How much room to add for a sweater?

[Corvairfan]

Hello everyone. I am looking for an Indy style jacket and trying to find the right size for a fall/spring jacket for the New England seasons. I would wear a sweatshirt in the fall/spring and just a polo/tshirt on cool summer nights.

I am leaning towards the Expedition right now and just need to figure out sizing. I called G+B yesterday and I think they said they allot 6" of room in the build.

Tough thing is, my weight has changed a lot. I am 5'7" with a 29" leg. Right now I am 160 and a 36" waist and about a 38-39" chest and 19"(I think) shoulders. I suspect my waist will vary between a 34 and a 38 pant size in coming years.

My old suit jacket was a 42 short and it is big on me now.But my old(geezer alert) junior high school Members Only leather in a 38 just barely fits. It measures 20" across so no room for anything.

So I am thinking a 40 G+B right now. That should be about 44 or 47" around which allots for what 6-8" above my 38 chest size?

Is that 6-8" about right for adding a sweater? I will be trying on some suit jackets today in the store to see how they fit and making a decision from there.

Great forum btw.

[Hatch]

welcome, the Expedition is one of the fullest cuts available , so I would just order your standard size........sweater etc should be no problem

[Dalexs]

It also depends on how you size up on shoulder width though.
While I'm no Charles Atlas in the chest and arms department, I do have broad shoulders.
I usually wear a 42 Long (orangatang arm syndrome...), but wound up needing a 44 Reg to get the jacket to zip comfortably over a layer.

And welcome from a fellow New Englander (although I'm really from Jersey... )

[Corvairfan]

Thanks for the initial replies. G+B said she would probably put me in a 40 but also said that they might allot for 10" of wiggle room which sounds like a huge amount. I do have smaller shoulders and short arms though.

I feel a bit silly because I haven't been measured for a suit for 5 years and I was 30 pounds heavier. I just came back from the store to try on some suit jackets with a measuring tape to firm this up. In a suit jacket I am a 40 regular with the sleeves hitting my nuckles but I have always had to have arms tailored. A 42 is too big in a suit though a 42 in a pea coat/wool overcoats to cover a suit fits better. I think that is closer to 22" wide.

Seems like suits are tapered under the armpits and the 40's measure at 21" or so and I can snuggly and still button in a suit my sweatshirt under there. So it really does seem like a size 40 Expedition would be the right size.

By the time I get the jacket it might be pretty cold. but I am optimistic I'll be able to wear it. My ex??? girlfriend's father is an Indiana Jones fan and I would love for him to see me in this jacket.

[Michaelson]

Well, thing is G&B will send you a coat to try on, and if it's not right, you can send it right back for a correct size, so you're not just shooting in the dark.

Regards! Michaelson

[BendingOak]

Best advise I can give you is to ask the person you are buying the jacket from. They should know their product better than anyone. Also, by taking their advise. Puts them on the hot seat if anything goes wrong.