Is there any hope for a tall man?

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

G

GE-Man

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Hamburg, Germany

Hello loungers!

I like the style of vintage suits and i look around sometimes on ebay and alike but with no luck. My drawback in the vintage suits section is my size. I am 6 feet 4⅜ inches tall. That makes it even hard to find nowadays clothing for me! I'd prefer 1930s suits...

Does any of you have experiences in upscaling vintage-suits to taller sizes? Would that be a way?
On the other hand, i often get the hint, that i should not buy italian suits, because they were designed for the typical italian male, who is not that tall. Doesnt reach 6 feet in general.

So... when i upscale a typical 1930s herringbone-suit to my size... Would that still look well-balanced?

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #2

Baron Kurtz

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Being slowly digested inside "The Crouching Monste

What do you wear in terms of trousers inseam and jacket length/arm length?

There is vintage clothing around for taller chaps! Just takes a bit of finding.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #3

G

GE-Man

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Hamburg, Germany

My trousers inseam is 37 inches and my jacket arm length is 27.5 inches - measured on a modern suit i bought this year.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #4

herringbonekid

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East Sussex, England

ask Rudie about how easy it is to find jackets with a 27" sleeve.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #5

Fastuni

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Germany

That is very tall. Are you slim? What is your waist and chest size?
Even presuming that the sleeves and legs on your modern suit are a bit longer than what was fashionable in the 1930's, it is quite a housenumber.

I am almost day in day out looking for vintage suits and I have difficulty finding stuff with 25-26 inch sleeves and a 33 inches inseam. 90% of my stuff has had the legs and sleeves let out to reach even this length.
Getting out more than this is a quite a challenge. Also letting out sleeves and legs will often leave lines and marks that are hard to clean/steam out. Also the balance of jacket length, button stance etc. can quickly be thrown off.

There certainly IS very tall stuff out there. But it is very rare and competed.... If your purse allows this - go bespoke or made-to-measure.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #6

herringbonekid

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Fastuni, what's the most you can usually get out of a sleeve ?

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #7

Two Types

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That 37 inch inseam is going to make life difficult. I always look out for longer leg trousers (to recommend to Rudie and other loungers with long legs etc) but I think 34 is the longest I have seen.
I think your best option will be to find vintage sports jackets etc and mix them with grey wool flannel trousers made to a vintage pattern.

Good luck.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #8

Fastuni

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@hbk
Around 5 cm (with seam allowance for an attached strip of cloth on the inside). Sometimes only 3-4 cm.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #9

Rudie

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Berlin

I agree. About 5 cm is the maximum, often less. I don't bother buying jackets with less than 26.5" sleeve length unless the seller can positively confirm that the seam allowance is enough to reach the 27.75" I need. For me the sleeves are more often the deal breaker than the inseam. With 37" inseam even false cuffs won't work in most instances. Losing the cuffs might work if you start with something around 34", which is difficult to find anyway.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #10

G

GE-Man

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Hamburg, Germany

I am not quiet slim, not fat either. I'd say moderate. Dont know my waist and chest size.
That 37 inch inseam is measured on a suit made to 2013s fashion. For jeans, my inseam is only 36 inch and my waist is 34 inches.

Edit: I just found a list of actors with my size. When it comes to slim or fat, i'm in the middle between Conan O'Brien and John Wayne.

 

Last edited: Oct 28, 2013

• Oct 28, 2013

• #11

Tomasso

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USA

I think that you're going to have to settle for vintage 'styled' mtm/bespoke.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #12

G

GE-Man

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Hamburg, Germany

Thats what i feared.

 

• Oct 28, 2013

• #13

Baron Kurtz

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Being slowly digested inside "The Crouching Monste

Yes, that is a very long inseam indeed. Very difficult for vintage.

 

• Nov 18, 2013

• #14

Warbaby

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The Wilds of Vancouver Island

In my hoard of Harris Tweed jackets I have one with 26 1/2 -27 sleeves. Very, very thick tweed in a bold tan/blue houndstooth (I remember it because it's the tallest, skinniest one I've ever had). If anyone is interested in it, PM me and I'll dig it out and take some pix and more measurements.