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Original poster

Formal outfit for school ‘prom’ s6 leaver

17 replies

Tig33 · 02/04/2023 16:56

Hello

my son’s school is having a prom in June.

formal black tie at a local hotel.
he is showing zero interest in getting something to wear. He’s not into clothes and just wears whatever jeans and hoodies I buy him.

I am trying to buy him a kilt outfit but have no experience in this at all.

he’s v tall and slim so 6ft plus with measurements of: collar size 13”, chest 32”, waist 26”, hips 30”.

I don’t really understand men’s sizing for clothing (his current clothes are h and m age 14 + which are getting a bit wee tight enough.

i would like to buy second hand but am so confused by what jacket size I need? I tried measuring his arm length and it looks like about 24” from shoulder to wrist but when I look up men’s sizing that looks too short to be a size…

any insight or tips appreciated

OP posts:
prettybird · 02/04/2023 17:11

If you are looking to buy second hand, try taking him first to somewhere like M&S to try on some jackets to get a feel for what size across the shoulders he needs. I suspect a 36" (if you can get that) or a 38".

You can always get sleeves taken up if necessary.

For ds' prom (he is small and slim), he wore his dad's kilt, buckled as tight as possible, and we hired an Argyle(?) jacket and waistcoat (he didn't want to wear his dad's Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, which were a bit too big for him anyway).

For his 21st we (and his grandad and his aunt Wink) bought him his own full outfit m, which he then wore to his graduation. When they were fitting him, they were aware that as a young man, he may still fill out a bit.

Formal outfit for school ‘prom’ s6 leaver
IwillrunIwillfly · 02/04/2023 17:11

You'd be much better hiring than buying a kilt. They cost a fortune and his shape and size will change loads yet so its likely he won't get much wear out of it!
If he's wearing a kilt the shop will measure him an fit it for him and make sure you have the right size.

Original poster
Tig33 · 02/04/2023 17:45

Thank you very much for replying.

trying on jackets to get an idea of size is a great idea thank you! That size chart is much clearer than what I was looking at. Now to persuade him to enter a clothing shop…

the original plan was to hire a full kilt outfit. But he is quite shy and not keen to go and be fitted. So I thought I could figure it out and buy second hand but is far trickier than I realised unfortunately.

That is a good point about them filling out at some point.

I have certainly filled out since my s6 dance.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 02/04/2023 17:58

Even in the 3 or 4 years we were at the uni many of the lads found that their dinner suits didn’t fit by the end, either from too much beer/ junk food, working out more, or I think boys just finish developing later in general compared to girls! I’d definitely look into hiring, they’ll be used to dealing with reluctant men in the shop.

IwillrunIwillfly · 02/04/2023 18:24

If it helps make sure he knows he doesn't need to stop down to get measured and they do it over clothes. They'll be so busy with proms and grad balls this time of year it will be a quick measure then give you some things to try on!

PiranhaTank · 02/04/2023 22:21

If you're anywhere near Slaters Menswear just go there and they do all the measuring for you and recommend suitable products whether you want to buy or rent. They are very reasonable and include alterations in purchase/rental cost. I would agree about sons changing size. It's quite incredible how my eldest has grown and shrunk over the university years and I found I had to help them out with cost of suits for job interviews after graduation which I would argue is a better place to invest your cash if necessary. It gets pricey!

PiranhaTank · 02/04/2023 22:24

PS One of my sons also very shy, self-conscious and awkward. The staff are 100% totally used to this and put them at their ease no problem!

Original poster
Tig33 · 02/04/2023 22:27

Thank you very much for the advice. Will see if I can get him to try a few things on. I definitely don’t want to waste money on something that won’t fit him for long. The hope is that he will go to university at some point so was thinking could buy something now for use for university balls ( if that is still a thing? I went to Aberdeen in the 90’s and went to lots of balls but plenty of friends didn’t do that at university and unsure what the norm is now) agree better to wait and spend the money once we know what size he settles at. Thanks a lot

OP posts:
Original poster
Tig33 · 02/04/2023 22:28

Thanks v much @PiranhaTank will see if I can persuade him. He baulked at the door of the local kilt hire place

OP posts:
PiranhaTank · 02/04/2023 22:33

No problem, believe me you won't find anyone more uninterested and unwilling than my son. The place is always busy with every age, shape and size of guy. He was absolutely fine , sorted and out in half an hour and he looked gorgeous. He wasn't the type for balls and never needed anything smart again until job interview time (or since!).

Original poster
Tig33 · 02/04/2023 22:38

Sounds exactly like my son! I actually couldn’t tell you the last time he even went into a clothes shop. There’s a slaters near us so will see if I can persuade him into town to go there. I just want him to take part in s6 and go along.

OP posts:
WarningToTheCurious · 02/04/2023 23:10

Yes to Slaters - we did that for DS who was not a straightforward size, and got a plain dark suit that was a decent fit and a sensible price.

He has changed shape so much over the last 5 years that there’s no way he’d fit it now though (fortunately it fits DS2).

prettybird · 03/04/2023 08:21

Ds was at Aberdeen Uni and got himself a very reasonable dinner suit with a fancy blue lining at Slaters for his PIR ball in 1st year. I think he got to wear it the following year just before Covid struck but now, 3 years later, I'm not sure how it fits Wink

He got to wear his kilt outfit at his graduation last year but hasn't yet had another occasion to do so.

Original poster
Tig33 · 03/04/2023 09:39

Thanks everyone. Will take him to m&s and to slaters and see if anything works for him. I cannot remember the last time he went clothes shopping. I have just done bulk orders from gap and h and m for years as he hates it so much. To be fair I am not a fan either and just buy everything from vinted now.

I had a look at slaters online and it looks like they have a lot of choice, sizes and it seems reasonable. Had totally forgotten it existed

OP posts:
Blanketpolicy · 03/04/2023 12:19

Slaters have always had a good reputation for finding/fitting the perfect suit, but we had a terrible experience with ds last year in the one in Ayr. If you are planning on going to Slaters Ayr it might be worth going to their Glasgow store instead as it is likely to have more stock and options to be able to help. We never went to the Glasgow store as ds refused point blank to go after Ayr.

Original poster
Tig33 · 03/04/2023 17:23

That is a shame @Blanketpolicy will definitely avoid as my son is less than keen on shopping at the best of times!

OP posts:
PiranhaTank · 03/04/2023 21:30

We went to the Glasgow branch.

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