LOOKING GOOD: CLOTHING TIPS FOR MEN WHO LIFT From: Keith R Subject: Re: Briefs for body builders Date: Thu, 21 Apr 1994 14:12:06 GMT >Let me be brief. > >I finally had to throw out my old briefs and buy >boxer shorts due to the ever-increasing size of >my thighs (love those squats). But summer is >coming and I like to wear shorts. Last Sunday, >the bottom of my boxers could be seen hanging out under >the shorts I was wearing. > >Sooooo, do you guys have some source >for briefs for guys who workout, briefs >that would accommodate 24+ inch thighs and >a 32-inch waist? >-- Have you tried briefs made by Jockey? They have two types of long-line briefs that are a cross between boxer shorts and breifs. They are very comfortable (ie., no thick seams in between your inner thigh and tender parts..... therefore no chafing), and they accomodate large thighs very well. I have 22+ inch thighs and a 27" waist, and their 28-30 size (small, athletic style) fits me very well. I am sure that the next size or two up should suit you just fine. The legs extend maybe 6" or so down the thighs, so they can be worn with all but the shortest shorts. Their regular long-line breifs have legs that are maybe 2-3 inches shorter. I have not tried these, as they do not come in my size (the smallest in that style is 30-32..... I would need a safety pin to hold them up :-) ). Keith R From: Keith R Subject: Re: Should I wear tights? Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 18:26:05 GMT >Shiny or non-shiny, they feel and work about the same. Some guys just >like to avoid the glitziness of the shiny ones. As for the bulge, some >guys find that a plus, but I prefer to wear a jock. Sure there's >still somewhat of a bulge, but, why not? > If modesty is a concern, then your choice of underwear (or overwear) can make a big difference. You could opt for the spandex biker shorts. Not all spandex shorts/tights are biker shorts/pants. The ones made specifically for biking have a crotch liner that is often made of some sort of suede-like material. This extra layer in the crotch is for the protection of your tender-parts while cycling.... of the bike, the extra layer protects your modesty. Real biker shorts can be pricey, so you may consider compression shorts (to be worn under some sort of loose-fitting shorts), or biker breifs (these are essentially boxer briefs w/o the flap or kangaroo pouch.... these come with or without the chamois in the crotch, and they are often made of some sort of fabric that dries quickly). The biker breifs can be worn under spandex shorts/tights for the purpose of converting inexpensive general-purpose spandex shorts/tights into something that will be comfortable for many miles on a bike (or to make the "naughty bits" less obvious under a fabric that "don't hide much"). Keith R Subject: Re: Briefs for body builders >I finally had to throw out my old briefs and buy >boxer shorts due to the ever-increasing size of >my thighs (love those squats). Why? My experience with boxers is that they are tighter than the briefs. I wear plain old Hanes. Granted, the leg holes are stretched a bit, but not too badly. If I wear tight jeans (not too uncommon these days. :-) I sometimes have a problem with "creep," but not often. >coming and I like to wear shorts. Last Sunday, >the bottom of my boxers could be seen hanging out under >the shorts I was wearing. I take it this is no longer the in-thing? >Sooooo, do you guys have some source >for briefs for guys who workout, briefs >that would accommodate 24+ inch thighs and >a 32-inch waist? You might try going up one size, unless yours are already loose. Wash them a couple of times in HOT HOT HOT water, and they will shrink enough in most places to remain comfortable without bunching. Date: Thu, 21 Apr 1994 11:11:38 -0700 Subject: Re: Briefs for body builders I use Calvin Klein briefs. Yeah, I know. Designer briefs---gag. I ended up buying them from a Calvin Klein outlet in Maine last year. The prices there were very reasonable; much cheaper than any dept. store. The type I bought (I have no idea about the particular version name or number) is a brief that has a thick elastic waistband, but is more bikini like in design that briefs you'd buy at JC Penney's. It hugs your bum without grappling your thighs. By the way, to avoid shrinkage problems with my briefs, I keep my dryer setting to low (very low) so that I minimize shrinkage and elastic meltdowns. Date: Thu, 21 Apr 94 16:29:36 PDT Subject: Re: Briefs for body builders Check out Early Winters catalog. Great fitting shorts for the large legged among us (I cycle and powerlift...'nuf said). -------------- I started getting into this problem several years back. I liked boxers for the space and freedom. But, with so little room between my thighs, I would often catch body parts by accident (ouch!) since they weren't supported and moved out of the way. I tried just about everything you can imagine. Then, one day I came across BVD briefs. I get them a size or two bigger than I really am and find they offer support, space, and coverage without slipping, falling, or binding. Works for me. Good luck. ----------- Date: Sat, 23 Apr 94 01:44:19 -0400 This evening I saw in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated an advertisement for Jockey Pouch underwear. This is a new line of underwear Jockey has brought out in Dec. 1992. There are three types of these briefs: bikini, regular and midthigh briefs. The regular and midthigh models have a horizontal fly which gives more support and comfort than the Classic Jockey briefs. Most men clothing stores sell them. Then there are BIKE Compression Shorts manufactured by Bike Athletic Company. They are midthigh shorts and give firm, comfortable support to the loins, groin, and thighs. They are excellent for workouts and casual wear. I see many people in our part of the country wearing them on the street. In hot weather, I wear a good, old-fashioned jock. From: Blaine Subject: Clothes for trolls... Date: Wed, 25 Oct 95 04:00:52 GMT Well, O.k... I'm not a troll.. But I'm built like one. This is the only time when being "built like a brick shithouse" (not my quote) is not good. I'm as wide as I am tall, so to speak. I've found a few good clothing sources, but I'm still stymied on others: Jeans: Levi's 560's are a Gift from God Himself, but I've only seen them at County Seat stores, at about $35 a pair. I'll pay it happily. heavy shirts: Van Heusen and Windsor shirt ships in a "local" outlet mall; they both carry XXL shirts in more varieties and styles than I can count, and they aren't cut along the lines of what you find in typical "big & tall" shops, who automatically assume that if you have a 52-inch chest, you have a 52-inch waist to match. Light "summer" (or dress) shirts: No clue... Even "fitted" shirts are too wide in the tail... Any one found anything? Workout shirts: big enough around is not so much a problem as is the fact that when I get them big enough for me, they hang to my knees. Most of the stuff I wear in the gym is long enough that I could easily go in wearing NOTHING but the shirt and no-one would know the difference... Workout shorts: AAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Does ANYONE make "normal" length shorts anymore?!?!?!?!?! Anything that's big enough to clear my thighs goes PAST my knees, and I'm not about to wear something to the gym that won't let me squat. The current style is supposed to be "mid-thigh." The only way any of this stuff will be "mid thigh" on this bod is for me to wear the waistband around my nipples!! I've got the same problem with casual shorts, too! I've been wearing jeans since mid-july because I wore out all my old shorts, and anyone who knows south-east Texas summers knows this SUCKS! Does anyone know where I can go to shop? Mail order is completely acceptable at this point, and I also have very little problem travelling up to five hours in any direction if there's a good clothing store at the end of the drive. The only problem with some of the mail order stuff is that it's not what you'd wear to work or to school, and I'm still doing both. But I'm nearly desperate enough at this point to overlook this minor stumbling block... Why am I getting a little exasperated? Because clothes used to be made (except for jeans, where I'm NOT complaining) for guys who were NOT built like Twiggy. All my old clothes are finally past the point of repair, and I'm tired of doing my ENTIRE wardrobe in laundry ever three days. (going to start another load of shirts...) -blaine From: Robert S Subject: Re: Clothes for trolls... Date: 26 Oct 1995 05:58:36 GMT Blaine, Have you ever tried the Silver tab Baggy Levi's?? They are much more fully cut than the 560s. My legs are small compared to when I competed yet 560s are still to tight for me. The Silver tabs are great. The only bad part is that they are over $50.00 in most stores. There are a few places in town here that have them used and you can get a good pair for $15.00 or so and they are already softened up. Rob From: (JB) Subject: Re: Clothes for trolls... Date: Fri, 27 Oct 1995 18:41:23 GMT Blaine wrote: > >That's the problem. I want something that's specifically NOT athletic. I'm >wanting something I can wear to sunday church here... > >-blaine Blaine, I believe you will need to go get some custom-made shirts. Any reputable department store should have an in-house tailor who can either make them or refer you to a store that makes them. I've never done it but I seem to recall that if you get like 5 shirts at once, it's not much more expensive than standard dress shirts. And then once the place has your measurements and everything, you can order more of them by phone. Find a good tailor or shirt-maker. JB From: Tim Subject: Re: Clothes for trolls... Date: Fri, 27 Oct 1995 23:12:58 GMT Blaine wrote: > I've never seen Levi's used around here. They're always worn out to threads > around here.... (or 15 years old...) I was quite surprised when I spent 10 months in Houston last year (working in Mission Control at the space center for STS-59 and STS-68). Levi's were rather difficult to find. Wrangler and Lee jeans were everywhere. Here in California, its just the opposite. The jeans that I find fit best are Eddie Bauer. Plenty of room for muscular legs and butt. -- Tim ---------------------------------------------------------------- Levi's Only Stores will custom cut your jeans for a $10 premium. Or call CAD Cut in Montpelier VT, which may be willing to cut custom and low-run soft goods of all types. Their number is 1-800-588-4055 or try cadcut@plainfiled.bypass.com with e-mail. Ask for John Harrison or Brian Tyrol. Sukie ----------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 From: Reg Subject: Re: Fashion Sense I've *always* had a clothes problem. In my case, years of running and cycling, plus a heavy dose of African heritage, made my waist and butt way out of mainstream proportions. (Worst ever fit: Lee jeans. They are cut for the four-inch crack physique). Taking trousers in at the waist spoils the cut. And nothing can be done to fix a jacket that isn't very close to the correct fit. I recommend going with tailored clothes. At the risk of straying way off the weights topic, here are my tips after fifteen years of dealing with tailors: 1. It's worth it. The extra cost is more than justified by the proper fit and (usually) way better materials. For example, if your trousers don't fit properly in the thighs, they wear faster. Properly fit clothes last longer and give better value. Quality fabrics last longer. 2. A secret to big savings: order an extra pair of trousers with every suit. The trousers wear faster than the jacket, so a suit with two pairs of trousers lasts as long as two suits, but doesn't cost as much as two suits. If you are concerned about not having enough variety, get your first suit in Navy blue, the second in Charcoal. People will be too much in awe of your powerful look to worry about the size of your wardrobe. And when the Navy trousers finally go, have your dry cleaner sew brass buttons onto it and make it a Blazer. 3. If available, pay extra for silk lined trousers (the lining runs from the waist to above the knees). They feel better and last longer. The wear on trousers is caused by stretching as you sit down. The lining lowers the friction. Feel great *and* save money. Wow! 4. If you don't mind supporting foreign labour, patronize one of the Chinese sweatshop businesses. These tailors typically go on tour and visit large cities a few times a year. They measure you for your clothes and fax the orders to Hong Kong. The clothes are made up and mailed to you, where a local tailor completes any final alterations. I have had good results with trousers, suits, and shirts. The savings are substantial--you just have to be patient enough to wait 8-12 weeks for your suits. 7. Get those shirts made for you as well. If you order half a dozen at a time, the cost should be less than comparable 100% cotton dress shirts off the rack. And the tailors will give you extra 'taper' with room for your lats, delts, and everything else. Salespeople may promise that an alterationist can perform the same service, but a *proper* taper can't be performed without taking the body of the shirt apart and recutting the panels. What they'll try to do is take in a few seams, which moves everything around wrong. And does nothing for your shoulders, which may need extra room, and your arms, which probably do. 7. Make sure they measure your arms. A friend with a large physique had problems with one place that didn't appreciate how much room he needed in the sleeves. Again, this is why you should shun off-the-rack. If the sleeves are large enough, the belly will have room for your in-laws. 8. When ordering shirts, get half of them white, a quarter blue, and do whatever you want with the rest. You'll never have trouble buying ties to match. I skip the breast pockets, since it would probably sprout a pocket-protector. I also treat myself and get some 100% casual shirts when I order dress shirts--why not feel like $1,000,000 when you're out on the town? Obviously I'm sold on clothes that fit. They last longer, look better, and put a glide in your stride. My experience is that I pay less for clothes of comparable or better quality than what I can find at major chains. And the laebl sewn into my suits has *my* name embroidered into it. A much better name than the current crop of fashion glitterati! -- Reg ------------------------------ From: Rick S Subject: Re: Fashion Sense Ah, clothing--the bane of athletic America. "Bodybuilders" were meant to wear gym clothes, of course, and not suits and ties. Unfortunately, we all know better. When I was skinny, it was much easier finding clothes, and even then, getting a suit with a 42 Jacket and pants with a 32 inch waist was not possible. Now that the waist is still 32 and the jacket needs to be a 46, it's impossible. And why spend lots of money when I'm still growing? A couple of thoughts. First, the custom clothing advise was great--I had some shirts and a suit made for me when I was in Taiwan doing a fellowship. Beautiful shirts for about $20 each, and a wool suit for $350. That was all at 170 lbs--so nothing fits anymore--Anyone need a nice suit?? I bought a gray suit at "Milton's"--Athletic cut, Jones New York, with a ten or twelve inch drop--can't remember, but regular is six inches, most "athletic cut" are eight inches, I beleive--nearly impossible to find--That gave me a 46 jacket and 34 or 36 pants. Actually, that wasn't too bad, because in order to get the thighs to fit, the pants need to have a larger waist anyway. They took in the waist, and altered the jacket to make the stomach a little less generous, and I was all set. I just won't ever button the jacket--because it's still a bit full through the middle. Looks quite acceptible unbuttoned. I've found that it's easier to stick with sport coats instead of suits. I have two for special occasions. I don't usually wear a jacket to work--just a shirt and tie. None of my shirts fit properly--I just leave the collar unbuttoned. I look casual that way--my patients seem to like that. I never buttoned them anyway. I found one line of pants which fit the squatter's butt and thighs--Gap sells them, and I think they are the "Relaxed Fit"--Khakis, available in khaki, olive, blue, and black (maybe others). I feel like the J. Peterman catalogue....At least in New England, you can find the same pants for $10 less ($19 instead of $29) at "Old Navy Stores"--a Gap outlet, actually. I can buy these in 32 waist. Dockers don't begin to fit. If you really need suits, Brooks Brothers sells a line of standard suits--jackets separate from the pants, so you can get the size that fits. Price is moderately expensive, but probably less than for custom. And they do the alterations. I didn't bother buying my suit there, because I found the one at Miltons. When I'm done growing, I'll buy some nicer suits. Of course, dieting for a contest screws everything up--and I only lose about 10 to 15 pounds. It seems contradictory that I get depressed when I'm ultra-lean and my clothes almost fit again!! Happy shopping! Rick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Sep 96 From: Steve Subject: Re: Fashion Sense I have to agree that tailored shirts fit the body-builder's physique much better than anything you'll get off the rack. The problem is the price. Sure, they're not much more than shirts sold at full retail in the high end stores, but you'll never get prices that you can find in the discount places where a lot of working stiffs need to shop. It's a dilemma. But if you want a good fit, you have to have the things tailored. As for suits, I used to have them tailored when I lived in Asia. But the choice of fabrics, particularly patterns and weaves, is pretty limited. If you're like me and prefer the look of a great Italian suit, then you won't find what you're looking for at the custom tailor's shop. In the last few years I solved this problem by buying a lot of the 'baggy' cut suits that were in style just a couple of years ago. Some think they hang like sacks, but I think they look sharp plus they have ample room for pumped up thighs, lats and pecs. Now, of course, they're out of style. I don't think any of us will ever fit into the new skin-tight look on suits that the designers are trying to push. ----------------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 From: Joseph Subject: Re: Fashion Sense Trace Eggers beat me to the punch with his "fashion sense" inquiry. I had planned to pose the same questions as he, but my current Six State Tour has kept me away from the keyboard for a while. Due to increasing muscle mass, I, too, recently tried to update my fall/winter wardrobe, and ran across similar problems. Eyeballing the racks at my favorite Men's store, I came across the "Atheletic Fit" suits. Hah! What a misnomer that is! Without a doubt, the truth in advertising clause needs to be invoked here! I think a more accurate term would be "Slightly Less Than Obese". I have a 47" chest with a 31" waist. The so-called "Atheletic Fit" suits with a 47-48" jacket came with a more than generous pant waist of 36-38"! Don't even bother looking at the standard or regular cut suit. I'm sure the 47" jackets come with an equally impressive 44" pant waist. I picked out a very nice Evan Piccone double breasted and headed for the alterations crew. I was standing on the little podium, trying to hold the pants up with one hand so as not to expose myself to the collection of wives/girlfriends in the immediate area, while the tailor began to tug at the pant waist. "Can't take in waist. One pocket!" he said in a heavy Asian accent. Apparenlty, there is less than 5" of material between the two hip pockets, so tailoring the suit to fit me would result in a "kangaroo" pocket in the back. Jeez, if my wallet were that big, I'd feed the hungry, clothe the poor and buy out Ross Perot so he'd just shut the hell up. I have resorted to buying slacks and "sport coats" seperately. If you want a more casual, contemporary look, try a store called 'Structure' (there are other stores similar). Otherwise, any department store or Men's clothing store will have plenty to choose from. You will undoubtedly have to have the coat waist taken in to match your taper, and if you have well-developed thighs, buy the pants a couple of inches larger than your actual waist size, and have them taken in at the waist, seat, and possibly, the crotch (oops, can I use that word here?). I buy my shirts to fit me in the neck, shoulder and sleeve length, and take them to the tailor to be custom-tapered to the waist. I still haven't found an "off the rack" solution to getting a good suit that fits. I was hoping not to have to resort to having them tailor-made. I have checked the prices of having that kind of work done in my home town (Dallas), and am convinced that much money could be better used as a down payment for a new house. Maybe I'll stumble across that travelling Chinese tailor group Reginald wrote of. As far as jeans go, I have a couple of pair of Levi's 550's that hang off my derriere quite attractively, without being baggy. The others are now too tight in the thigh. If you wear boots, try Wrangler MWZ22 or 976 (I think that's right, anything other thn MWZ13). I tried the GAP, but didn't like the pant's cut as much as the casual slacks/khakis I bought at Eddie Bauer. I have also found that Ralph Lauren's Chaps line of pullover shirts (golf shirts) can usually be found with an atheletic cut ( tapered from the shoulders to the waist). I am desperately hoping that sometime in the near future, suit designers and manufacturers clue in to a growing portion of the market that they are now totally ignoring - men with well proportioned bodies. Hello, anyone out there on the list an insider to this industry? Somewhere in the heart of America (but I'm not sure where anymore), Joey ------------------------------ From: Reg Subject: Maxwell's Clothiers Well, well, guess who came to town last week? No doubt inspired by my own sales pitch, I ordered two more suits, each with an extra pair of trousers. Came to CDN$1105, plus another 25% when the suits arrive. Comparable off-the-rack suits in Canada run $500-$900, and they don't include extra trousers. Just to keep this weights-centric, I'll mention that we discovered I needed an extra 3/4" in the seat and 1/2" less in the waist since my last order--a regular squatting program kept me from losing my winter gains through the frisbee season. Anyhow, the firm is called "Maxwell's Clothiers," and they do have 'associates' working in the USA. They suggest writing or faxing head office for a list of dates and locations near your hometown. Their address is: Maxwell's Clothiers T.S.T.P.O. Box 95793 Kowloon, Hong Kong Fax (852) 23699175 They have a Hong Kong showroom, which has an email address: -- Reg ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 From: Ken Subject: Re: Maxwell's Clothiers Just a quick note to second Reg's recommendation of Maxwell's Clothiers for custom made duds. I first started buying clothes from them on my trips to Hong Kong when I was working at my old job. They have absolutely top knotch fabrics and workmanship! While my physique isn't yet at the point where I can't buy shirts and pants off the rack, I can't come close to buying a suit! Maxwell's makes me look like a million bucks and I can get an awesome suit custom fit at less than the cost of something comparable off the rack. Go see them if they're in your town! P.S.: I am not affiliated with Maxwell's in anyway. I'm just a very satisfied customer. --- From: Dana Date: Tue, 15 Oct 96 Subject: Clothes that FIT for bodybuilders Hey all! A few issues ago people were posting about the difficulty in finding clothes for those of us who lift. Brooks Brothers is a well-known clothing company that makes suits and other business goodies. I could not find clothes that fit me well either, so a fellow lifter mentioned that he went to Brooks Brothers and found stuff that DID fit. I was hesistant but went anyhow. To my amazement, they are probably the only clothiers that will separate suit jackets and pants so that BOTH pieces fit perfectly! As was the case for me, I needed a jacket for a 48" chest and trousers for a 34" waist. And, for some reason, their trousers are a tad bit baggier than most others I have worn in the past. After an hour or so of trying on different styles, I left the store a happy customer, even though my wallet was considerably lighter. :-( Here is a central number, but they do have shops in most urban areas: 1-800-274-1815, fax 1-800-274-1010. As for jeans, I found that Extra Baggy jeans from The GAP work well for me. And they even have some odd waist sizes, too, like 35 for example. Great for those times when you gain a few pounds (of fat) while trying to add a few pounds (of lean muscle)!!! :-) I also find their sweatshirts fit great, and their thickness helps to sweat off more calories during those long excursions on the stationary bike! For those lifters out there who live in the south, Men's Wearhouse has a deal where they modify the pants to fit you free of charge. If you had a 36" inch waist but needed pants size 38 to fit your legs, they will pull in the waist (and other areas) to fit. I have had the stores here in Houston do several pairs for me now and I am more than pleased with the look. A co-worker of mine calls them "baggy dress pants" and she is probably correct with that statement. I am not real sure how Men's Wearhouse actually does the alterations, but I can tell you that it is a first-class transformation to say the VERY least. I have a hard time finding the seams and joins both inside AND outside the pants. They fit well in the waist and buttocks, and have enough size in the quad and calf areas so that you don't look "pinned up" in them. They also have a similar deal for jackets--again, another first-class operation! Anyhow, enough from me for 2day! Dana ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 From: Charles Subject: Re: Where to buy clothing > >I have a real problem buying suits for work. I am 5' 8" with a 46 inch chest >and 34 inch waist. Size 46s suits usually come with size 41 (or larger) >pants. Very few stores locally carry 46s and noone carries 46 >short-athletic. Short of major alterations or having a suit tailor made, >where do you guys (and Gals) find business type clothes? Any specific brands >or retailers I should be looking for? This was discussed a few years ago on this list, so your not alone Dan. 8+) For causal clothes, I have found Tommy Hiflinger's (sp??) pants to fit really well. The biggest problem that I have with pants, is finding room in the rear while still getting a waist size that fits (I wear a 33). You may also want to try J. Crew. I recently bought a pair of relaxed fit jeans from them that are cut perfectly. They do sell dress clothes too, although I have never tried their suits (I wear a 40 "short" which limits my selection). Their dress and causal shirts fit and wear well, though, so I assume that their suits would be of similar quality. BTW, some one once mentioned that it is possible to custom order from Levi's. Anybody know anything about this? Guess I could go to http://www.WeightsNet.com and do a search on back issues and find out. Well, hect, instead of writing about it.... Take care, Charles --------------------------------- Subject: Re: Where to buy clothing Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 I have had a similar problem to yourself, buying anything other than T-shirts is quite a night-mare. Shirts for example are normally sold by collar size but to get a shirt the right size for my shoulders and the neck size would be far too big. And it's implossible to buy a suit with a larger chest size without a huge waist. The last suit I bought was a 42 chest, which was fine as long as I didn't stretch my arms forward but the next size up was far too big round the waist. Anyway I asked a friend if she could let it out at the shoulders but she said the original seams would show and the best thing was to get a suit too big and that can then be adjusted appropriately. I just bought a jacket in the January sales here and had to get a 46 chest so it was comfortable across the shoulders and allow for a little growth:-) but it was hugh round the gut. Anyway to get to the point of this message; the shop have completely altered the jacket, shortened sleeves and taking in all the seems at the sides and back to bring it in round the gut and the only charged five quid as the jacket was half price. Morale of story: Dont worry about the shape of the garment just get it big enough to fit your largest measurement shouldes/chest and the rest can be altered to suit. And if is reasonable quality suit and shop they will alter it mor you free in the price of the suit or maybe only a very small charge for extensive alterations. Pat ----------------- > >Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 >Subject: Where to buy clothing? > >I have a real problem buying suits for work. I am 5' 8" with a 46 inch chest >and 34 inch waist. Are we twins? I'm the same way.... >Short of major alterations or having a suit tailor made, where do you guys >(and Gals) find business type clothes? Any specific brands or retailers I >should be looking for? The only things I have been able to do are: 1. Major alterations, 2. Suit separates 3. "Athletic fit" suits and do some "minor" alterations, and 4. "Trial and error" -- try on suits that "should" fit and pick the ones that fit best (read as -- require the least amount of alterations). if you find out more, please let me know.... Aaron ------------------------------------- From: Christopher Subject: Re: Chest Measurement Date: 14 Jan 1997 19:56:25 GMT =+ TC3 wrote: =+ > I wear a 44 jacket, so I know that I have at least a 44" chest relaxed. =+ > Am I doing something wrong? Do I measure my chest relaxed? =+ > =+ I'm curious as well. My chest is 43 relaxed and I had to buy new clothes =+ my jackets are 44. How about other measurements? I posted my stats not =+ to long ago and am now wondering if everything should have been measured =+ flexed instead of relaxed. And where in the fucking hell can you find =+ pants that fit without having to be taylored? I'm tired of buying pants 4 =+ inches to big in the waist to fit my big butt. My slacks can be taylored =+ so if thats the price of lifting "Oh Well", but where can you find =+ regular jeans? And dress shirts? God this pisses me off. Where do the =+ "big guys" buy clothes. Chris, Paul...??? ok rant mode off. =+ Rob =+ Oh yeah, For six months I was just cutting the inside and outside seams =+ of my boxers so they would fit. Now theyre so ragged I gave up. any big =+ leggged boxers? Thanks I make measurements w/ muscles relaxed. IMHO its more impressive to tell somebody you have 20" arms but then when they see you in the gym pumped their more like 21" or 21 1/2", etc. You get my point. My coat size was approximately a 60 XL for a wedding I went to last summer; Id say after this winter its more like a 62 XL now. I got measured for a 58 XL in dallas and then got to the wedding and had to get a 60 XL (that was 2 months after the measurement) Id say easily my coat size is a 62 XL now and prolly more comfortably but maybe a tad big but youll always grow into a 64 XL, etc. My delts are also really wide/pronounced so that doesnt help easy to get a coat that fits. I like to go the big person store since im a big person. Its tough to find big shirts because I am not comfortable with anything less than a 4X size mens shirt but my waist is like 38" so there is almost a 30" delta in waist to coat size and they don't make shirts at the "regular" big stores for V shapes. I go to a store in Dallas called "The Shirt Store" its in the Galleria and Prestonwood malls. They custom make nice pimpy white shirts, no collar style button downs for 60$, excllent quality. Regular button downs short sleeve are like 48$ a pop but very high quality shirts, etc. I buy regulat Levi's Silver Tabs the Loose variety in the quad and groin region for comfort and get normal Nike wrestling shoes at any foot locker store. The ASICS are alos O.K. but I like the Greco Nike wrestling shoes. Any other type of clothes (besides NO clothes) are simply uncomfortable. -- CLC ---------------------------------------------- From: Geoffrey Subject: Re: Clothing update Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 Other options: Brooks Brothers sells many suits as separates so you can buy the jacket and pants that fit properly. Unfortunately, they don't go really large on the jackets (I think 52XL is the biggest they have). Joseph A. Banks has a similar line to Brooks Brothers and also sells suits as separates. They have a slightly broader size range than Brooks Brothers last time I checked. If in Massachusetts or the general area, Eastern Clothing in Watertown near the Arsenal mall is the place to go. Many local professional athletes shop there. ---------------- From: Blockmeister Subject: Re: Athletic Fit shirts Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 10:30:46 -0600 Rick wrote: > > I would be interested in hearing what name brand or store you shop in to > get athletic fit dress shirts. Problem is my shoulders are wide (well > it's not really a problem-you know what I mean) and the shirts I am > finding are huige in the waste. I have not been able to find a good > brand or even a place to shop for athletic fit shirts. Need wide > shoulders but tapered waste. > > I would appreciate any e-mail responses. Buy the shirts to fit your shoulders and neck and then take the shirts to any TAILOR SHOP and have them tapered. It usually costs about $5 to get it done and they can be tapered to your exact specifications; being fit to you while you have the shirt on your body. --------------- From: the tree by the river Subject: Re: Blue Jeans for Big Legs / Small Waist Date: 27 Mar 1997 06:08:55 -0700 Jacob writes: > >5'9", 190 lbs > >I actually remeasured last night. They're a little bit smaller than when I >was involved in sports. 18" calves, 25" thighs, 15" biceps, 30" waist >Still not exactly puny or easy to buy jeans for. Nor proportional for that >matter. It might also matter where you're measuring the thighs I guess. >That's at the largest part, about 2/3 of the leg above the knee. Of course, >the closer to the knee the smaller they get. > >If anybody wants to answer the original question amidst all of this fun, >feel free to do so. Whether you guys believe me or not, I would still like >to know the answer. Well, I can tell you what my experience is--I'm actually awfully close to your measurements: a bit bigger in the thigh and biceps, smaller in the calves. I've found that I can wear Levis 560s; 550s are too tight and the 560s can be a little snug while sitting down, but not too bad. I've tried a few other brands (even in their putative "loose fit" versions and most of them aren't even such that they can be pulled up much over the knees). Unfortunately, I've yet to find them with anything longer than a 36" inseam--and the only place where I can find them even that long these days is the Levis factory outlet store (which just happens to be in about the closest shopping area to my house, so that's not so bad). (As far as I know they don't make them in anything less than a 30" waist; unfortunately, I need to trim down some before I'll be looking for that size again, but when I did look for such things in the past, they weren't to be found.) Speaking of the factory outlet store, one time I was out there, they had a whole rack of 580s in the 30" waist/36" inseam marked down to seven bucks apiece or so--and I took the whole lot of 'em home. The 580s don't seem much different from the 560s (versus the 550s, which are a lot snugger) in the thigh, though, but you can't complain too much about the price (plus I think I had a 10% off coupon). If you haven't tried this, you might consider seeing how some brands of women's jeans fit--I still have troubles in the inseam department, but otherwise about a size ten in a style with relatively roomy thighs fits my anatomy better than any of the men's jeans I've tried. (One has to be a little careful; I picked up some women's shorts on clearance at the end-of-season last year that I thought were about the right size, but they turned out to have thighs barely roomy enough for my arms, so there are obviously some levels of complexity to women's clothing that I haven't fathomed.) You might have more problems than I in the calf department, though, since women's jeans seem to taper more than men's. -- From: Kimberly Subject: Re: Blue Jeans for Big Legs / Small Waist Date: 27 Mar 1997 12:41:43 -0800 the tree by the river wrote: > >has to be a little careful; I picked up some women's shorts on clearance >at the end-of-season last year that I thought were about the right size, >but they turned out to have thighs barely roomy enough for my arms, so >there are obviously some levels of complexity to women's clothing that >I haven't fathomed.) You might have more problems than I in the calf >department, though, since women's jeans seem to taper more than men's. Kim's Laws of Women's Jeans: 1) Women's sizing is virtually random. Sizing varies across makers, across styles from the same maker, and across batch lots in the same style by the same maker, and across colors within the same style. This holds for both length and circumference dimensions. (I just bought a pair of my favorite, buy-'em-off-the-shelf-because-I- hate-shopping jeans in my normal size only to find that the usually reliable "longs" are now highwaters. ) 2) The more money you pay for clothes, the smaller the size on the clothing label. A size 4 in the designer section of Macy's is roughly equivalent (with the caveats outlined in #1) to a size 8 at Target or Walmart. This is a twist on the American misperception that in order to achieve thinness, one need only throw money at the problem. 3) If jeans fit in the waist, they will imprint permanent seam lines on your thighs or butt. If jeans fit in the thighs or butt, you will have a gap the size of the Grand Canyon around your waist. This is a plot on the part of clothing manufacturers and ranchers to force women to buy belts. 4) Women's calves are the size and shape of a large stalk of asparagus. At least, clothing manufacturers seem to think so. 5) If, by some twist of the fabric of the universe (haha), you happen to find jeans that fit, do not wash them. Ever. Women's jeans shrink in two places: in length and in the calves. Your brand new jeans will quickly be relegated to cutoffs. Pre-shrunk jeans may last two washings before shrinking; this is just to lull you into a false sense of security and to give you time to throw away the receipt. Kim Subject: Re: Blue Jeans for Big Legs / Small Waist Date: 28 Mar 1997 17:59:22 GMT Everyone should have such problems. Buy a pair of jeans that fits your thighs and has room for a second person around your waist. Then, have the jeans taken in at the waist by someone who knows how to do these things, so it'll look like custom-tailored pants. Subject: Re: Business Shirts that Fit Date: Thu, 03 Apr 1997 02:26:18 GMT On Wed, 02 Apr 1997 Duane wrote: >I love weightraining but when it comes to buying business shirts, I >find a size to fit my neck but end up with a shirt the size of a tent. >I have about a 17 inch neck, 49 inch torso and 37 inch waist across >the navel. > > Anyone tried cutting and tailoring the shirts to more of a V shape >with any success, or did the shirt look rediculous. > >Apart of business shirts, trousers are a pain to buy for and so are >jocks, have to wear boxer shorts to allow room for the legs. (27 >inches at the insertion point of the glutes to the hamstrings) >I'm also 6 ' 2 " which doesn't help. > >Any clothing tips would be welcomed. > >Duane Try finding a 20" neck on a dress shirt with a 35" waist. Everything I buy looks like a pup tent around my waist. I'm constantly tucking my shirt in my pants and if I'm not wearing casual, pleated, loose-fitting pants (like Bojo or Gerbaud) the shirt bunches up around my waist inside the pants; again looking terrible. First off, if you live in a moderately populated area, you can find large-sized clothiers (i.e. Casual Male). They tend to have relatively stylish dress clothes. Also, Target recently has had nice-looking solid-color, long-sleeved shirts. They're not dressy enough for a typical IBM workday, but definately business casual and "tie wearable". I tried having off the rack shirts tapered and that made a tremendous difference. The only problem for active bbrs is that if they continue to grow, they might grow out of the shirt too fast to recoup the cost. I had tons of nice dress shirts that had to be given away to Goodwill. Thus, I've just tried to deal with it by buying off the rack without alterations for the time being. Luke Tom wrote: > > My baggy-fit Gap jeans don't fit anymore! Can someone recomend a brand of > jeans that have mega extra room in the quad area? I'm certainly not huge, but > these baggy jeans are skin-tight and uncomfortable. I've seen this question > here before. Why are there no jeans for people with muscles in their legs? > Has America degenerated into a country of weaklings? > Try the Wide leg fit from levis. You may have to go up on waist size but they will fit if you do. They are a litle funky but have have even more room than the silver tabs/baggy jeans. I had to get 36 waist (I normally should have a 34) but they are completely loose on 27" thighs. Newsgroups: misc.fitness.weights Subject: Re: My jeans don't fit anymore Date: 5 Apr 97 10:08:19 GMT Robert wrote: > Tom wrote: > > > > My baggy-fit Gap jeans don't fit anymore! Can someone recomend a brand of > > jeans that have mega extra room in the quad area? I'm certainly not huge, but > > these baggy jeans are skin-tight and uncomfortable. I've seen this question > > here before. Why are there no jeans for people with muscles in their legs? > > Has America degenerated into a country of weaklings? > > Levi's Silvertab Baggy pleated. Old Navy Loose fit or Baggy fit jeans. I picked some up tonight. $22 is the regular price. -- From: Robert Subject: Re: My jeans don't fit anymore Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 21:59:38 -0700 If you can wear 501s, you should not be in this newsroup and should be embarassed! 501s are tight on a Flamingo for Christ's sake! :-) All kidding aside, the best levi for larger legs are the Silvertab Baggy not loose and this last part is very important, get the pleated ones. They have more room than the regular Silver Tab baggies. You'll probably have to look at quite a few places to find the pleated ones. -- Robert From: roy Subject: Re: My jeans don't fit anymore Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 17:47:41 +0000 Jeff wrote: > > For gosh sakes, what's with all the "jeans don't fit" people ?? Jeans > quit fitting for me about 10 years ago, I changed to khakis and wool > slacks. Aren't jeans for the younger high school and college crowd > anyway ? > > Jeff You've been reading too many Dewar's Scotch ads. Levi's will custom-make jeans for $65. I would call 800-555-1212 for their 800 number. -- Roy From rob Rick B wrote: > > New to the group, if only to find out one thing...Where can I find good > quality clothing specifically for the bodybuilding male. I get really > dismayed when I see bodybuilders, or even a well built weightlifter wearing a > nice t-shirt that hugs his body and shows his form respectfully. > > Everything I wear just hangs off me, not really revealing any lat spread, or > abs. All I see is a big chest and bulking arms. > > I'm not huge, 5'7" and 170 lbs. Use to be bigger, but really don't need that > size anymore. I go nuts putting on a men's medium off the rack, and it looks > too big! Maybe a tailor will help, but I'd rather deal with a manufacturer. > Any ideas? > > Thanks. > > Rick B Rick, I don't quite understand what you are looking for. Are you looking for something that hugs the body or something baggy? I think it was the strange use of the word "dismayed" that threw me. If you do want something to conform to your body, then yes you need to have your shirts tailored. You should be able to have off the rack shirts altered instead of complete tailor made, unless you are very wealthy, then who cares? Most bodybuilders do not usually want to show off when they are in street clothing, that is why so many just wear very baggy stuff. Baggy is very confortable too. Good luck. -- Robert Subject: Re: Beauty and Fashion questions From: Mark Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 07:00:55 -0800 I received great help from this list about 15 months ago when someone mentioned that Gap #10 the baggy fit jeans worked for us lifters. I purchased a pair of 33X32 and loved them and have since bought 34X32 (when I gain a few pounds) and another pair of 33X32. I am 5'10" and weigh about 220. They are the only pants that will work with my build. They taper into the smaller waist and allow extra room in the legs and rear. I have tried for the last year to find any other brand to work and have been unsuccesful. For us lifters, I have found GAP #10 the baggy as the only pair that works for us. When I was around 200 pounds I found American Eagle relaxed fit worked in the 31X32. But, as I have aged "32" and my girth has increased even the American Eagle don't work. Each of us are built just a little different by the creator and so find what works for you . . . and you may have to hunt. The other hard find is shirts that work. XXL are good in the shoulders and chest but leave way too much in the waist. Most shirts are built for a taper of 6-8 inches not 12-15 or more. It is hard to find 18 1/2 or larger dress shirts in stores in an athletic cut (especially for us who like to shop sales). The athletic cut though sometimes takes too much room from the arm-pit area, therefore, I buy the large size (regular cut) and have them tailored. The regular will fit our shoulders, arm pit area and chest better and then have a tailor "dart" in from the lats and waist. Another problem is Sport Coats . . . . Mark Subject: Re: Fashion From: Charles Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 18:26:34 -0800 Check out a company called Market America. If there is a rep in your area you can get fitted for jeans. They have a unit made up with Velcro closures on it and you get a true custom fit at a reasonable price. No hate mail please. I don't work for the company, just have a friend who does. Subject: Big Boys Clothes From: W Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 18:57:43 -0800 As promised, I picked up brochures from the two companies who had booths at the Classic who make everyday wear for guys who look like men are supposed to look. The first is none other than Gorilla Wear. Although they have a line of gym and hang around clothing, they have expanded into custom shirts of all kinds. They are very nicely made and the materials are of excellent quality. Also lots of materials from which to choose. Two of the men in the product booth were wearing dress shirts that fit beautifully. These are custom made and they require you purchase 4 at a time (or it's not profitable). They send you a list of 14 different measurements they need. Call them at 800/752-6012 for details. The second company, Rheingold Fashions, has a complete line of shirts, jackets and slacks (including jeans). They specialize "in clothing for the muscular male." Prices are the same as you'd find in a nice department store such as Robinson's-May. Call them at 800/248-3487 for a free catalog and other information. They were selling this clothing at the show. The quaity was good and again, people working the booth were wearing samples; it seemed to fit well. It is off the rack clothing. Shirts run from size 17" neck up to 20" with chest sizes from up to 50 to 58". They state that shirts are fully cut in the shoulder with tapered waists and slacks and jeans are cut generously through the thighs and seat witout an enormous waist. They also sell dress shirts from 16-1/2" to 20" neck and sleeves from 32" to 38" lengths. Hope this helps, guys. -- Rosemary Subject: Re: Ponytail and a "few" questions (answer to clothes...) From: Bill Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 22:26:35 -0700 When I'm business guy, I keep my socks below the level of my calf muscularture so as not to cut off circulation there. I find that a good belt helps to keep my dress pants cinched, and luckily dress pants seem to be a little more baggy to begin with (though occasionally I have to be careful not to overstretch the upper thighs on certain pants I have). I've also come to live with having a somewhat baggy waisted dress shirt (size 16+ neck and 35" arms (which are rather long for 5'9" - oh well)). I don't really want to pay extra for a custom fit shirt since I'm not in sales anymore anyway and I can get by with a decent off-the-shelf shirt. My casual clothes, particularly Khakis, seem to have a looser fit these days as well, so the leg problem is not really there. Buying jeans though has and always will be a problem. Several years ago I picked up two pairs of BCC jeans from Bob's stores (one light blue, one regular) and these are still the only jeans I wear (luckily I've kept them in good shape). They are loose enough to allow my legs room, yet tight enough to show my form (sounding rather narcissistic there). Keep searching, it took me a long time and I'm not sure it'll be easy finding jeans like them again if and when I do need more jeans (I would assume at some point I will) - (and besides, I think the Bob's around here all closed up anyway). As for regular shirts, I used to buy mediums and larges and where them very loosly and sloppily. I was very dissapointed in the look, so recently I went out and bought all SMALLS. These shirts show my form (again, excuse me) and seem to be tight in just the right places. Even the waists don't have any extra fabric. I have to be careful not to shrink them because there's no room for error, but I think in this case, a little "tighter" is alright. I don't know what else to say. That's a look into my world of clothes. My basic goals are not to cut off circulation to any bodyparts (my body seems to do that just fine on its own) and try to flatter my physique as much as possible with off-the-shelf clothing (those catalog clothes for bodybuilders sure are nice, but too pricey for my tastes). -Bill George wrote: > > I just purchased a tuxedo and had alterations done to take in the waist > of the jacket for a more tapered fit. I can't believe the difference! > All my life, I've thought I just don't look good in formal wear, but it > turns out that the jackets just aren't cut right for athletic builds. > Jackets that fit my shoulders just looked like a tent around my waist. > I've tried "athletic fit" jackets before, but they're still not tapered > enough. > > Now, since many of you probably have this problem, what do you guys do > to get more tapered clothing. I think all my dress shirts would look a > lot better with more taper. It seems like a hassle to alter all your > clothing. However, these shirts just look like a jumbled mess around my > waist when I stuff them into my pants. Is it very difficult to make > alterations clean, looking alterations yourself? > > George It's difficult and getting worse. I've been shopping to replace suits and dress shirts and many stores no longer carry athletic fit shirts. Some manufacturers are also labeling only slightly tapered shirts as athletic fit just to appeal to men who want to think they are still in good shape but aren't. So you have to watch what you but and try everything on. The thing that really blew my mind during this recent suit shopping tour was the salesmen who told me that some suit manufacturers are now narrowing the shoulders of their suit jackets (Botany 500 was one of them) and increasing the waist size. The American man is no longer shaped like the normal human male: wide, broad shoulders and narrow waist. I know I'll always have difficulty because I have a 10 inch drop from jacket size to waist size buy it's scary how obese we are becoming as a nation when clothing has to be made to these weird proportions. Aren't women's clothing cut narrow in the shoulders? -- Jim Subject: Re: Clothes...finding some that fit! Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 22:12:17 -0700 >> Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 02:48:02 -0700 What is with the people who manufacture clothes? I don't really have huge quads, but I can't fit into normal sized pants. (32 x 32 ) I'm 6' tall, weight 200lbs with a 32" waist. I can't wear straight legged pants because they don't fit...my legs are too thick! I am glad that baggies are in style as they do fit o.k. I like Calvin's loose fit jeans, and some styles of Levi's...Can anyone recommend a brand that actually fits a body builders frame, or any styles for the guy who squats? While I'm at it...I don't like most of the shirts off the rack either as I need big shoulders, with a heavy taper....I tuck my shirt in the back, and it bunches up from taking in the extra material... << I like GAP baggies. I can wear my size (34 x34) Levis are too tight in the legs. As for shirts, forget it. Unless they are custom made, you got baggie shirts. I order dress shirts from Lands End and get trim fit 17 1/2 ". Not bad, but could still use twice as much taper. (But they are cheap and good...). You've probably figured out that suits are a lost cause... Herb Subject: Re: Clothes Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 23:27:51 -0700 >As for shirts, forget it. Unless they are custom made, you got baggie >shirts. I order dress shirts from Lands End and get trim fit 17 1/2 ". >Not bad, but could still use twice as much taper. (But they are cheap and >good...). You've probably figured out that suits are a lost cause... You can order trim fit dress shirts from Paul Frederick online. http://www.paulfrederick.com I've ordered these shirts before. They do fit a little better than regular shirts, but they aren't perfect. At least they cost the same as traditional shirts. Eric >>Subject: Re: "Show off" clothes >>From: Ed >>Date: Thu, Nov 12, 1998 23:06 EST >> >>Jim wrote in message >>>I see fitness models wearing shirts with sleeves short enough too show off >>>their muscular arms. Ever since my arms broke the 18" mark, I've been >>>looking for shirts like that with no luck. Usually the whole shirt is too >>>short and won't stay tucked in. Where does a guy who is 6'1" go for >>clothes >>>that show off his physique? >> >>That's a very good question. I would also like to see some answers, as at >>5'7" and with low bodyfat, I have a hell of a time finding clothes that fit >>well (snug). A large sized shirt comes down to my knees and is much too >>wide around my stomach. A medium shirt is too tight on my shoulders and >>looks silly. What to do? >> >>And how bout jeans? Since my legs are finally growing, I can't wear >>straight legs anymore and even the relazed fits are getting tight around >>the legs. I got jeans that are big around the waist and small around the legs >> >>Ed > >Try a company called "J. L. Lator" in Ohio. >Don't have the number handy but I used to >order a bunch of stuff from them as they sell >casual and formal dress stuff for bb'ers. >Yeah, 5'9" 18" arms with a 48" chest makes it >hard to find shirts. An XXL fits great up top >but ends at my knees!!! >> >BK > > And how bout jeans? Since my legs are finally growing, I can't wear > > straight legs anymore and even the relazed fits are getting tight > around the > > legs. I got jeans that are big around the waist and small around the > legs. > > Eddie Bauer makes some great loose fit jeans that fit me well. I've mentioned this a couple of times, but if you're looking for jeans w/ bigger legs and waists that fit, Macy's stores have a YM house brand called Badge that does this quite well. Their Carpenter style shorts are great, as are their relaxed fit 5 pock's (comparable to Silver Tab's at about 1/2 the price). However, for the ultimate in leg room, as well as a good laugh, check out Jnco Jeans *B^). -- Michael "Ed" writes: > That's a very good question. I would also like to see some answers, as at > 5'7" and with low bodyfat, I have a hell of a time finding clothes that fit > well (snug). A large sized shirt comes down to my knees and is much too > wide around my stomach. A medium shirt is too tight on my shoulders and > looks silly. What to do? I have no solution for sport shirts; however, dress shirts can be tailored. I haven't decided to dump the money into it yet (I usually maintain a running inventory of about a dozen long-sleeved Oxford cloth button-downs in different colors, mostly blue and white), but if you buy them in your proper neck size and sleeve length, a good seamstress (is that sexist?) should be able to add two darts in the front and two in back. If done properly, this can look really sharp. > And how bout jeans? Since my legs are finally growing, I can't wear > straight legs anymore and even the relazed fits are getting tight around the > legs. I got jeans that are big around the waist and small around the legs. My legs are far from huge, but they, too, are growing. The big problem for me is that I have always preferred Levis 517 boot-cut jeans. They are "regular fit" jeans, and for more than a year, I have not been able to cram my thighs into a pair that were already two inches too large for my waist. I do like snug jeans, and "relaxed fit" jeans now fit me with the same snug fit that most people get from "regular fit" jeans, but I suspect that they will also become too tight if my leg development continues. Beyond that, I suppose that "loose fit" jeans are a possibility, but they are designed to be just generally loose, and the "baggy" jeans are intended to be baggy, not expanded versions of "regular fit" jeans, so they don't really emulate the look that some of us are trying to achieve. Subject: Re: Trousers and Big legs Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 23:00:35 -0800 >From: Alan >Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 07:15:05 -0800 >I am sure someone out there is gym-land has and figured out my >problem. Well after finishing many years in college I have had to >exchange my tracksuits and denim for trousers! While this may >make my mother happy ;-) nevertheless all those years squatting >(which don't get me wrong I still do it) it taking its toll on my new >attire. I am going through 1 pair of trousers a month as the chaffing >on my upper inner thighs wears them down. I have no problem ordering >from a catalogue if I was sure that the trousers would have some >durability [heck that's an extra 10 pounds a week on top of supplements]... I am assuming by "Trousers" you mean dress pants. If so, if you will go to one of the shops that specialize in mens cloting and even though it may cost a little more you can have your pants lined. They use a satin like material which lines the legs from the knees up to about the hips. This smooth material allows your pants legs to slide up or down your thighs when you sit or stand thereby reducing the friction on the material. I was also told a good seamstress can line about any pair of pants. Most of your more expensive dress clothes or suite pants will usually be already lined. I have several pair like these and not only do they last a lot longer, but it is also much more comfortable as well, especially if you have hair on your legs or even if you shave your legs. The fabric just slides up your thighs when you sit. try Jos.ABanks. They have athletic cut seperates -- but they're suits. they have a tailor on premises. Georgie Boy wrote: > > > I checked BrookBrothers. They don't seem to have "athletic cut" > > ones. Ralph lauren doesn't have either. I don't want to buy cheap > > ones since they really don't last and cannot portrait our special > > elegance and machismo. The price range, preferably, would be between > > $100-170. > > $100-$170 was what you expected from Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren? > Is that American dollars? You'd be lucky to find any suit for that > much anywhere let alone high end stores like those. > > At 180 and over 6 feet tall, you should be more than OK buying regular > clothing. I have slight problems with my thighs being larger than my > waist proportionately so pants are tight in the leg but not in the > waist and I got you by 45 pounds and am 3 inches shorter. The main problem isn't really one of being big, but of proportions. He's got a 13" drop between his chest and waist, so even after alteration most suits would look awful on him. The sleeves of 46" jackets are either absurdly small so you can't get your arms into them or are big enough but the shape of the jacket makes you look like you're 10 years old and wearing your dad's jacket. I'm not as tall as he is (5'10") but have similar proportions and just about gave up on buying a suit or even a sportcoat. Finally, I found the answer: look at expensive designer-name jackets (I bought a Donna Karan), and you'll probably find one that fits. You can often find pants that match, if you want the 'suit' look. He will almost certainly be spending over twice his price range just on the jacket, however. There's one other possibility: he may be tall enough to wear things from JC Penny's Big & Tall catalog. Don't laugh: my boss buys a lot of clothes from them, and some of it is really nice stuff. Many of the designs are available in athletic cuts (but not for someone of my height). -Wayne Please... 180 lbs at 6'1.5" is positively waifish. Just get regular "athletic" suits altered a bit. The pants may need to be recut (taken apart and put back together, all the way down the leg) not just taken in. Don't kid yourself about prices, BB and RL shirts cost $100 and more. Recutting pants will cost 50-100 right there. Some stores, including Joseph A. Bank, will let you buy the jacket in one size, and the pants in the other. Try that. When you get BIG, off-the-rack won't work anymore: Jackets that fit across the shoulders will give you the David Byrne look. Plus, "regular" people don't have deltoids that stick out, so the whole shoulder is going to look like a shelf, no matter what you do. If you want to get bigger than a normal person, just get a good tailor and bite the bullet. Custom suits don't have to be outrageously expensive, especially if you buy a few at a time, and try to deal. "Wayne wrote > > The main problem isn't really one of being big, but of proportions. > He's got a 13" drop between his chest and waist, so even after > alteration most suits would look awful on him. The sleeves of 46" > jackets are either absurdly small so you can't get your arms into them > or are big enough but the shape of the jacket makes you look like you're > 10 years old and wearing your dad's jacket. > > I'm not as tall as he is (5'10") but have similar proportions and just > about gave up on buying a suit or even a sportcoat. Finally, I found > the answer: look at expensive designer-name jackets (I bought a Donna > Karan), and you'll probably find one that fits. You can often find > pants that match, if you want the 'suit' look. He will almost certainly > be spending over twice his price range just on the jacket, however. > > There's one other possibility: he may be tall enough to wear things > from JC Penny's Big & Tall catalog. Don't laugh: my boss buys a lot of > clothes from them, and some of it is really nice stuff. Many of the > designs are available in athletic cuts (but not for someone of my > height). > > -Wayne Michael wrote: >This should be our common problem...where to buy decent/excellent business >suits. Online store or regular stores? > >I am not big. Chest 46' and waist 33'. Height 6' (1 1/2)". Weight: 180 lb. >Single chested, 2 button whole suit. > >I checked BrookBrothers. They don't seem to have "athletic cut" ones. Ralph >lauren doesn't have either. I don't want to buy cheap ones since they really >don't last and cannot portrait our special elegance and machismo. The price >range, preferably, would be between $100-170. Unless you find a good sale (which you might), your price range seems a tad low. I had to buy a new suit last year, and was lucky to find one that was I think 40-50% off because I was buying a spring suit in the winter or something silly like that. (The visual difference between a spring suit and a winter suit is beyond me. They all seem to be wool.) You may have similar luck in a department store, and there are probably lots of sales going on now. Anyway, I found an athletic cut suit at Hecht's. My chest is not as broad as yours (I need a 42" jacket with 32" pants), but I ran into the same problem. 42" jackets come with 36" pants, and that is too much to alter to 32" and look right. The athletic cut came with 34" pants which was OK (although I decided to just leave it be and get a belt in case I get a little bigger). You'd still need the pants altered, but if you can find an athletic cut, you should be within the range to get the waist taken in a little so that it at least fits with a belt. Any of those mid-class department stores (Hecht's, Dillard's, Belk's -- whatever your local equivalent is) with a knowledgeable salesman should be able to help you out, I think. I tried Men's Wearhouse, and the sales guy there was *very* helpful in getting me in the right size, but he was pushing an $800 Donna Karan suit on me (don't take a girl with expensive taste to help you pick out a suit, either), which was really out of my range for a weddings&interviews only suit, although it admittedly looked very nice. It was about a year ago, but I *think* the one at Hecht's only ended up being about $200 after the end-of-season markdown. Good luck. Since your suit will need altering, I can't imagine buying one online. Kent