Club Obi Wan

When sizing for your jackets, did any of you find inconsistancies with your real life jackets and your actual chest size?

For example, all my jackets are 48s. I have a range of suit jackets, blazers, etc, that are all 48, and they are all what I would call a 'comfortable 48'. Cool, I thought, I'm a 48!

But measuring my chest, I measure out to be a 50! And that's not even with a loose tape measure. How does that work?!? Are all my suit and blazer makers - and we're talking numerous, unrelated brands - size liars?

So I'm just curious whether other folks have thought to order in their usual suit size, but then realised they are actually bigger than it? It's bizarre.

How are you measuring? You should have the tape around your chest, under your armpits. To wear a 48 jacket, your chest size should be in between 44-46 and probably closer to 46. Are you sure that you are reading the tape correctly and in the right direction. Your actual chest size should be a little smaller than your jacket size.

Your jacket size, or better yet, what it says on the label that is stitched
to your jackets on the inside of the collars, should match what your
chest measures most of the time.

This does not mean that your chest and your jackets will have the same
actual measurement though.

If you want a military fit, then your jackets should actually measure
4 inches bigger than your chest measurement. For example, if
your actual chest measurement is 44 inches when measured with a
tape measure, then your jackets actual chest measurement should
be 48 inches. In this example, the jacket will have a label in it
stating its a size 44. The difference is called movement room. All military
sized clothing, like our Westeds, are based on a military fit, which allows
for 4 inches of movement room. As a second example, if your chest
measurement is 50 inches, then your jackets should be labeled a size
50, but if you were to actually measure the jacket, it should measure
out to be 54 inches. This will allow you the 4 inches of movement room.

Most of todays styles of jackets will have anywhere from 6 to 8 inches
of this movement room incorporated into the jackets. This is for modern
fitting jackets like those sold at LL Bean, Lands End and even Flightsuits.

So, as an example, if you by a jacket made to todays style, that is labeled a size 44, and
you measure it, it will have an actual measurement of about 50 to
52 inches around the chest of the jacket.

If you are used to that, and you like that type of fit better than a military
fit, then order the next size up Wested from your normal size.

For example, I am normally a size 42. My chest measures exactly 42
inches. All my suit jackets are size 42. But all my leather jackets are
a size 44. Why? Because I usually wear the leather jackets with either
sweaters or sweatshirts under them, and that takes up more room than
a dress shirt when I wear my suit jackets, and I like a looser fit in my
leather jackets because of this.

Hope this helps.

Flathead

Flathead, that really explains it well -- thankyou!

Yes it does, and maybe this should be put in the new site update.
I've been going back and forth over the fit of my jacket, whether to keep it a 50(my chest measurement), or go up a size to 52. My current Wested is a 50, and I think that's one of the reasons it feels a little snug to me.
I think I'll go up a size now that I read your post.
Thanks FLATHEAD
'Blues