Where to Find a Suit Jacket for a Tall, Skinny Teenage Boy?

Updated on May 18, 2014
J.B. asks from Boston, MA
11 answers

I went through this in the fall with my oldest son trying to find a suit jacket that fit him correctly and came up empty, now the tux rental for the prom he's going to is an issue as well so it's on my mind again. My teenagers go to 1-2 semi-formal or formal events a year at school, plus we usually have a wedding or funeral to go to each year, so I need my son to have a suit.

The issue is that he's just over 6 feet tall and about 140 lbs. Waist size is 30, which is easy enough to find pants for if we look hard enough. The jacket is harder...at his height he should be wearing a long jacket but can get away with a regular one and have the sleeves let down a bit. The problem is the chest...the smallest men's suit that I've found in regular stores is a 36 (and those are rare), with the long sizes not starting until 38. His chest is tiny, maybe 33 inches around. Typically a 30-inch waist would be paired with a 38-inch jacket. When he wears a 36 jacket, it swims on him and he looks ridiculous.

He can't be the only kid built like this...are there any brands or stores that you know of that carry suits for very slim boys? Boy's suits are the right size in the chest but are much too short. I wouldn't go so far as to have a suit tailored - a jacket alteration is expensive - but it would be nice if he could dress up without looking like he borrowed an ill-fitting jacket from dad's closet.

Any leads on clothes that fit this in-between size of too big for boys but not quite ready for the men's department?

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So What Happened?

Thanks all! Men's Wearhouse is actually where we rented the tux LOL. Their options were an 18 in boys' (too short) or a 36 in men's (still a little short but also giant). Their suits are the same...their long jackets don't start until 38 and they don't carry anything in regular length smaller than a 36.

When I googled this I did see JCP come up a few times so I'll have to check them out. Maybe he'll just gain weight and the problem will solve itself The "big and tall" stores are more big than tall and many don't carry anything smaller than a 42.

If anyone is looking for a business idea, it looks like there is a market void to fill! Thanks for your feedback!

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

My husband has very broad shoulders and a small waist.
So, a 52-54 jacket looked ridiculous on the waist. And getting the pants to a 34 is crazy....
At O. place, they were able to change the jacket from a single breasted style to a double breasted style. That took care of the many inches too much in the waist.
The men's stores themselves seem like lately don't like to get into altering jackets--sleeves only, and hem pants.
Usually you do need a good tailor to do that.
My husband just spent a lot of money on a beautiful suit from Jos. Banks. Other than sleeves & hems they wouldn't touch the alterations! Really? That men's service in the retail stores is gone.
Tailor!

(When you google this, lots of UK sites pop up...)

2 moms found this helpful

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I would see about having someone that makes clothes, either a private person or a seamstress like those that make dresses for weddings and quinces. It would be worth it to have a jacket made with a little extra material so you could have it adjusted if needed in the future.

My son is also 6 feet but weighs 194 pounds. Finding dress pants for his 8th grade graduation was almost impossible. He had a lot more room than needed in front. Looked ridiculous. Finding clothes for that transition to mens sizes is very hard.

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Have you tried Men's Warehouse?
I think they have one somewhere in Boston.
Getting him something that will be slightly big on him in the chest should be alright because there's a good chance he'll fill out a bit in the next few years.

2 moms found this helpful

K.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Men's Warehouse for sure!

1 mom found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

I've had that problem many times but no really good solution. Kohls carries
Marc Anthony that has shirts in the slim sizes that fit my boys but I don't remember seeing suits. I'd check on line.

Men's Warehouse and having one custom fit is about the only way.
My youngest went to the prom last year with a tux coat too big.
We just made sure the vest looked good and he took the coat off pretty quickly at the dance. It gets pretty hot in May her and suits are hot to dance in.

1 mom found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Do you have a Big 'N Tall shop near you?

You could also find something inexpensive but decently made, and then have it tailored by a qualified tailor - might be less money than high end clothing. If he's getting close to being full grown, it might last him for a while. Maybe you can find something in a consignment shop - dress clothes are often very gently worn since people buy them for one or two occasions and then are done with them. Then put the money into alternations.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from New York on

Did you check JC Penneys? They don't have a lot of the tall sizes in the store but they do online. With my very tall family we try on the regular sizes at the store so we know what size and style fits well - then we order the tall sizes online.

1 mom found this helpful

R.X.

answers from Houston on

Thrift store. He will have grown 3 inches by the time you read all these answers. Lol

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Kohls clearance rack. dIL needed one for my grandson. paid $20 dor a nice jacket.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I think I'd find a jacket anywhere that fit him. Then pair it with khaki's or similar fabric pants.

To me, if he's so hard to fit, it would be worth the investment to buy him a suit made by someone in your area. What about some relative or friend? Many people are starting to sew again and if you don't line the suit it's pretty easy to make one. If you do line it then it does get a little harder but still. I'd say you could get one made for him for under $100. If he wears it several times with khaki's or other pants he would have gotten his moneys worth.

If you have a custom suit made for him make it navy. Then the jacket will look great with khaki pants like Dockers. Almost all the guys in fraternity pics have on navy jackets and wear khaki pants with them.

I think I'd go custom made and make sure you can adjust the waistband a few inches larger then the jacket would be cut a small amount fuller in the shoulders but not too much.

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M.F.

answers from Chicago on

I had similar trouble with my 16 year old son, though at least he isn't as tall, but he is super thin (about 5'8 and 105 lbs). We found him a jacket at JCPenney, since they carry jackets in a super-slim cut in size 34 chest, but once again, he isn't that tall. Do you have Express Men in your area? Their tall sizes go down to 36 and their jackets are slim-cut. So, maybe they would look like a slightly baggy regular fit on him? Might not be so bad.

In any case, I feel your pain, the menswear salespeople told us that there is a big void in suiting sizes to fit slim teen boys. (Odd, because it seems like there are a lot of them!)

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