Harris tweed jacket - keep or return?

[PinkCamelias]

I bought a beautiful Harris tweed jacket from Soeur, it was on sale. I love the fabric, the colour, and it's so well made! But I'm short, and it's very oversized, despite being my size. My question is, is it worth keeping it and having it altered, or shall I return it? I would need to shorten the sleeves (with functional buttons) considerably and perhaps take it in at the back/waist a bit. It fits well in the shoulders at least. It is also quite long, mid thigh, not beyond hip as on models' photos. That I would not try to alter as I don't think it could work without ruining the line of the lapel.

Could it work, or will it be weird anyway in this length on a short (158 cm) person?

Can you post a photo of you wearing it?

From what you've said I'd return it.

It looks quite voluminous even on the tall models. I think there’s probably too much altering involved for it to come out well.

House of Bruar do lots of Harris Tweed if you wanted to try starting again with another jacket .

This would be what my mum called 'throwing good money after bad'.

I'd return.

Return.
That said, I love the look with the belt.
it'd still look like a sack on me

Thanks a lot everybody! I’ll try to take photos wearing it later, but I suppose you’re right! I never keep things to alter beyond shortening trousers, but this is just so nice I hesitated. However, doesn’t seem worth it!

I've had a few coats and jackets altered and my experience is that most of it's possible as long as the shoulders fit ok. (I've had alterations services turn down shoulder work as they said it wasn't worth their time.) It's not cheap though and there's always a risk. I normally do it with stuff I've bought second hand so there's less at stake if it goes wrong.

However if it works, you'll have a beautiful jacket that fits you perfectly. I'm also going to hazard a guess that, if you're short (5'2"?) then it's probably a constant struggle to find off the peg jackets that fit.

So I'm on the fence at the moment. Is there anyone you'd trust to do the work?

I would alter it if you got a really good price

Yes, @Floisme , it is not easy to find jackets that fit and the sleeves are always too long. I can fold them on linen or otherwise lightweight jackets, but here it doesn’t look good. I have a trusted tailor in my home country, I will go there for Christmas though so I have to take a decision without consulting her. That said, she has not done this type of work for me yet. Here where I live I do not know a tailor I could ask.

I’d send it back. You can’t just take a bit in on the waist and back without ruining the line of the jacket - it just won’t hang right. If you’re short an oversized jacket is never a good choice - I say that from experience.

i always buy from petite ranges. Look at Hobbs for jackets.

Can you email your tailor, describe what you might want doing and ask for a ballpark price? Then at least you've got some information to help you weigh it up.

I don’t think it will alter well.

The style is slouchy and I think it’s the slouch that is swamping op if she is short. If you try to take the slouch out of slouchy … I’m not sure what you are left with!

If the op were a standard size then I'd probably agree with the majority about sending it back. But she's not so 'find another one that fits' isn't so easy. I'm still wavering.

I feel the same as @Floisme - it’s not going to be easy regardless of which jacket OP chooses.

Only other think I can think of is buying some Harris Tweed fabric and taking it with you to get your tailor to male something bespoke. Though, of course that may be more expensive than you wanted to fork out for.

Here are the photos of me wearing the jacket. I wouldn't say it's flattering! Now the question is exactly whether it's possible and worthwhile to alter it in order to have a beautiful tweed jacket, or cut my losses when I still can? Is this length acceptable at all? Btw I've folded the sleeves inside, hence some bunching.

I would honestly take that to a tailor you trust.

I have to go to a tailor every time I buy a jacket or suit. I just account for it in the cost. Arms are always too long and they never fit right.

And two more, that I couldn't add previously. I've also taken a photo of the back of the jacket unworn, to show the cut and seams.

Personally I'd return it. I'm shorter than you and sympathise but there are beautiful jackets out there and you will find one, especially now you know what you're looking for. I just think there's too much work to be done on this one - more or less a complete remodelling - and if the final result is even slightly off you won't be happy with having forked out for the tailoring.

I don’t think the length is too long op, I think the length looks fine as it is

It fits you like it fits the models. Oversize relaxed fit. The models just happen to six inches taller.
I'd send it back and buy a less relaxed fit one.

Sorry, I don’t think it is flattering at all. It’s too big.

That does seem to fit you in the way intended and similarly to the photos of the model. I don't think the length is too much and the sleeve length seems right.

For myself, I love a loose boxy jacket like that and would feel good in it. However, the fit is not making you feel good and for that reason alone you should return it. No point keeping something that you don't feel comfortable in, you will never wear it.

Are you sure it fits you on the shoulders? Looks too big there to me, so perhaps a size down might sort the issues/make alterations minor?

To me it looks as if it's the shoulders that are the bad fit. (I have disproportionately narrow shoulders so I always check there first). The sleeves can be shortened although if there's a placket at the cuff with buttons then that can complicate things (unless the sleeves are so long they can remove that altogether). But shoulders, I'm afraid, are generally a bummer to fix.

If your tailor can do it - and it won't / shouldn't be cheap as it's a big job - then I think the length and everything else would be fine. It would still be oversized, and I know a lot of people on this board dislike that style, but relaxed rather than too big - I think there's a difference.

However if what you want is some shape at the waist then I would cut your losses, send it back and carry on looking.