Berry Bedraggled + Altering Eileen Fisher to be more BodyCon

Hello from an escapee of wicked spring rainstorms!

(don't let the last-minute sun you see fool ya)

Back to coldish and damp so I reached for vintage sparkle, high-coverage footwear, and something I wore a lot this winter -- voluminous and cozy berry cashmere.

[Definitely a tougher look for me to pull off, but it's what all the cool kids were wearing and I needed to pull my wardrobe casual in a hurry this winter!]

Tried to climb into my mirror to avoid L'Orange but as you can see I'm surrounded.

Underneath all the fluffy goodness

I get a lot of use out of stretchy but somewhat sleek charcoal pieces but they can be hard to find in the right combo. Below:

2 of my main (new) spring/summer pieces, heavily altered to work for me --
Eileen Fisher lightweight matching jersey skirt and "long shell" high/low tank.

Sorry that hanger shot provides best evidence of what my seamstress did when I hit a sale and took them to her for rouching / ruching!

Stock photos pretty close to the "before." We decided to leave the top asymmetrical but do both sides of the skirt's bottom. Because the material stretches it's very easy to walk in despite the narrowing.

This is my first go with EF clothing so I sure hope following the care instructions results in a decent lifespan. [Experiences posted here imply that...]

Thx for looking. I'll catch up to you short-sleevers/ sleeveless outfit posters eventually!

5 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, I love the alteration to add ruching and therefore shape -- that is inspired. My big problem with EF pieces is that they have no shaping -- I had a linen tank a few years ago that was so nice, but it was always too big in the body (it fit in the boobs but then just sort of hung, tent-like, a terrible look when one has 32F-G girls and a waist). I ended up giving it away even though I loved the fabric. And I have that problem with tops A LOT, even a couple of tees I've bought more recently -- they're too long and too big but if I size down they're too small in the shoulder/boob. You have made me see that it's possible to make them work!

And your hair is gorgeous.

What a FAB solution!! I am inspired as well!

Anonymous

They look great! I haven't bought any EF since they look like they'd work better for straight body shapes, but hmmm....

Stagiaire Fash

Berry is “what all the cool kids were wearing”. High five! This topper looks so cozy and soffffft. I love the way you had the EF pieces tailored, and that they balance out that softness to say you aren’t a berry cream puff.

Sara L.

The berry and charcoal look great together. Inspired idea to add ruching!

Sal

What a good idea!! I can see how this makes a huge difference.

You don't look orange on my monitor:)

Runcarla

Very (berry?) clever!

Becky

LOVE the berry, especially with the charcoal. Your hair is gorgeous. Your alterations are very clever. I've always steered away from EF just because of fit.

Vix

AJ, FashIntern, Sara L, Sal, Runcarla --

Thank you...rose and berry shades with charcoal are one of my favorite combos; glad I'm not alone!

Also realizing the gap between my usual hair and my hair post-storm is...very small haha!

I know there are some secondhand magicians in the responding group and I think some sewers too?

If I sewed myself I'd be all over keeping an eye out for more secondhand / sale EF because I like the company, the fabrics, and often the colors. [My current seamstress is amazing but I budget for her.]

ps to FashIntern -- it was the cozy enormous cardigans that were on-trend here this winter, can't saw I saw the berry a lot! Maybe why I got mine on sale so I'm not complaining. Hope you can add to your collection too.

Janet, Suntiger, and Becky re EF fit --

Also thank you all! We need some more frequent triers and/or buyers (how do we tag @Jenn?) to weigh in.

Leaving preferences for fit aside, my experience is more like Janet's -- boob shelf then too boxy. And a lot of her skirts are straight cuts, which I think look *great* on curvier hips. [My straight hips benefit from tapered lines that create shape.]

At any rate -- you'd be amazed at what a simple hair tie can let you test out damage-free before you drag something to get an alterations quote. Go forth and twist.

Jaime

Brilliant alteration and the outfit looks stunning on you. I like the black cat escaping down the stairs too!

JAileen

What a clever alteration - I never would have thought of doing that.

RainB

Active Member

The colour combination, coziness and new fit all look so scrumptious! You have gorgeous hair

Joy

Fabulous alteration. Janet, my son has his tees altered for a more fitted look. (He is very slim and athletic but with broad shoulders that leave too much extra fabric on his lower torso.). I can see these alterations working well for you.

Jessikams

Such pretty colors- you look very pulled-together

Firecracker (Sharan)

What a pretty outfit, and so flattering all around--fit, color, style. I am really impressed with the alterations. I wouldn't have thought to do that, and it looks so good! I sew, but I don't do a lot of alterations on things I buy.

RobinF

Great idea! I'm the opposite of Firecracker, in that I sew but mostly alterations. Love the berry sweater too, one of my favorite colors.

I took a machine sewing class last year to reacquaint myself with the basics (hadn't done any sewing since high school), and wouldn't mind attempting an alteration on an old tee as a test of my ability. But I suspect ruching is a bit more complex. Still, the idea of altering tees really simultaneously attracts me (if I can DIY to save the money, after all it's a TEE), and repels me (do I really want to spend money altering a tee? LOL) Hmm, food for thought.

Shevia, Jessikams, and RainB -- Thank you! Wet and blah most of the week so cozy = revisited buzzword. Cat butt due to having just fed, but not refed per demand. (Rain, hope you've seen Shevia's hair shots!)

JAileen, Joy -- clearly Joy's son and I are soulmates. And thank you!

Firecracker and Robin, the talented twosome! FC, maybe you get enough perfection from your custom pieces and/or are a pretty easy OTR fit to skip alterations? Robin, I envy your patience / skills. I have to play to my strengths which equates to paying others! [My alterations place is smart -- they pay each other to do personal alts so they get done.]

Janet -- I know, it seems a bit wacked to spend time or money doing it. But I recall reading that's why Hwood celebs known for their casual style look so good -- tailoring.

I don't think the basic rouching is too complex -- maybe our experts will weigh in?

PIC ONE | Here's a shot I took of a RTW rouching job but it's what my former tailor did with a few Ts. Simpler than my skirt/top...more like a straight pull, then a flexible silicone (?) strip sewn on top. Result is a seam that looks puckered.

Of course you could do the knotting thing that made the rounds here -- I either knot the fabric or twist and then use an elastic hair band. It's more elegant to do it on the interior of the item but I will often do exterior and live with the rosette because it's easier for me to nail in one go! For Ts / tops I just do one side.

PIC TWO | Testing a knot bustle My seamstress was loathe to have me loose the floaty A line bottom of this and since I have a fancier column maxi already, the compromise was to slim the hips a bit and...bring harness volume the temporary way.

unfrumped

Love the berry and charcoal palette!

Barbara Diane

I love the idea of altering EF. Thanks.

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