Size guide
Buy the size that matches your chest. Everything else is a job for a tailor, and a cheap one.
How the numbers work
A jacket size is a chest measurement in inches. A 40 fits a 40-inch chest. That is the whole system, and it is the only number you have to get right.
The letter after it is length, not width. R is regular, S is short, L is long. Pick it from your height, not your build.
Trousers come with the suit and are cut six inches smaller at the waist than the jacket size. A 40R arrives with a 34-inch trouser. They are unhemmed on purpose — a tailor sets the length to your shoe.
Measuring yourself
Two measurements, taken over a shirt
- Chest — around the fullest part, under the arms, tape level and not pulled tight. Breathe out normally.
- Waist — around where your trousers actually sit, which is usually lower than where a tape wants to go.
If you own a jacket that fits, there is a faster way: lay it flat, measure armpit to armpit, and double it. That number is your size.
Between two sizes, take the larger one. A tailor can take a jacket in. Letting one out is limited by how much cloth was left in the seam, and at this price there is not much.
Jacket sizes
| Size | Chest (in) | Chest (cm) | Trouser waist (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 36 | 91 | 30 |
| 38 | 38 | 97 | 32 |
| 40 | 40 | 102 | 34 |
| 42 | 42 | 107 | 36 |
| 44 | 44 | 112 | 38 |
| 46 | 46 | 117 | 40 |
| 48 | 48 | 122 | 42 |
Length
| Letter | Height | Jacket length |
|---|---|---|
| S — short | 5ft 4in to 5ft 7in | About an inch shorter |
| R — regular | 5ft 8in to 6ft 0in | Standard |
| L — long | 6ft 1in to 6ft 4in | About an inch and a half longer |
Slim or modern
Both are cut on the same chest measurement. The difference is how much room sits between the cloth and you.
Slim is closer through the chest and the waist, with a narrower trouser. Modern leaves more room in both and drapes rather than follows. If you are unsure, or if you are between sizes, take modern — a tailor can bring it in for very little.
What to budget for a tailor
This is an off-the-rack suit at an off-the-rack price, and it is cut to a standard body rather than to yours. Most people spend a little to finish it, and that is what makes it look like it cost several times more.
- Trouser hem — almost always. Roughly $15 to $25.
- Sleeve length — often. Roughly $25 to $40.
- Waist taken in — sometimes. Roughly $25 to $40.
- Shoulders — never worth it. If the shoulders are wrong, the size is wrong. Send it back.
Last reviewed August 2026