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Mega closet clean out - part 1

Tanya

Veteran

I have finished a couple of categories in my major closet clean out. So far I have gone though:

* Shoes/boots: I have 4 pairs of boots and 5 pairs of shoes/sandals to donate. I also have 7 pairs of summery shoes in my holding zone– I like them all but hardly ever wear them (I suspect it’s a comfort issue). So I will be waiting till the summer and forcing myself to wear each pair at least three times till the end of the summer – if it doesn’t happen then off they go as well.

* Coats/jackets: One puffer and two spring jackets are ready for donation.

* Dresses: I have a beige suit and 8 dresses to donate.

I need some advice about bunch of items, mostly on alterations ( but feel free to comment if you think I should just get rid of the item).

1. Tweedy jacket: I love it (don’t want to get rid of it, and it has a matching skirt too). Do I need to have the waist taken in or it is fine as is ( second photo has about 1" in the back pinned)?

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3850.jpg

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3854.jpg

2. Vintage coat made of silky velvet that used to belong to my Grandma, probably the only vintage item I own. Obviously it is too big in the shoulders ( and elsewhere too, but the other parts don't bother me beacuse it's a swingy silhouette). The question is do you think it’s a doable alteration to take in the shoulders – I know it’s a major one, and I don’t want to ruin the coat, but I would really love to be able to wear it. It has some kind of filling inside the quilting, which might make matters even more difficult.

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3855.jpg

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3856.jpg

3. White trapeze jacket – can it still be worn this upcoming spring/summer or will it look dated ( the photo is from last summer) ?

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN2900.jpg

4. Navy wrap dress that I wear less than I thought I would. I think that what bothers me are the zig-zag hem and the droopy shoulder line. So I am thinking about having a tailor fix those. I have pinned the right shoulder in the photo. Feel free to vote to only fix the one thing or keep the dress as is.

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3857.jpg

5. Blue silk ombre dress – very old (worn twice only I think), but ombre is back in style. As with the previous dress, the weird hem annoys me and I am thinking of having it made straight and knee length. Or do you think I should leave it as is?

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN3859.jpg

Many thanks!

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Tanya

Patience

Veteran

1. I can't tell a difference in the two photos.

2. I don't know.

3. I think it looks fine.

4. I like removing the sleeves but I kind of like the zig zag hem. The dress looks great on you.

5. I'd hem it straight if you think you'll wear it.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Tanya - You must feel wonderful after doing such a big closet clean-out.

1 - I see the difference, but I wouldn't alter the jacket. The inch doesn't make that much difference. It still fits nicely.
2 - Hopefully you can find a really good tailor to entrust with your Grandmother's jacket.
3 - It's not dated.
4 - I like this dress as is.
5 - I'm not sure here ... a straight hem might detract from the floaty, ethereal style of the dress ... as Patience says, the main question is whether you'll get wear out of it.

shiny

Veteran

It's so hard to comment Tanya because you always look so good in everything!

Tweedy jacket - I wouldn't bother with the alterations. Oddly enough, I actually think it looks better in the first photo. I'm not sure why that is; something about the second photo makes you look more like an inverted triangle? Perhaps it's the shorter length? Also, I recall this summer when you had to go to a conference and were seeking for less body-concious clothing to wear. I think if you leave this as is, it'll be there if you have a fall/winter conference to attend. So I vote, keep but leave it alone.

The vintage coat - I have no idea if it's alterable, but I would definetly take this to a tailor and find out. It's a gorgeous coat and would be great to wear over your ballroom dresses or for other formal events. I do know that my tailor said she could do "anything" - including altering shoulders. I was dubious, because I've always heard that this is very hard to do, if not impossible, but she showed me a pile of stuff she was working on for a client, where she did just that. So, if you can't find anyone, let me know... I can give you her contact info.

Trapeze jacket - I say "keep." I don't think trapeze jackets are quite out yet. Unless you have other reasons to want to give it away?

The dresses - I'll let others decide on this one; I don't know. All I can say is that just as soon as you alter the hems, assymetrical hems will probably come back in style.

Anonymous

I love the twead jacket and would definately have it altered to look as good as it does in the picture. Edit: I looked at your post again and I do not see enough difference in the 2 pics of the twead jacket to make it worth having it taken in because it looks good in both pictures.

I also had missed the white trapeze jacket and it looks to me like alot of jackets in the stores right now so to me it does not look dated for the upcoming season. Ofcourse Angie is the expert.

I would be afraid to mess with Grandma's coat, however a tailor will know better than me. Do you know approximately what year it was made? Some tailors are better than others so make sue you find one with good recommendations before letting them tear into it. You might call the county extension service, home economics dept for a referral.

I agree with you on both dresses, have the hem made straight and take off the sleeves on the darker dress unless that is a huge alteration. If it is a big deal then just making the hem straight might do the trick.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

1. I wouldn't alter it. It looks fine as is, and I think it's meant to fit that way anyway. It actually looks as if the bust is pulling a bit when you pin it.

2. I'm not sure, but it might be worth at least a consultation with a tailor you trust.

3. It looks great. I have a 60s style swing jacket that is cheetah print, and I think Angie posted that swing jackets are still in.

4. I like the plan for this dress, however, I think the alteration will end up costing you almost as much as you could pay for a new plain navy wrap dress. Is it an especially nice/exceptional quality one? Also, I've never had much luck taking sleeves off of things, because the hole just never seems to be right.

5. The ombre dress is nice. I think cutting the hem straight will take away from the ombre effect, since it seems to follow the line of the hem. I vote give away unless you really love it. I mean, it looks nice, but I feel like I've seen you in more spectacular things (I'm trying to be kind of ruthless here).

shell

wow, you've been busy! here are my thoughts:

1. i prefer jacket as is. hard to tell in photo, but it almost looks like it's gaping slightly in between the buttons in the second photo.

2. i don't really love it. i know it has sentimental value, but it's just not my favorite style on you.

3. i love this jacket and have a feeling trapeze jackets will be in style for a bit longer.

4. the first dress is such a great fit! i would see how long the skirt would be if you straighten out the hem. it may be too short, but i can't really tell. i like it with or without the sleeves. if you remove them, it would probably look nicer under a cardi. no weird sleeve line showing underneath!

5. it's cute, but it looks a bit snug at the top of the dress. also, i don't think it would look so great hemmed to one length b/c the coloring wouldn't be even. there'd be a weird triangle of dark right at the front, you know? so, i vote donate.

BLB

(website)

Tweedy jacket--like Shiny, I actually prefer it in the first photo. KEEP.
Vintage coat--it's not a style I personally like, but if you think you'll wear it (Shiny makes great suggestions) and if it has major sentimental value for you, then give the alterations a shot. It definitely needs them.
Trapeze jacket--looks great and stylish to me. KEEP.
Navy dress--I'd make the alterations you're suggesting and then wear the heck out of it (with the trapeze jacket maybe?)
Ombre dress--I don't care for this dress. It looks dated to me and a bit cheap (material-wise) even though I'm sure it's not, since it's silk. It also looks kind of washed-out to me. Donate.

Anonymous

1. Could you get by by wearing a narrowish belt to pull the jacket in when you want to? If you love the jacket, do what you need to to feel fab in it.
2. Love the vintage coat. If shoulder pads are coming back, would small ones help this coat fit you without lots of alterations?
3. Keep the swing coat at least another season. It's so cute on you.
4. I like this dress as it is. The hem looks like it makes the dress a god one to go dancing in.
5. I don't like the hem as is but not sure it's the best color for you anyway, at least in the photo. Since ombre is in style, would this dress fetch you something at a consignment shop?

Congratulations on all your hard work at closet clean out. It's not an easy job.

Ellen

1. I'd leave it. There isn't a huge difference in fit, but I noticed that it looks like the spaces between the buttons gape when you pull it tighter. There is still a lot of waist definition without the jacket being tailored smaller.

2. No idea whether this can work, but I'd make sure to ask the tailor if he/she has experience working with vintage outerwear before leaving it to be done!

3. Love this on you and I recall a blog post from Angie about trapeze jackets still being workable for the next while?

4. This is classic and fun at the same time. I wouldn't adjust it at all, personally. The hem adds interest to the basic cut and I agree with the others that it might be more worth finding a different wrap dress if you also want something more basic.

5. This just doesn't seem to flatter you. Maybe it's how the thin outer layer is pulling across your torso? This just doesn't seem to be a 'you' dress... and at the kind of events you'd wear this to, you want to be in something that makes you shine!

Good work doing all this - it's hard to get one's act together! I hope to put up a 'closet cleanout' post soon.

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you all very much for your help! So this is what I have decided -:

1. Keep the tweed jacket as is.

2. Find the best possible tailor and ask for his opinion before attempting to alter the coat shoulders.

3. Keep and still wear the white trapeze jacket.

5. Donate the blue silk dress.

I am still undecided what to do with the navy wrap dress (4), but I do want to keep it. I do not want to get another simpler one because I have a second navy wrap dress already - but this is a dressy DVF silk jersey one with a tiny white pattern. So I do not need a third navy wrap dress. I am pretty sure I'll fix the shoulders - there is no shoulder seem to speak of - the material just falls over - so it should be a very simple alteration. However, I still do not know whether to leave the hem as is or straighten it. Decisions, decisions ...

ChristineB

I agree with your decisions. That wrap dress looks amazing on you, but I'm not a huge fan of the hankerchief hems (I think that's what they're called?). However, if you already have a navy wrap dress, having this one altered may be more trouble than it's worth. However, the alteration to the sholders would be an extremely easy one to do.

Maya

Veteran

Tweed jacket: I agree that there isn't really that much of a difference between the two photos. I think it looks fine the way it is.

Vintage coat: It's beautiful! It does need a better fit in the shoulder though. I think you should take it to an expert seamstress and see what they can do. This is the sort of thing that would probably be worth the labor and cost.

Trapeze jacket: DEFINITELY a keep. After seeing you in it, I kind of want one too, even though this style doesn't look great on me. I don't think they're going away any time soon.

Navy wrap: I'm also not crazy about the hankerchief hem. The nice thing about being you is that you look great in everything, so if an item isn't absolutely perfect, it shouldn't be too hard to find one that is. If you were more difficult to fit and found it hard to find clothes that flattered your body, I would say get the alteration...but it should be very easy for you to find another wrap dress that works. In summary: I think it would be easier to just find a new wrap dress than have this one altered.

Ombre dress: You already decided to donate and I stand by your decision.

shiny

Veteran

Tanya, another idea for the vintage coat: could you have a tailor remove the arms entirely, shorten it, take out shoulder pads (if it has any) and make it into a capelet? I don't know if you like the whole capelet trend, but it could possibly be adorable....

JessicaLynn

KEEP:
I think your tweed jacket is fine, in fact I think it looks really cute on you!
The trapeze jacket is really cute too.
ALTER(?):
I think the dress looks better when it's sleeveless, but I'd only alter it if you really don't like it. I think it's ok otherwise.
As for your coat, I think it's pretty impossible to alter shoulders without making the garment awkward. Like others said if you have an expert tailor you could try though.
DONATE:
The blue dress.

Violet

Tanya, I agree with the decisions about the other outfits. I like the navy dress as is and I think the hem adds some interest to the dress. But if it is the hem that is keeping you from wearing the dress and it is cheaper to get it altered, then I would keep it instead of looking for a new one.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Congratulations, Tanya! I’m VERY proud of your closet sweeping efforts. Here’s my 2 cents:

1. Tweed jacket fits well. No need to alter.

2. Granny’s coat is lovely, buy not worth altering. It could easily become a botch job.

3. White trapeze jacket looks great. Keep.

4. Have the dress fixed – stunning.

5. Pass on the ombre dress.

Nicole

Veteran

OK, I'm going to respond w/out reading anyone else's replies because I don't want to be influenced.

1. Tweed jacket--I don't think it's too big. Actually looks too small when it's pinned.

2. Vintage coat--I would find out how much $ it will cost to have it taken in on the shoulders and then decide if it's worth the expense. It kind of looks like it's hanging lower on one side (the right side if you're facing the photo). I know it's a sentimental piece--so it's impossible for me to understand what your attachment is.

3. White trapeze jacket--I like it and I'm not typically a big fan of trapeze jackets. I think this one has a classic look to it and you can keep wearing it.

4. Black wrap dress--I really love this dress but I would ask a tailor about having the hem straightened. I am really opposed to hankercheif hems--they look very dated to me and cheapen the look of this otherwise very pretty dress.

5. Ombre dress---eh, that center seam looks very poorly done--like it's bunching up in some areas--i don't think it's very flattering on your chest area. All the seams look to be pulling in a weird way--like the person who did the sewing didn't know how to manipulate the fabric.

Alecia

Veteran

Since you've already made some decisions about most stuff, I'll only vote on the hem of the wrap dress. I could never really get into those hems even when they were in. I think making the hem straight would give it a timeless quality that it doesn't have with the current hem. So I vote for straight. I could go either way on the sleeves, but it would be an easier layering piece sleeveless.

Go Tayna! What a project. You've done well!

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you very much, the decision has been reached: I will fix both the hem and the shoulders on the navy dress. Now onto the second part of the closet clean out.