https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:20:06 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731174 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 20:15:28 +0000 unfrumped 1731174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh wow. Swoon- worthy fabric. </p> <p>I think you're on track for the length that's feasible. They're great with fullness in hip, but I'd like them to not be so dropped in crotch, but not sure what kind of a job that is. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731170 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 20:10:26 +0000 tulle 1731170@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Much better photos, thanks.&nbsp; I see what you mean now--those are giant pants!&nbsp; I love the front drape you've pinned--could that be achieved with just a substantial hook &amp; eye fastener?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The seat IS very full--you would know better than I what to do about that.&nbsp; Would you ever think of wearing the trousers quite high, with suspenders, as the original owner would have, or does that seem too clownish?&nbsp; I look forward to seeing what you decide to do.&nbsp; Trust your instincts! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731167 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 20:05:02 +0000 approprio 1731167@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks again everyone for the encouragement! <b>Jen</b>, you should totally make art with the Harper's magazines. One of these days I'll tell you about my passing acquaintance with Paul Ford of ftrain and the legendary Weekly Review. He's very good at hypertext. I love Harper's.</p> <p>For anyone who's still with me, here's a progress report:</p> <p>1-3 Full length with a basic hem. Nice enough, but they don't make my heart sing the way they should and then there's that pesky problem with the undercarriage. </p> <p>4-6 Pinned up in a variant of the original plan and cuffed to flood length. I cribbed this little trick from Jil Sander: horizontal tucks on both sides, above the knee at the back and just below in the front.&nbsp;I like the sense of structure and proportion. The way it brings the backside under control is a tiny miracle.</p> <p>7-9 Same idea further down the line. I unpicked a section of the leg seam to make room for the tuck. I think this is too deep but I wanted to see how the length played out.</p> <p>Conclusion:&nbsp;I'm thinking flood length with a deep, structured cuff. The shape cries out for it and the rise needs to be adjustable. There can be no PPL with these pants and I'm OK with that. I just need to tweak those tucks and let the proportions guide me.&nbsp;</p> <p>That's as far as I got today. Hopefully I'll have more time for them next week. In the meantime, any more thoughts or comments are deeply appreciated.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731070 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 16:05:06 +0000 chewyspaghetti 1731070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Taking in the seat shouldn't be too hard to do, though. I think these are going to turn out great! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731064 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 15:49:58 +0000 Jenn 1731064@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also wanted to add that the altering and reuse of objects--clothing especially--has been a constant throughout time. It becomes part of an item's story for future generations. You wouldn't be "restoring" the Ecce Homo fresco, you'd be engaging in a long tradition of repurposing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731062 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 15:40:19 +0000 minimalist 1731062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That _is_ a lot of fabric around the seat. Crotch area adjustments are complicated, if I understand correctly? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731058 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 15:35:31 +0000 Jenn 1731058@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really empathize with your dilemma here. I'm a paper artist, who makes things out of old books, and there's always a tension between being an artist and being a collector. A few years ago, an English professor friend gave me his collection of Harper's Magazines from 1914, with full blessing to use them however I wanted. I've never been able to cut into them. These magazines were widely distributed, and there are plenty of copies preserved in libraries and even floating around eBay. And yet...</p> <p>I still believe that you should have faith in your abilities. The chances are far greater that the next person to find those pants won't appreciate them or will want to alter them to their own needs, than the chances they'll fall into the hands of a man in the exact right size to wear them as-is. Trust yourself, preserve the details that are wonderful about them, take lots of pictures to document the process, and then own your art. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731028 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 13:00:58 +0000 Kaelyn 1731028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>WOW. The details really are incredible. Enjoy those pants! They look like they were made for you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731018 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:56:12 +0000 Traci 1731018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm far from a fit expert, but I think the top half is perfectly cute as is. &nbsp;I don't see that these need a major reworking for more drape. &nbsp;As they are, they remind me of a paper bag waist, which I really like. &nbsp;I feel like more drape could take away from the amazing waist details.</p> <p>My vote is to hem them to regular ppl and live with them just like that for a bit. &nbsp;If you are finding you reach for them but put them back often, reassess the need to crop. &nbsp;This latest set of pictures has me even more convinced these would be great at knee length too, if you can't find your happy spot at pants length. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731016 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:50:59 +0000 approprio 1731016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, a couple more pics, taken in better conditions for my own benefit so I can assess the fit properly.</p> <p>I'm doubtful mainly because they're so very big, and this is the first time I see them properly from behind. I like the front and side view, but that's a heck of a lot of material in the seat.&nbsp;I'm also inclined to agree that they should be full length.</p> <p>I think my best option is to shorten by restructuring the cuff, and overlaying the fly with a separable zipper to achieve the drape front. But should I even try?</p> <p><b>Suz, Traci,</b>&nbsp;thanks for your continued encouragement and faith in my skills. I'm making it all up as I go along ;)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731009 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:14:39 +0000 Traci 1731009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for sharing the more detailed pictures. &nbsp;They really are beauties!</p> <p>I have no hesitation at all about you hemming them to wear them. This is the way of clothes, this is what they're meant for. &nbsp;Their creator would be proud to have someone wearing them who appreciates the workmanship and artistry.</p> <p>My only hesitation is over whether you could have remorse that you've removed the option to wear them as full length pants. &nbsp;Have cropped pants had longevity in your closet? &nbsp; One thought I have had is that these would also be lovely pedal pushers if you do eventually tire of them as cropped pants, but then you're just getting even further from their intended structure, so I'm not sure how you'd feel about that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1731004 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 10:57:24 +0000 Suz 1731004@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They really are beautiful. i understand your hesitation but I still think you can do it.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1730991 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 10:18:41 +0000 approprio 1730991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback everyone! Plenty of food for thought here.&nbsp;</p> <p>I've taken a few pics before I start working on them, so you can see what I'm dealing with. Let me say again I am in awe of these pants. This is meticulous hand-finished tailoring right down to the last detail.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>JAileen, unfrumped,</b>&nbsp;honestly, I don't think these would be out of place in a museum, despite their lack of provenance. Not so much the Mona Lisa as a very fine specimen of an endangered species ;)</p> <p><b>tulle, Diane,</b> I think you're right. The less I do to these pants the better. I kind of wish they weren't quite so nice, otherwise I'd be tempted to remodel them quite radically.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1730886 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:59:33 +0000 tulle 1730886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just tried some of Diane's juju with my computer, and was able to pick up the stripe &amp; other details (thanks, Diane!) and it hit me that these pants look pretty great on you as is.&nbsp; Any chance you could just take the deepest possible hem to whatever length you like now, leaving enough fabric to lower the hems later, and just wear them slouchy without fussing too much?&nbsp; You could always change your mind and carve them up in the future, but meanwhile they would be wearable, intact, and possibly your new fave trousers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1730872 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 23:40:48 +0000 Marilyn 1730872@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you think can rework them to get the look you want then by all means go for it.&nbsp; Best of luck with the project! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1730861 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 23:01:17 +0000 unfrumped 1730861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also, remember they're just pants, not the Mona Lisa.<br /> Meaning, I can get decision paralysis about how to remake-- always some missed opportunity-- same as when trying to cull wardrobe, feat of missing something. After some thought, take your best shot snd enjoy. There will be more fabrics, more styles, more pants. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1730763 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:22:30 +0000 Anonymous 1730763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If I tilt my laptop screen just so, it lightens the picture for me and I can see the gorgeous fabric quality and the back detailing. I think you should definitely keep them and ponder on the best path to take for a little re-model. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege/page/2#post-1730752 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 18:55:12 +0000 JAileen 1730752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My son has bought bespoke items at garage sales. The tags inside indicate their origin. Just because they were custom made for someone doesn't make them museum-worthy, unless the person was of historical significance. So I agree that you should change them how you want. If it were me, I would want them to have as long a life as possible, so I would alter them to a less trendy silhouette. But it's your choice. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730743 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 18:30:26 +0000 approprio 1730743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>tulle,</b> that's exactly why I feel so nervous about it! <br />I've just been telling a fashion designer friend about them. She was very excited to see them until I told her what I was going to do. Then she winced and told me to take lots of pictures.</p> <p><b>unfrumped,</b>&nbsp;still trying to figure that out. I could limit it to the waistband and wear them long with a slouchy hem, which looks more classic but won't be very practical. Or I could shorten them for the full "awkward crop" style, which works with my current direction but might not have so much staying power.</p> <p>Either way, they will be very quirky pants.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730724 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 17:50:35 +0000 Barbara Diane 1730724@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Can't wait to see them on you once you are done. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730603 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 15:02:00 +0000 unfrumped 1730603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No point in saving for someone else who may never come along. So if all depends on whether ghd treating are feasible. Good practical issues.<br /> Also It sounds likd you may have to choose amongst some results. I skeays get tied up in that. To keep or not to keep this of that.<br /> So channel thd tailoring muses. I'd ghere s result that thd oants " want" so you follow that? What end product will help you really wear them and not keep them as a relic yourself. Maybe the fabric suggests a direction, in terms of others you already have- should these be more classic , or versatile, or more quirky? That sort of thing. . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730597 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:54:15 +0000 RobinF 1730597@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely alter and wear! What a fun find!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730584 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:37:40 +0000 tulle 1730584@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As Angie said, it's a bit hard to see what's going on with those trousers, but I can imagine the fabric and tailoring, and that little buckle in the back would seal the deal for me!&nbsp; I would not advise just anybody to cut into such beautifully made pants, but, as Suz says,&nbsp; this is what you DO, and you know exactly what you want from them, so you should absolutely make them new again:&nbsp; comfortable, warm, historical, but uniquely yours. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730562 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:19:33 +0000 Kaelyn 1730562@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with what others have said--these pants clearly make you very happy. You should keep them and alter them to suit your needs. I see no harm in altering a vintage piece if you're going to enjoy wearing it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730556 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 12:53:33 +0000 approprio 1730556@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Traci,</b>&nbsp;sorry, I missed your reply. That's a good point. They're slightly tapered to a cuff, which is so beautifully worked that I can't bear to loose it. It might be possible to keep the fabric in the leg without too much extra bulk, but then I loose the option on reshaping the crotch seam. I need to ponder that.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730549 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 12:31:04 +0000 approprio 1730549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks all! I slept on it and you're right. No reason to be precious, they're just a pair of pants in need of improvement and&nbsp;I'm glad you can see the potential.&nbsp;I was hoping to get to the studio to work on them today, but events are conspiring against me so they'll have to wait until tomorrow.&nbsp;</p> <p>As <b>Angie</b> says, black doesn't photograph well, but&nbsp;I'm going to try and take some more pictures so you can see the beautiful workmanship that went into these. There are some issues with the fit of the seat, so I'll try using the excess from the legs to reshape the crotch seam a la CdG's Ganryu jeans.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>April,</b>&nbsp;<b>Jaime,</b> since you put it like that, it's not just my right, it's my duty to give them a new lease of life and bring them up to date. And <b>Windchime</b>, that's fascinating. I was pretty sure they were formal dress pants but now I wonder if traditional Dutch clothes might carry more clues about their origins.&nbsp;<b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730548 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 12:29:28 +0000 Traci 1730548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Any chance the hem can be taken up without removing the extra fabric, so you'd have the option to let them back down later? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730526 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 10:42:28 +0000 Inge 1730526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a find, Liz! I'm leaning towards altering too (and love what April and Jaime said). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730507 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 09:10:56 +0000 Astrid 1730507@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I would also alter them. You have the skills to do them justice and are going to appreciate them! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/sacrilege#post-1730506 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 09:05:58 +0000 Style Fan 1730506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They were meant to be yours.&nbsp; You have the talent to alter them and wear them.&nbsp; Enjoy. </p>