Leg bindings makes big difference

[JamesSwim]

Many of you probably know this, but I realize that leg bindings makes a big difference in the fit -- so it's not just the waist size of suit.

Even if the waist fits, if the leg openings and bindings are too loose, the suit doesn't fit, and if it's too tight it just isn't comfortable. Even some square legs like the Speedo brand nylon square legs have too tight of a leg opening for me, even if the rest of the suit is not.

I guess this is one of the reason why the fits differ.

I believe other things like a center seam in the back or the front (for a coutoured fit) makes a difference too.

[NJHunkguy]

Agree with you, leg bindings makes a big difference.
A few times I bought square cuts which the leg openings and bindings were too loose. Open my legs a little could expose the jewels.

[Byron]

You find a stunning print, the color and style suits you well, the quality of manufacture is good, the fabric has just the right amount of stretch for a comfortable fit, the front/back seams emphasise neat contour lines, the stated waist size is precisely what you want, and the price might even be on discount - and then.............
I sometimes feel a little sorry for the speedo stockists - how big a warehouse is needed for every combination of male body configuration in the world to be accommodated ? (and will they sell more than two suits in a year?)
Bodybuilders (with their massive thighs) I believe can rarely buy off the shelf for their posing suits and custommade therefore becomes essential for best presentation.

[Byron]

Going brief here but a little evening-up on leg openings required perhaps:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw...gdqbo1_500.jpg

[Torchwatch]

When a suit pattern is designed it is assumed that the fabric will stretch by 70%, (this is adjusted when the actual fabric is tested} there is also an assumption as to the stretch of elastic.
12mm - 15mm elastic may be used for the waist, while 6mm is often used for the leg bindings. The thinner elastic is the more likely to cut into you if it is too short. Cutting the leg elastic too long will of course make a loose floppy suit.
The designer should match the length of the waist elastic against the length of the leg elastic taking account of the style. The resulting suit should fit an average body perfectly and adjust to the skinny and muscular bodies with the same waist.
Unfortunately clothing factories make mistakes, elastic may get cut to the wrong length, be wrongly labelled or just mixed up. A 32" waist suit may get leg elastic from a 36" suit or vice versa.
If your body shape is very different to average and you keep getting this problem it may be best to buy only after trying suits on in shops, mail order is not for you.
Remember always to try a new suit on in the shower before gong public, you can never tell what the fabric and elastic will do when wet, and light suits do tend to go transparent.
As a suit ages the fabric and elastic will permanently stretch and become looser, being thinner the leg elastic will wear faster than the waist, as this happens it is time to get an exciting new suit and place the old one in your personal museum.
If you own a special suit replace it before it is obviously worn and keep it for special occasions.

[JamesSwim]

Originally Posted by Torchwatch

When a suit pattern is designed it is assumed that the fabric will stretch by 70%, (this is adjusted when the actual fabric is tested} there is also an assumption as to the stretch of elastic.
12mm - 15mm elastic may be used for the waist, while 6mm is often used for the leg bindings. The thinner elastic is the more likely to cut into you if it is too short. Cutting the leg elastic too long will of course make a loose floppy suit.
The designer should match the length of the waist elastic against the length of the leg elastic taking account of the style. The resulting suit should fit an average body perfectly and adjust to the skinny and muscular bodies with the same waist.
Unfortunately clothing factories make mistakes, elastic may get cut to the wrong length, be wrongly labelled or just mixed up. A 32" waist suit may get leg elastic from a 36" suit or vice versa.
If your body shape is very different to average and you keep getting this problem it may be best to buy only after trying suits on in shops, mail order is not for you.
Remember always to try a new suit on in the shower before gong public, you can never tell what the fabric and elastic will do when wet, and light suits do tend to go transparent.
As a suit ages the fabric and elastic will permanently stretch and become looser, being thinner the leg elastic will wear faster than the waist, as this happens it is time to get an exciting new suit and place the old one in your personal museum.
If you own a special suit replace it before it is obviously worn and keep it for special occasions.

Thanks for the suggestions & info. I don't have too many problems with bindings cutting into me, but noticed it makes a difference in overall fit. I think shape of bindings & leg opening makes difference too. Here's one more observation:

When a brief-style suit is laid flat, I see that the front is smaller than the back and the front part of leg opening makes a curve to the side.

Some suits have the front leg opening that curves sharply from the bottom to the side seam, making for a narrower pouch in front. Others curve less, making the front and back closer in size. The former makes the front fit more contoured, latter makes the front feel flatter

The seam at the bottom between the leg openings differs too -- some are range from 2 1/2" up to 3 1/2". And that makes a difference too.

So as you said, one needs to try it on. The waist and side seam size just gives you just a hint on the fit.

[NJHunkguy]

Originally Posted by Byron

Going brief here but a little evening-up on leg openings required perhaps:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw...gdqbo1_500.jpg

Love that suit

[Torchwatch]

James, if ever you get to make a suit you will notice that you are taking flat 2 dimensional fabric and creating a 3 dimensional object from it, that is defined by the male body. That is the excitement of the process.
The hardest part of making a suit is sewing in the waist and leg hole elastic so it is of equal tension all the way round. Get that wrong and the suit is ruined.
Your observation that the front of a suit is smaller than the back is correct. A suits back panel covers not only the back but also the sides and creeps around to the front to meet the front panel. I once accidentally sewed 2 back panels together, the resulting suit meeting at the sides and flopping at the front. Having a smaller front panel keeps the stretch fabric nice and taunt.
Adding rear stitching to a suit stops it sagging, the stitching thread cannot stretch while the fabric can, paper lycra suits tended to have rear stitching.
A seam up the front of a suit allows the 2 front panels to be cut on a convex curve creating a pouch. A subtle pouch effect adds more space for the well endowed in a brief suit.

[JamesSwim]

Originally Posted by Torchwatch

James, if ever you get to make a suit you will notice that you are taking flat 2 dimensional fabric and creating a 3 dimensional object from it, that is defined by the male body. That is the excitement of the process.
The hardest part of making a suit is sewing in the waist and leg hole elastic so it is of equal tension all the way round. Get that wrong and the suit is ruined.
Your observation that the front of a suit is smaller than the back is correct. A suits back panel covers not only the back but also the sides and creeps around to the front to meet the front panel. I once accidentally sewed 2 back panels together, the resulting suit meeting at the sides and flopping at the front. Having a smaller front panel keeps the stretch fabric nice and taunt.
Adding rear stitching to a suit stops it sagging, the stitching thread cannot stretch while the fabric can, paper lycra suits tended to have rear stitching.
A seam up the front of a suit allows the 2 front panels to be cut on a convex curve creating a pouch. A subtle pouch effect adds more space for the well endowed in a brief suit.

Thanks for the explanations. This is more complex than I thought, and looking at some suits, I now notice how they are made. I can understand how some suits with a separate side panel gives a different fit too.

Now I can understand how some girls fuss over their bras - their fit and how they are made. Same kind of issue -- different people need different fit for clothing that fits closely to the body.

[Byron]

.....more to it than meets the eye and many corsetieres (maybe wrong word) will say that girls get size and fit all wrong in their bra selections.
As for the guys , a suit constructed with side panel(s) may also incorporate a fabric different from front and back and so a varying stretch factor has been introduced to complicate the process of producing a good fit (as I say, a BIG warehouse needed for all.............)

PS for NJH: Came across you yesterday (Flickr I think ) in a colorful little bikini posing on white sand with arms raised, in one of your sunny resorts.