Glasgow: A BIG disappointment shopping

[fortcollinsjerry]

I've just spent the last ten days in Glasgow shopping for a Crail style Jacket. There must be 20 shops I've been in. NOT ONE would admit they had a 46R on the hook they would sell me. Everyone wanted to measure me up, wait ten day/two weeks, and mail me a jacket when i got back to the US. IMHO, this has to be the B.S. story of the century. How many Size 46R Crail jackets do you suppose are hanging in Glasgow today, - 100 - 500? Every shop I go in has coats covering the wall of every size and even those have to be "fitted". I went into the Glasgow branch of the largest Men's Clothier in Great Britain today, Slaters, and the sales man looked me in the face and said he didn't have a fit for me, in any of his stores, but they would be happy to measure me up. I've even told them I would be happy to buy an X-hire garment. It seems those are always at another shop in Who-knows-where.

I have this mental image of a huge warehouse somewhere in the UK filled with rows and rows of Irish elves happily stitching up jackets that say on the tag "46R", sending it out on a delivery truck to some haberdashery who will, after an appropriate delay, call me and say Mr Crawford, your tailor made jacket just arrived.

I've had suits tailor made. Those suits don't say "Size 46R" like the suit hanging on the rack at Sears - they have a label saying "Made by XXXX expressly for ....."
One thing for sure, none of the Glasgow shops are going to get my $500. Maybe business is so good they don't care??

I'm going to continue my search in Edinbugh next week

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well... following on the Gathering of the Clans, it may be that the stocks in many shops are a wee bit depleted. I'm guessing you are an American (you don't say where you live) and therefor you probably aren't aware that UK sizes don't exactly run true to US sizes-- most shops will want to measure you before squeezing you into a jacket. You Might think you are a 46 regular, but the tape measure might suggest a 48 regular would be a better fit.

Probably the best place to try for ex-hire would be Moss Bros., who should also have your size in stock. If they don't, they can usually supply your size from one of their other stores within in 24/48 hours, although there may be a charge for rush service. Moss Bros. has stores in Edinburgh, and throughout most of civilized Great Britain.

[Oddern]

This sounds almost like a conspiracy, if you ask me. 46r is quite ordinary size. Now I am perhaps a bit subjective since I'm also a 46r.

[mbhandy]

I found that I had to get a 48L and I thought I was a 46R for a Kilt Jacket. Just try one on and see how it fits. They would not even let you try one on?

Well hope you have better luck in Edinburgh.

MrBill

[English Bloke]

... Moss Bros. has stores in Edinburgh, and throughout most of civilized Great Britain...

Not in Preston Lancashire... mind you that explains alot!

[mbhandy]

Repeat???????

[Sammac]

When I bought my Argyle jacket I ordered a 48R, they didn't have a 48S, so when I got it, had the sleeves shortened and the waist pulled in a bit for a better fit, by the way, my suitcoat from Penney's is a 46S.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

When I bought my Argyle jacket I ordered a 48R, they didn't have a 48S, so when I got it, had the sleeves shortened and the waist pulled in a bit for a better fit, by the way, my suitcoat from Penney's is a 46S.

Part of the problem (if it is a problem) is that a suit jacket is cut entirely different than a kilt jacket-- which can account for the kilt jacket being a full size larger than the suit jacket. Britons also tend to have a physically different "shape" than their North American counterparts, and this, too, can mean that suit/jacket sizes can go up a notch between North America and the UK.

The bottom line is this: No matter how certain you are as to the size of your jacket, you should always "try before you buy".

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

*****

[skauwt]

thats the thing with kilt hire shops most only stock items for hire and even when they do have ones for sale they do tend to choose to measure and post rather than have you pay and walk away ,
the stock they have is more for show, in this day in age it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest that they don't have much stock with the economy the way it is those shops tend to have very limited amount..

again most are just glorified retail outlets for other companies rather than there own range they just buy in when needed so they dont fork out any money which i guess in some ways makes sense but frustrating when folk like us just want to go and actually buy there and then

also as MacMillan of Rathdown pointed out the gathering season is here so more likely stocks from the main stockists are in short supply and the UK/US sizes are not the same hence all the measuring