How to Make a Jacket Look Smaller

You can make a jacket appear smaller without a tailor.

Making a jacket look smaller can help if one is a little too small for the jacket on the first place, or if it suits the needs of the occasion or costume. Usually, if a jacket is too large, one could take it to the tailor and pay to have the sleeves and bottom edges hemmed up. However, if you're on a budget or there's not enough time to get the jacket to the tailor before it will be worn, you can make the jacket look smaller.

Things You'll Need

• Safety pins
• Washer and dryer

Instructions

1. Roll up the sleeves of the jacket, folding them underneath the sleeve to hide the edges. This will make the arms of the jacket appear to be smaller than they actually are. If the sleeves will not stay in place after rolling them, secure the sleeves using safety pins inside the sleeves.

2. Untuck any shirts underneath the jacket, and let the shirt hang out over top of the waistline underneath the jacket. The untucked shirt will make the jacket appear larger than the shirt.

3. Wear two or three shirts underneath the jacket to fill out the jacket and make it appear less baggy around the back and belly. Wear baggy pants and loose-fitting clothing to make the jacket appear smaller in comparison.

4. Wash and rinse the jacket in hot water to shrink the jacket, but only if the jacket is made of 100 percent cotton or denim fabrics. Dry the jacket in medium to high heat.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the jacket to a tailor to have the jacket professionally altered if time permits.

• Never cut or tear the jacket unless the jacket is expendable.

References

• Evening Wear Guide: Suit Jacket Fitting Advice
• Gary Tailor: Tailoring Tips