https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:24:33 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1233240 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:03:16 +0000 K. Period. 1233240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do the same thing as Lisa. I start off immediately by telling the tailor that I like a very strong break and that I want my hems to just barely be above the ground. &nbsp;Then I make them repin them again and again until they are right. &nbsp;I also often make them hem them on an angle if they are wider legs so that they are longer in the back than in the front. &nbsp;I'm very very assertive about it. Also, I always try them on again when I pick them up. &nbsp;If they aren't right, I make them redo them. &nbsp;It is a real problem! &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1233198 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:09:18 +0000 KikiG 1233198@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do my own hems unless the pants are lined after a couple of bad experiences giving exact inseam measurements that turned out too short.&nbsp; I pin, verify, re-pin if necessary and then I iron the desired crease line in--this seems so much more accurate than relying on a mere pin.&nbsp; </p> <p>I often have to unhem pants to hem them like I like--a finished raw edge with zig zag, if the pants are a heavy fabric, I use the lace hem tape, and about 1.5 inches of turn back.&nbsp; This seems to give them the weight to hang nicely.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1233132 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:06:30 +0000 Suz 1233132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like this suggestion to show a photo of what I want. I think that will clarify things. Thank you! And thanks for raising the topic!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1233016 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:21:30 +0000 Jeanie 1233016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;I think sometimes the tailor thinks we won't REALLY be happy with what we are asking. &nbsp;I have a tailor that I trust. &nbsp;She always asks me what I want and pins them and they come out just right. &nbsp;I could hem pants myself but I have a hard time pinning them on myself. &nbsp;I think it's about finding the right tailor. &nbsp;I simply wouldn't go back to one that didn't listen to me. &nbsp;It could help to show them a picture on your phone of the look you are going for. &nbsp;Then there will be no debate that you want long pants. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232990 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 03:47:00 +0000 carter 1232990@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry to edit mine late...traveling. I meant thet i pull my pants way up and wear higher heels than I plan to wear with the pants. All but one pair came back long enough last time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232963 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 03:16:31 +0000 Greyscale 1232963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is my main criterion for tailors. They have to know what the current pant length trends are, or at least be willing to listen to me. When I was less confident in my own knowledge, I was so lucky to find a tailor who was so so style-savvy. Now I'm back to the same tailor after six years away (thanks to my new job in the same building where I was a grad student!) and he appreciates my sense of style too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232955 Fri, 25 Apr 2014 03:04:05 +0000 MsLuna 1232955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Angie: I have not tried talking to my new tailor about pants yet (I've always come to him for hemming dresses and taking up the waist seam to accommodate my short waist). This tailor has a really good reputation, and I've gone to him many times for dress alterations (including a bridesmaid dress). I'm going to see if he's able to do PPL. Normally, I only get pants hemmed when I get flares. I can usually wear straight legs/skinnies right off the rack (long legs) and I don't mind scrunching. </p> <p>So I will let you know how it goes. I contemplated on altering the jeans myself but I'd rather not risk it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232434 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 18:31:01 +0000 Lisa 1232434@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I set the tailor up ahead of time.&nbsp; When I first come out of the room I state that I like them very, very long.&nbsp; Then I watch them pin.&nbsp; And in the dressing room I compare against my current jeans to make sure they are long enough. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232345 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 17:31:53 +0000 Angie 1232345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah. Suz, I see. You have to become Big Bossy Suz about your pant lengths. xo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232343 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 17:30:24 +0000 rabbit 1232343@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Is it a generational thing? (It shouldn't be though, PPL spans generations). &nbsp;I see so many, usually older, women in office wear&nbsp;walking around in pants with&nbsp;short hems, maybe the tailors are just catering to their average customer?</p> <p>In a situation where you had to get the pinning done at the shop I would probably take in photos of women wearing pants where the back hem touched the ground and there was absolutely no doubt that you were looking for floor sweeping.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232238 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 15:33:42 +0000 Liz A. 1232238@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ugh!&nbsp; I just got a new tailor, and I went through this with her.&nbsp; She seems to be very good, so I don't want to kick her to the curb just yet, but I can see that our opinions are at odds over PPL.</p> <p>The best solution I have is knowing your inseam lengths in advance.&nbsp; For instance, I like 32" for boot cuts and 31.5" for straight legs.&nbsp; I wash in advance and tell them, "Take this up 1 inch" or whatever the case may be.&nbsp; Now the question is, do they do exactly 1" or not?&nbsp; If not, that's when I go looking for a new tailor. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232235 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 15:25:11 +0000 Suz 1232235@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, it happened to me with the Theory pants (which I was letting down) because I had to do it in the store -- I can't really see the correct length at home on my own. (At her place I stand up on a little box and it's more visible). I told her how long I wanted them -- but she just wouldn't!! It was an argument. A pleasant one (because I don't want to alienate her). We ended with a compromise --- and I was hopeful it would work. But they are still too short. I can let them down some more later, if I can get her to agree to it.&nbsp;</p> <p>She's been much better about jeans I pin myself. I can do this with skinnies and BF jeans but with flares it is much harder to judge. Although she did my Long and Leans without incident.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232215 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:57:53 +0000 unfrumped 1232215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It does sound perplexing. I have the tailor pin mine while I'm trying on with the highest shoe I expect to wear. I generally think they are doing it as pinned.<br />I have found, though, that where the pants fall on my waist can vary a lot, say if I wear belted or not, and also, finally, it dawned on my that there might be some shrinkage after drycleaning. So, I do try to build this in.</p> <p>The downside is that I have some pants that reallly can't tolerate even a half-inch different shoe height and still look the way I want. This became more or an issue when I began acquiring some more fun and modern&nbsp; shoes that theoretically would go well with several pairs of pants, but introduced slightly varying heel heights.</p> <p>My main solution has been that I have to keep this in mind both with hemming and with new shoe options. Such as, trying to keep shoes at about 2 different heights--flat and maybe 1 1/2 " heel. For some pants, it's not hard to have multiple lengths--not necessarily exact dupes, but similar silhouettes--especially in black. <br />For other pants, I bring them home and put them through shoe paces--need to be able to wear with 2 different--would like even more mix and match but am finding the most important thing is to get a good match with a couple, and then have PPL for that.</p> <p>Also I find PPL is so dependend on the shoe vamp and the pant width at the hem. Just&nbsp;pant &nbsp;length alone does not make some pants and shoes good companions. That also has influenced what makes a good shoe addition for me&nbsp;and vice versa,&nbsp;whether a pair of pants that<u> seems </u>versatile at first glance, will hang up on the very shoes I thought I'd use. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232188 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:32:27 +0000 Angie 1232188@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Truly, I don't understand how this happens. I rarely have my pants hemmed because they are usually the right length - but I never have this problem when I do have them hemmed - and I pin the length myself. The tailors must be pinning the length too short.&nbsp;I CANNOT handle my pants being too short. It is completely apoplexy inducing for me.&nbsp;Are you wearing different shoes? Shrinking the trousers in the wash? We have to get to the bottom of this.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232144 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:40:38 +0000 Thistle 1232144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My sister actually does the hemming for me, and she never asks why, just hems it where I want it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1232139 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:36:21 +0000 April 1232139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do just what Diane does. Measure myself and then tell them what inseam I want. Wash first in case of shrinkage. NEVER try on (for hemming) while in the shop. I even pin a slip of paper to the pants with the inseam I want written on it. </p> <p>Occasionally even this is insufficient, but mostly it works. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231880 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 05:37:17 +0000 Golden 1231880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Every time I have taken in jeans to have the hem altered they are always too short. I am afraid to take them anymore. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231878 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 05:36:06 +0000 minimalist 1231878@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I lived in suits, this was an issue. I found a gem of a tailor through Max Mara, after I disagreed with the SA's pinned hems so vehemently that she told me to take it to their tailor myself. This tailor confirmed I was fine with some drag, then did exactly as I wished. The first few times, the leg lengths seemed a little different to me, by a mere half centimetre, and she fixed it. </p> <p>With the one pair of narrower suit pants, she pushed back and got me to agree to a length she felt looked better with the heels I'd brought in. She was right. No idea how to find this perfect balance again, if I need it.</p> <p>Control issues? Maybe. I compromise on plenty of things, but PPL isn't anything to joke around with. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231750 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:40:08 +0000 An 1231750@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My husband has been having this problem lately. It's so frustrating!!! He says he wants them really long and they still end up too short for his liking. It drives him nutty. I can see I need to learn how to do this myself. Or Diana's idea of pinning them first is a good one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231740 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:30:51 +0000 Janet 1231740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My tailor is mostly good about this. One pair of jeans came back shorter than I would have liked, but otherwise their track record is not bad.</p> <p>They pin the length on me, in front of a mirror, and have to do both legs because one leg is significantly longer than the other. They wait for me to approve before finishing the pinning, and them double check it again before I take the pants off. </p> <p>I like the idea of wearing them as high on the waist as possible, and with the highest heel I will wear with the pants while they're pinning, to ensure maximum length. You can always take more off later, but you usually can't get back length that you took away! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231726 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:20:14 +0000 Suz 1231726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, you have asked the question that has been plaguing my soul! I've recently had this difficultly with my seamstress. I actually went to have a pair of trousers lengthened. I bought them on consignment and they were hemmed too short for me but luckily had a substantial seam allowance. I took them in, showed what I wanted, and she would not make them as long as I asked. <b>WOULD NOT</b>. She did let them down, but not by as much as I requested, so to my mind they are still too short. (I still have a bit of fabric there to let them down again, thank goodness.)&nbsp;</p> <p>I sometimes pin things where I want them. But it's not always easy to get the length right on yourself, as you say. I can't really see it all that well or make it straight.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe we could take in photos of pants the way we want them? I'm seriously wondering.....</p> <p>I can hand sew so if we are talking trousers, for me it is do-able. But I don't have a machine, so I can't do my own jeans. And most of my pants do require shortening. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231725 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:20:10 +0000 Kiwichik 1231725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don 't get my hems shortened. I get them made longer but the tailor always gets me to wear them and approve what he is going to do and when I pick them up he gets me to try them again- doesn't the same thing happen when you get them shortened? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231712 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:08:33 +0000 Tina 1231712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've witnessed this while waiting at the tailor. They were pinning a pair of pants and I could tell they would be too short!<br /> We went in with DH pants and told them exactly how much shorter we wanted them, they doubted us but did what we wanted. Jeans are way too pricey to risk having them ruined by a tailor. They did an excellent job hemming them while keeping the original hem though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231709 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:06:54 +0000 anne 1231709@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good question. I have never used a tailor for this, and do it myself but I STILL end up with them too short at times. My only pair of dress pants is currently on my mending pile because I was so sick of them being too short - I am hoping they aren't so faded that I can't let the hem down.</p> <p>I like Diana's solution! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231700 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:00:38 +0000 MsLuna 1231700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! So it's not just me having problems with this!!!!!</p> <p>@Diana: I'm a control freak too. I can sew - I have a regular machine AND a serger. Oddly enough, I can NEVER get my hems right!!!! I end up ruining the pants due to seam ripping. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231695 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 02:54:27 +0000 Diana 1231695@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I pin my pants myself ahead of time. &nbsp;Or I tell them exactly how much length&nbsp;I want them to cut off. &nbsp;I never, ever have them measure for me. &nbsp;</p> <p>Why, yes, I have control issues, why do you ask? &nbsp;;) &nbsp;</p> <p>Actually lately I have been hemming my pants myself, by hand. &nbsp;It's not as hard as it seems but getting over the procrastination is the hardest part! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231694 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 02:54:25 +0000 carter 1231694@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ugh. I have the same problem. I slide my pants waaaay down on my hips and wear slightly taller shoes in order to get them the way I want them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ppl-and-your-tailor-how-do-you-explain-this-concept#post-1231692 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 02:51:43 +0000 MsLuna 1231692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Back when I was a flare and bootcut wearer, I always went to the tailor to have my pants hemmed because I had a difficult time doing this myself (the tend up too short. I have a tough time twisting/bending/getting the length right). Now when I take my pants to them, I ask that it be a quarter of an inch off the ground. A week later, I pick the pants up and they're at least almost an inch off. This happens with EVERY tailor. I will assume that the tailor often uses their "best judgement" and assume the customer doesn't know anything about pant hems. Now that flares are in style again, I'm hesitant to take them in to the tailor and requesting PPL.</p> <p>How do you request PPL to the tailor? What do you say? How do you explain PPL? </p>