Shadbelly for short adult

[lcbaker]

I am on the hunt for my first shadbelly, but having some difficulty finding one to fit my short, but not super skinny body. I find that Grand Prix hunt coats size 14-16 fit perfectly. R.J. classics regular hunt coats don’t fit me well at all, as the torso is usually too long and not proportioned right. Wondering if maybe I could squeeze into a children’s 20?

Does anyone have any experience with having a shadbelly altered by a tailor?

I’m hoping to find a relatively cheap one seeing as I’m only going to need it 2-3 times a year.

Thanks!

[ElementFarm]

I’m short-not-skinny too. Most of my huntcoats are the Grand Prix 14s, and I actually found the RJ shadbelly in 8 short worked perfectly. I have one other RJ regular hunt coat in 8 short, and it’s not bad. Also, the shadbellies are shorter in the torso than a traditional hunt coat, so I wouldn’t discount an RJ without trying one on.

[Foxglove]

Definitely try on the Shadbelly with shirt, tie, and breeches! The coats are a challenging fit, and impossible if you don’t try them on with what you are going to wear under them. I have made a Shadbelly for myself --took 60 hours of sewing (cut out to last button of which there are 18). There is a lot of hand sewing in the pattern I used (6 hours). But I made mine to fit me. I was tired of t he Oreo look —shirt blooming out between vest and belt. Mine fits me perfectly. However, to adjust the length in the torso, I would have to completely unmake the coat. The tails are a separate piece (solid from neck to tail bottom) that is attached at the under arm seams to the short front. I can’t see a way to make both shorter in the torso without taking the coat apart and recutting both pieces. I have a JR Classics that was my daughters —it seems to be really short in the torso. I’d go try one on –

[eclipse]

I tried an Animio shadbelly that fit perfectly…I’m 5ft2! Only problem…expensive, so I’m saving my $$$ for one! Even the length was perfect…

[lcbaker]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I’ll try an Rj and see how it fits. I’m less worried about the torso and more concerned the tails will be dragging on the ground! I’m 5’1 on a good day. In my younger years I just bought children’s coats, but I think I’ve expanded too much to pull that off without looking like a stuffed sausage!

[atl_hunter]

I wear a 14-16 in Grand Prix, regular RJ Classics are too long for me, too. However, their Shadbelly works well with low rise TS!! So that is what I have for the Shadbelly. Most Shadbellies look silly with low rise TS but this combo worked for me. Good luck finding something!

[Dewey]

I am 5’0", and the RJ in a short works well for me. I wear regular rise breeches with it.