WIW: Consignment Jacket. Alterations needed?

On Friday, I scored at the consignment store. I got a black suede pencil skirt (I have never owned a leather or suede skirt in my life!) and this little glen plaid jacket by Guess. All for $20. The fabric is lightweight and has some stretch, so this will be a three season piece for me (useful in all but full summer).

This jacket has 4 button cuffs and the buttons actually work! But I think the sleeves are too long. In pics 1 and 2, I have cuffed them shorter by one button. Pic 3 shows the actual length. Should I leave it as is, or shorten the sleeves (assuming that's not too big a job.)

The lining is aqua, so it will be fun to roll the sleeves in spring.

The jacket once had a faux fur collar; there are buttons inside the collar for attaching it. I am wondering about replacing that.

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12 years ago

Sylvie

Veteran

Wow, that jacket fits perfectly and is absolutely stunning on you. What a great score! I vote for shortening the sleeves - it does look better in #1/#2.

Amy

(website)

Wow, the fit of that jacket is great! If you can find a fur collar to replace it, that would be fun.

I would shorten the sleeves just a little bit.

Lucky you!

modgrl

Either shorten or roll and scrunch the sleeves. Great score!

catgirl

With slight sleeve alteration, you will be joining the KILLER BROWN JACKET BRIGADE.

Kappy

Great jacket! They do look a smidge long in #3, but I think they look a smidge short in #1. Can you do halfway or are the buttonholes in the way.

Suz

Buttonhole's in the way, Kappy - you got it. But I will ask the seamstress how she might finesse that. We shall see. I prefer slightly too short to slightly too long (from a lifetime of too-long sleeves I have an aversion to them) and except for full winter I usually scrunch the sleeves or roll them anyway, so it might not be a big deal.

Astrid

I love it, the fit is perfect! Although I would definitely shorten the sleeves, I think they are a bit too long in #3. That should be an easy alteration though.

missvee

The jacket is such a great fit on you it's worth having the sleeves shortened professionally. I don't think I'd bother with the fur collar; I like the line of the jacket as you are showing it now.

amyreh

What a fabulous find! I agree on shortening the sleeves just a bit, make the proportions better overall.

rae

It's worth looking into the sleeves with your seamstress for sure - amazing fit on the rest of it! If you can't alter the sleeve length, you might try adding a little "faux rouching" with a safety pin to pick up some extra fabric.

Mochi

That jacket is a brilliant, brilliant score. I also join the shorten sleeves brigade. As much as I generally hate the thought of losing the pretty little details. I feel your pain on sleeves hanging down my hands

Charmian

BEAUTIFUL jacket! It really highlights your lovely waist. I think I'm getting envious!!

Are you planning on wearing this as a skirt/dress jacket? Or would it be pants-eligible? To my eye, this jacket looks a hair short to be worn with pants without something visually elongating it, like the dark top you've worn under it here.

I'm hoping to find a skirt or two to wear with it (a purply-red would be wonderful, and navy would work, too). But in the meantime I'll wear it as shown, with untucked tops over jeans. Probably not with tucked tops for exactly the reason you mention, Charmian.

Fortunately, shortening the sleeves won't ruin the details too much. I will lose one button and buttonhole, but I'll still have a nice long row of three working buttons, so I don't think the alteration would really compromise the integrity of the piece. It's just a question of how much that is likely to cost because she'll have to be dealing with the jacket plus the lining.

Well, if you keep the look casual and are willing to scrunch up the sleeves, you could get away with not altering them (but you knew that....)

Transcona Shannon

Holy Consignment Queen Batman!!! This is fabulous on you Suz! With alterations or even just scrunching the sleeves, this is definitely a keeper!

ironkurtin

What happens to the sleeves when you stretch your arms out ahead of you?

Too-short sleeves = bluch. Like you, I'd err on the side of rolling up!

kellygirl

Jackpot! What an awesome score. It looks tailor made for you, Suz! I love it! I think the sleeves are a bit short in the first picture. I thought they were suppose to just graze slightly above the knuckle? I remember Lisa had a post about this not to long ago. I'll look for it.

ETA: At the wrist bone. Illustrated here:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....engths-psl

I think I'm a sleeve renegade. I don't care what happens to them when I stretch my arm up. I want them not TOO long when my arm is down. And what some people see as just right, I feel as too long.

I am a bit limited by the buttonhole, too. So we'll see what we can do with it.

Thanks, all!

Jonesy

Fab score, Suz!

Kyle

Geez, what a great find and you look adorable. Yes, I would definitely shorten the sleeves.

Anonymous

Chiming in late to say that you scored an awesome jacket! It looks so great on you and I can't wait to see what your tailor can do with the sleeves.

Sveta

What a score! Great fit, great cut - winner all over, Suz. I think the sleeves a bit too long but you can roll them up in winter too. If not then I wuld try to shorten them: when the sleeves are the correct length it looks much better.
It should work wonderfully with your dresses and skirts too!

Joy

Such a cute jacket! How about wearing it with the black suede pencil skirt? It looks like it would be really great paired with a denim pencil skirt too.

Jenava

So, I think the rule for sleeve length on jackets is that it should hit in the meaty part of your thumb, half-way between your wrist and first thumb joint. Given that, the sleeves look maybe a tiny touch too long but I think the way you've rolled it is way to short; it doesn't account for elbow-bending.

Aida

Lovely jacket with great fit! I also think the sleeves could use a little shortening (and scrunching!), but not as much as is cuffed in 1/2. Maybe to just under the 4th button?

wannabe

Active Member

What a fab, fab find. Lucky you. I vote for shortening the sleeves as well.

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