https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 02 May 2026 16:42:05 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1480446 Sun, 26 Apr 2015 13:59:03 +0000 UtahDesert 1480446@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've only recently started having items altered, but now I'm sold on the practice. A few months ago I "auditioned" a couple of tailors, and found one I'm very happy with. So far my alterations have all been about making the item fit more closely and more flatteringly, especially coming in at the waist--tops and blazers (or jackets in general), side-seams and darts. And precisely because I buy almost all my clothes at clearance or thrift store prices I'm happy to spend two or three times as much on the alterations.</p> <p>My favorite alteration items currently are men's silk shirts--the short-sleeved kind made with a tissue-thin but washable silk. (Do a Google images search for "Silk shirts summa" and you'll see what I mean.) I love the feel of them, but I can never find them in small, and even medium is hard to find. My new tailor took one that I looked positively lost in and made it into a slim close-fitting tunic that I absolutely love. (She had to take in the sleeves as well to make it work, but it was still affordable.)</p> <p>I worry that I might be getting carried away, because now I'd really like to take every top in my closet that hangs loosely in the back and add a couple darts to it. I suppose it would be a bad idea to go for more or less the same silhouette in all my tops. </p> &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1480227 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 22:07:15 +0000 pegs 1480227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In reply to sea salt, I would say that sometimes the help of a friend with a good eye can help you determine what would make a garment work better for you. With another pair of hands to lift, pin, and tuck you'd be amazed at how much it is possible to do yourself. Practice on some thrift pieces that don't matter too much and check out "how to do......." Videos on YouTube. I assume you call it YouTube over there too? There is so much info out there nowadays. I found this forum by asking "how do I get rid of coat hanger bumps?" and there you all were! Lol </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1479837 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 22:29:32 +0000 Kirstjen 1479837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sea-salt, I'm not sure where you live, but I'd start with reviewing yelp or asking your friends who they use, what they use them for &amp; how satisfied they are. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1479835 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 22:17:54 +0000 salt-sea 1479835@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've wanted to get things altered, but the two local tailors I've seen seem more about doing specific very basic alterations - pants hemmed, buttons, etc.<br /> if I look farther afield, what should I look for that will help identify a true tailor that will help identify the ideal alterations vs someone like my local options who does only the basics?<br /> Or do I need to learn exactly how to identify those more nuanced alterations myself?<br /> Thanks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1479735 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 19:31:19 +0000 Alassë 1479735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do a lot of alterations as well (hems, buttons, taking up necklines, slimming at side seams, shortening sleeves, waistbands). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1479569 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:33:57 +0000 Olivegreen 1479569@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>An alteration that i will be trying out, per The Directrice blog, is opening up the bottom side seam of blouses a few inches to allow them to lie flatter and cease the bunching even a well fitted blouse is prone to. Side Vents.<br /> Am queen of the woven button downs so this tip was of interest. Anyone else done this?<br /> Since I thrift a lot of items, my feeling is that I can afford to tweak them without much added cost, overall. And it generally leads to a feeling of confidence when things are fitted to my actual body rather than some standardized ideal. So worth it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever/page/2#post-1479544 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:01:15 +0000 unfrumped 1479544@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a lot of work items tailored. Many waistbands. Occasional dress bodice. I don't do the hems myself except for casual pants or an unlined&nbsp;straight jacket&nbsp;sleeve&nbsp;I may whipstitch by hand.&nbsp; <br />Only items that fit generally well but would not be okay without these changes. Perfect off-the-rack fit eludes me work and dressy items. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479447 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:11:20 +0000 chadya 1479447@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I very, very, rarely have things tailored. As a bargain shopper adding $20 or more to the cost of the garment does not make sense. <br />If it needs tailoring NEXT! </p> <p></p> <p>However, in my life I don't need jackets or that type of garment</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479422 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:00:46 +0000 Summer 1479422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It makes perfect sense to have things altered for perfect fit. &nbsp;I often do smaller alterations myself, but if the item is expensive or the work is tricky, I would prefer to take it to a professional.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />I also like to re-work a garment if I can; dresses to tops or skirts, for instance, and I'm trying to motivate myself to make things myself again - I seem to have lost the habit!</p> <p>As to your question, I probably might be inclined to keep a professionally-altered garment longer, as long as the work was successful, of course. &nbsp;To warrant the extra cost, the item would have to be special and wardrobe-worthy in the first place, so it would then be likely to keep its place for as long as it stayed current and pristine. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479379 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 06:47:50 +0000 Deb 1479379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Generally I buy items that fit well. Though I often alter jean hems to my liking or run in a straight side seam to tweak the fit for myself now and then. And I occasionally re-fashion older items because I love the fabric but have outgrown the style.....perhaps making a simple top, a skirt or a scarf. I also repair or replace buttons on all of our clothes. Beyond that, for extra special dresses or shortening of expensive coat sleeves, I would use my seamstress to avoid any regrets. We have developed a lovely relationship over the years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479334 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 03:14:28 +0000 Faith 1479334@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>On newly bought things I usually only do minor alterations--hems, the occasional waistband. But I have done the major silhouette-changing alterations to inherited gems over the years. I'm afraid I went a little far in shortening some skirts in the late 90s, though, so now I also prefer to make sure that enough allowance is left that alterations can be, at least partially, undone! I am also an avid patron of the re-weavers. Less so, admittedly, since I moved to a semi-tropical clime where knits are not so necessary, nor moths (evidently) so prevalent.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479302 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 01:02:27 +0000 DonnaF 1479302@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tend not to buy items that don't fit perfectly other than pant/jean lengths since I am paranoid about alterations turning out to my satisfaction.&nbsp; I just had shirt sleeves shortened by Nordstrom, so now I know that's a safe alternation.&nbsp; With $100 (or for me this year, $200) in free Nordstrom alterations, I should feel better about buy stuff that needs a tweak or two.</p> <p>That being said, I bought a Foxcroft shirt that I decided later would fit me better if it were taken in at the hips.&nbsp; The alteration was fine but I still didn't wear the shirt so I passed it on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479290 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 00:34:23 +0000 frannieb 1479290@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post - I was just thinking this myself. I would get more tailored if the tailor I love wasn't 40 minutes away. I am auditioning a new tailor who comes to your house .<br />What I have tailored - Almost all my shirts in the shoulder - I have narrow shoulders, darts added in the bust to make shirts look better, almost always the waist of my pants, vents put into the side of shirts at the waist.&nbsp;<br />And I have a skirt I love but doesn't fit right anymore so I am going to try the refashioning thing with the new tailor.<br />I have reached the point where almost all my work clothes are tailored. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479277 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 00:08:51 +0000 Chiara 1479277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I get lots of alterations too- pants that fit on my hips are always too large on the waist, so I have to have the waist taken in. And usually sleeved tops that are long enough for my arms and torso are too wide. Fitted dresses can be very very difficult to find- if I want one, I often have to make it myself.<br />I will change hem lengths myself eg shorten trousers or a top. But alterations that are changing width (darts, waistbands etc) somehow feel a bit trickier and I usually leave those to professional tailors. I would love to be able to do my own waistbands, since it is such a common adjustment for me, so if any of the sewers above know of a good online tutorial, please let us all know! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479267 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 23:40:07 +0000 Caro in Oz 1479267@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't buy much unless the fit is good to start with, so tailoring for me is mostly hemming the sleeves of my jackets/tops &nbsp;(I have a shorter upper torso) or taking in side seams for a less boxy fit. I also upcycle clothes if I still love the fabric but not the stye. I've just started to sew again after a break of many years </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479265 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 23:36:21 +0000 Staysfit 1479265@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use the tailor regularly. Here's the list: 1. Pants hemmed or let out. 2. Blouses nipped at waist 3. Blazers nipped at waist and excess fabric removed from back. 4. Waists reduced in all bottoms, pants/skirts<br /> 5. Sleeves altered in shape or length. 6. Shirts altered in length. 7. Skirts altered in length. 8. Dresses altered in length. 9. Dresses remade into completely different style 10. Adding a closure or extra button to wrap top or dress 11. Changing buttons. 12. Changing zippers. 13. Altering linings. 14. Fixing torn pockets. 15. Stitching down pleats 16. Shortening straps </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479250 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 23:01:58 +0000 lisaflex 1479250@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i alter alot of stuff - not me, but a tailor. lol.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479248 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 22:59:46 +0000 retailgirl 1479248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Almost everything I wear is altered...I'm tall but not really tall, so regular sizes fit with the sleeves or lengths on pants let down. I wear a lot of Blazers, and they all look better with the waist nipped in. I go to a wonderful tailor, and he's worth every penny...ESP. If I have jacket sleeves let down. He always is able to keep the vent and they look amazing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479169 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 20:41:25 +0000 Janet 1479169@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I sometimes wear things despite the need for a touch of tailoring (impatience sometimes wins out when I don't want to wait for the tailoring to be done!), but I almost always end up having the adjustments made when I love a piece but something about it drives me nuts. My most typical alterations are:</p> <p>- shortening straps/shoulders on dresses and tops to fit my short torso<br />- taking in the sides under the bust of dresses and tops because often things that fit my shoulders, bust, and hips are too big in the body/waist<br />- taking in waists of pants (accommodating for thighs/hips usually means waists are too big on me)<br />- hemming pants/jeans -- I often have to buy tall lengths and get just a bit hemmed, since regular lengths are often a little too short for me</p> <p>I will do some little things myself -- changing buttons, adding a little stitch here and there to keep an errant wrap top closed, etc. But even though I own a sewing machine, I have no confidence in my ability to work on a treasured item of my own clothing that I paid good money for! I would need to practice on a garment that I don't care about. ;-)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479163 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 20:27:45 +0000 Olivegreen 1479163@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very handy bunch of ladies. Being short and not at all a fit model, always had to have things hemmed and sleeves shortened. Like others, I move buttons, and sew in darts, add stitches to a gaping neckline or placket, and sometimes overdye or bleach an item that gets faded or is a slightly off colour.<br /> I often cut off ornamentation, tabs, strings, and anything hanging or annoying, even on shoes.<br /> If it still does not work, it leaves.<br /> Got very spoiled overseas when could pick fabric and pattern and have clothes made up to absolutely suit. I do wonder if that is not cheaper in the long run, and envy those artistic seamstresses who make their own clothes, they really do look better. I kept those things forever, till they got much too small. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479152 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 20:06:43 +0000 Sal 1479152@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't often do it but agree it is an excellent idea....and I have been happy with results.</p> <p>I have had waistbands changed, trousers made into shorts npand pieces hemmed. I can do buttons and some hems myself but sew with caution as I am quite rough.</p> <p>I think for trousers this is a great idea for me as I struggle to get a good fit between the waist and thighs.</p> <p>My DH gets all his trousers altered, he buys up a size and then gets the waist taken in. He does lots of running and biking and trousers can be too tight in the thigh unless you go for the baggy style (which I do not like!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479145 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 19:47:28 +0000 rachylou 1479145@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting question! Now that I think about it, I think I probably do keep professionally altered and custom made things longer. Some of it may be fit, some of it may be I only put that kind of effort into things of a certain quality/durability, some of it may be conservatism in style choices when I go the whole 9 yards.</p> <p>But I haven't found a good enough tailor nearby, so I've really fallen off the bandwagon. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479096 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 18:07:21 +0000 JayS 1479096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would gladly get more things altered if I knew a good tailor. The best one I've found so far is only good for hemming..would never let her do major alterations.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479075 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:41:52 +0000 shedev 1479075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I regularly take up sleeves and pants hems. I sometimes alter widths of things. Occasionally I'll buy something with a lot of fabric at thrift and turn it into something else. Mostly, I want to buy things I don't need to alter, but being short means it doesn't always happen. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479061 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:11:30 +0000 Anonymous 1479061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Marilyn: you are a genius. I bought a second hand tunic this afternoon. I could not try it on (it was only 2,50 euro, so I took the risk) and it turned out the sleeves are too long and too wide. I would not have thought to turn it in to a short sleeved top, but that is what I will be trying to do this weekend! Thank you for this idea!</p> <p>I occasionally alter clothes. I hem jeans, take in sides of shirts and sometimes I replace buttons. It can make all the difference! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479030 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:19:01 +0000 Ledonna N. 1479030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I get just about all of my pants and denim altered in the waist and hemmed. I'm short 5'2 and plus size 18 so most things never fit off the rack. If it fits in the hips then I will have it taken in. I'm to tall for petite and to short for average. I believe more fabric is added for the Plus. Most bottoms I purchase are average or tall. </p> <p>As for tops and jackets I have had them altered at times. I'll have a jacket that fits in the shoulders but not in the waist or over my hips. I will have my seamstress put princess seems or bust darts to make them fitted.</p> <p>It is the same with button ups. I love mens buttons but not the collar or the fit so,I'll have them altered at the waist and the collar removed for more of a manderian collar.</p> <p>It may sound expensive but I only exclusively use thrift shopping so my savings is made to up have exact alterations to my body shape. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479029 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:15:46 +0000 pegs 1479029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do quite a lot of alterations to my wardrobe. I buy the majority of my clothes at charity (thrift) shops or from eBay as I tend not to wear things that are current fashion trends, I don't know exactly why it has developed that way other than being an odd shape, very top heavy. A Uk 18/20 top and 14 bottom. I get great satisfaction from buying something cheaply, customizing it to work for me and getting lots of compliments about them. I wear a lot of hats too and change the styling of them. If an outfit needed major sewing changes I would pass, but I can shorten, slim, repair, trim and embellish. A few little changes can make a huge difference to how clothes look on me. I can very rarely buy new and have a successful outfit, but I DO buy my jeans new. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479026 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:08:31 +0000 Marlene 1479026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I get about half of my clothing items altered somehow. &nbsp;I have been using a tailor here in town but her prices have skyrocketed because she's the ONLY tailor in town! &nbsp;So now I am dusting off the sewing machine so I can do the simple stuff myself and take the more complicated stuff into the tailor. &nbsp;I probably will never be at the skill level where I can take in a waistband and that is something I like to do a lot. &nbsp;But hems and sleeve shortening I can do myself. &nbsp;I never seem happy with a piece of clothing off the rack and often will try a new piece on and mentally check off all the ways I can alter it.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479025 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:07:52 +0000 Anonymous 1479025@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a fairly easy body type for ready-made clothing, but hover between petite and regular sized clothing. I'm a stickler for fit, too, and find it best to buy brands that fit me from the get go. The only alterations I ever get done are for sleeve or pants length. I'm just lucky that way.</p> <p>IMO, to tell someone only to buy off-the-rack clothing that fits perfectly is <i>very</i> snooty! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/alterations---how-to-make-your-wardrobe-last-forever#post-1479023 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:06:40 +0000 Anonymous 1479023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think alterations are really important. I've sewn all my life and I'm a sewist by profession, so I'm always doing other peoples alterations as well as making for them&nbsp;from scratch. I will say that almost 100% of anything I buy off the rack for myself ends up being altered somehow, so lately I make almost all my own things. I find that unless people understand how things should fit, then they are happy going around in ill fitting items and oblivious to the fact that garments could look and feel so much better on. Thankfully on YLF we learn a lot :)&nbsp;As for hanging on to items, I find it easier to let go of store bought items than ones I've made myself. I'm pleased at all the responses of fabbers doing some jobs for themselves. It's good to know sewing is alive and well. </p>