavier canvas used and because the chest piece is sometimes machine padded (in Romania) and only the lapels are handpadded.

It's not just "softer"suits, but any suit cloth will take a 'set' due to wearing. I've had it suggested that I wear a suit for a few weeks before final adjustments to take account for this. It's more noticeable on lighter or more fragile cloths.

Or, you could just pull a Fred Astaire, and throw it against the wall.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

...or even go Dancing in the Dark .... in it.
NJS