How to Make Single-Breasted Suits Into Double-Breasted Suits

Cate Blanchett looks stunning in a mauve double-breasted suit.

Double-breasted suits are jackets that feature two columns of buttons in the front as opposed to the one column of buttons featured on a single-breasted suit. Although double-breasted suits have been out of vogue since the 1980s, they are beginning to enjoy a renaissance in the fashion world. If you have a single-breasted suit jacket around that fits you well across the back and shoulders but gapes loosely in the front, converting it into a double-breasted jacket may be an inexpensive way to try out the look.

Things You'll Need

• Thread
• Needle
• Buttons
• Pins

Instructions

1. Purchase enough buttons to complete your conversion. It may be difficult to find exact duplicates of the suit's existing buttons, so you likely will have to replace them. Double the number of buttons the suit currently has on the front, and consider if you want to replace any buttons on the sleeve cuff to match.

2. Pull the front part of the jacket across until it fits you snugly but still allows free movement to mark how much you'd like to have the two front sides of the jacket overlap. This should generally be at least a few inches and can go up to eight to 10 inches without looking strange, depending on your size. Push a pin through the existing buttonhole to mark where you'd like the new buttons located.

3. Measure the distance between the pin and the existing button. Mark that same distance from each existing buttonhole to know where to mount the new buttons.

4. Stitch on your new buttons both where you pinned at first and where you pinned second. The second set of buttons will be decorative, not functional. This means you won't have to stitch new buttonholes which can be difficult to do at home without a machine, and won't detract from the look as this is how most ready-to-wear double-breasted jackets are constructed.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be helpful to have an assistant tell you whether the spacing you are creating between the columns of buttons is too much or too little.

• Double-breasted suit jackets lend a broadening effect to the torso, which may not be a flattering look on you. Keep this in mind when converting a jacket.

References

• BeStylish: Single-Breasted or Double-Breasted Jackets...That Is the Question