The Life and Times of a Suit Coat

I remember when I first arrived at the store, perfectly pressed and snappily displayed. I was certain that it wouldn't be long before I was bought. I was even expensive, made from a nice wool; in a beautiful brown- someone would surely want me. I could just imagine my life: traveling, going to meetings, out to eat, it was going to be so exciting! But that wasn't what happened . . . I just sat there . . . people would try me on or pick me up off the rack to look at me, but no one wanted to take me home. I was too big or too tight, or not the right color of brown, or they didn't like my plaid, or I was too expensive. I just sat there day after day watching other suits walk out the door ready to lead their exciting lives. Then I was discounted and I thought 'now surely someone will take me home', but I was in for more disappointment. I had given up all hope. I was discounted even more and I just sat there watching the world pass me buy. Then, one day, someone was paying attention to me . . . I heard them exclaim over my price and my color . . . I might be just what they were looking for . . . then they were buying me! I was so excited, I was getting out . . . someone wanted me!! Then I realized that I wasn't going to some businessman who was going to wear me in a boardroom or out for lunch, I was going into the theatre?!?!?! I'd never even dreamed of being on stage, what would this mean? It wasn't the life I'd envisioned for myself but I was starting to get rather excited about it. Just think; me on the stage! Now I was almost giddy with the idea of it. I had my fitting the other day, and it was nerve wracking. There I was on the actor (his name his Brian Mani) and there were all these people standing there looking at me and judging me. Did I fit? Was I right for the part? I started to see my new dreams fade. I was too big, and too long and too modern, but before I could lose all hope someone said, 'We can fix that' . . . wait, what? Then, I was poked and prodded by the draper (the person on the production team in charge of the costume construction, as opposed to the designing) they were going to take me in, hem me, shorten my sleeves, take out my shoulder pads, make a third button hole, change the roll line . . . I wasn't so sure how I felt about all of that but they seemed pretty set on it and confident that it would work, so I went along with it. After the fitting I was passed along to the first hand (another person on the construction team) and she got to work. First, my sleeves were removed so I could be taken in and my shoulder pads were removed; then, the sleeves had to be taken in and reset before they were sewn back on. Next my hem was taken up with the front having to be redrawn so the curve at the hem would stay the same, and I got new wigan (something that gets puts into suit to create crisp edges)!! After that my sleeves were hemmed (more new wigan) I was starting to feel like a whole new suit. Then the finishing touches to make me look like a period suit (one from the 1920's) and not a modern one. A third button hole was carefully measured and cut, which wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, then my new roll line was put in. They took twill tape and stitched it down nice and tight to change where my lapels would roll. It was a little uncomfortable at first but them she gave me some steam (and complimented me on my wool) and it was much better. I got some new buttons and then I was done!! It took two days, but now I hang on the rack all labeled and ready to go eagerly anticipating my big debut . . .look out stage here I come!!! - Andrea Williams, First Hand, The Circle