Does faux leather stretch?

Gigi

I recently bought a skirt where the waistline is a little snug. The skirt is faux leather. The waist appears to be 100% faux leather. Does faux leather stretch? I will be trying out the next size up too, but it will help me to know whether it stretches, in case the next size up is a bit too big.

11 years ago

Dressing

3 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

shiny

Veteran

A little, yes, but not as much as real leather. And if stretched too much, faux leather runs the risk of cracking, which all faux leather eventually does, but it may crack sooner.

And more importantly, waistbands rarely stretch all that much, because of the way they are constructed -- it has to do with the grain and how the fabric is cut. A seamstress can come along and explain this better than me right now. I just know that jean waistbands can be stretched somewhat (never as much as the rest of the jeans) but yeah most other fabrics are just not gong to stretch.

I have a leather pencil skirt I got thrifting and it was tight in the waistband but fit everywhere else. I admit, it's still in the bag to have the tailor remove the waistband, which can be done. It won't be a high waisted pencil skirt once the alteration is done. I was hoping maybe I'd lose a tad more weight but.. no...

11 years ago

shiny

Veteran

P.s. Is there any room to move the button? Check that first. If it's just a tad tight, maybe that is all you need? That is simple and you can do it yourself.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Thanks for the helpful info, Shiny! The idea about moving the button was a good one. But I checked it, and there are actually two buttons. The one button is right up next to the buttonhole for the other button, so I can't move the button without getting too close to the other buttonhole. Darn quality construction! If they would have just made the skirt more cheaply, I could have gotten by with the shortcut. :^)

I checked the retailer's website (Asos), and they do still appear to have the next size up in stock, so I sent them an e-mail. I had actually ordered both this size and the size up, but there was a mess-up and they sent me a completely different article of clothing instead of the larger skirt. Of course, this would have to happen with an overseas retailer.

I can't believe how small the clothes are! I ordered what was called a US size 1 and 2 online, and the US size 1 (which says size 0 in the skirt itself) is actually too snug in the waist. I haven't had that happen in YEARS. So they are definitely a retailer I am going to continue to watch. :^)

11 years ago

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