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? Is there a point of no return for jeans waist alteration?

Patty

Veteran

I bought these mid rise Gap boot cut jeans a month or so ago-I put them away and forgot about them over march break---now after washings and hang to dry I find the waist is toooo big. I can put a fist, thumb to pinky in the waistband in the back--is this too much to have altered to fit?? I'll take them to a tailor's to find out but since I've never been I'd thought I'd ask you who've had this done and what to expect. How is this done--it's quite a bit of gap in the back but still fit ok in my thighs!
Thanks ahead for any info!!

These jeans are my first foray into fashion jeans in eons--I washed them with a pair of my 10 year old son's Levi's and let me tell you the Gap jeans looked like they were cowering in the bottom of the washing machine, a small lump of dark cloth, towered by the more rugged Levi's that looked like the obvious winner of a fight--such a stiffer cloth!

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20 replies

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Patty, I'm having the exact same problem with the Gap L&Ls I bought a while back. I've lost a little weight since then, but the waist was roomy to begin with, and I wore them the other day, only to get supremely annoyed over the course of the day as the jeans stretched out to where I'd have to hitch them up constantly. And a belt just makes it bulky.

I even washed them in hot and dried them in the dryer to within an inch of their life (I bought the long length, so they could stand a little shrinkage in length too), but they seem pretty shrink proof. I'm wondering if taking in the waist and taking up the length a little would be worthwhile, or I should go back and try on the next size down.

Patty

Veteran

Janet--I was thinking the exact same thing about shrinking in the dryer but I need my length and these are pretty much there. I've also resorted to a belt and I have a cinched paper bag effect happening around my hips. I've gotta make these work somehow-a size down and my thighs might have a stroke..
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

carrie

(website)

I frequently have the gap in the back with all pants I buy (curse of the pretty pear!). I took a pair of trousers to a new tailor who suggested sewing in a little bit of elastic as opposed to taking in. I pick them up tomorrow and am very curious to see how this works. Denim is such a heavy fabric I don't know if the same trick would work. I'll have more information tomorrow afternoon after I pick the pants up.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Patty, I have had issues with stretch-out too. I almost always have my jeans taken in at the seat. When I buy them they fit perfectly, and after the first wear I can usually get a fist in there too! It will most likely be no problem to alter your jeans, but I'd take them to your tailor and ask what she thinks. Taking in the jeans does put the back pockets closer together, which can be a problem.

Putting them in a hot dryer to shrink them is generally a bad idea. Maybe it works with pure cotton, but most jeans now have some kind of stretch fibre in them, so even though they shrink way down in the dryer, they stretch right back out again after half an hour of wear. Plus, the hot dryer destroys the stretch fibres, which are much less sturdy than cotton -- so if you put them in the dryer enough times, they stay all bagged out!

MsMaven

Veteran

Carrie, I was just thinking today that some elastic sewn in the back might help some of my jeans. I have a pair that have a back yoke and I don't think they can be taken in easily. I'm going to try this when I have a chance.

carrie

(website)

Send me a message Monday if I forget to get back to you and I'll let you know how they work.

firefly

Carrie would you mind posting on the thread when you've had a chance to evaluate them please? I'd be interested to know how it works out too.

Patty

Veteran

Anybody???

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I get my pants taken in at the waist all the time - I lost 10 pounds about 2 years ago and had just about all of my pants done - I think a tailor will have to give you a final opinion, but definitely worth looking into if you love the pants and they fit well everywhere else. I would avoid drying them, typically the length is the only thing that shrinks significantly.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think part of my issue with jeans is that I don't have much of a booty -- so sometimes the "curvy" cut jeans work for me in the hip width and thigh, but the seat is baggy. Yuck. I don't know that a tailor can do much with that.

qfbrenda

Veteran

I would take them to a tailor and see what they think. They should be able to tell you if it's too much of an alteration.

Janet, have you tried Gap's other bootcut jeans? You probably have. I wondered because I had the same problem with their Long & Leans as you... legs fit but the waist was HUGE. Their Perfect Boot fits me much better.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Janet, I have to have the seat of my jeans taken in all the time! It totally works. They take the back seam apart and make it tighter. You can't even tell.

Aida

Veteran

Echoing what Elisabeth said, you can definitely have the seat altered. And usually it gives you a nice bit of butt lift

Patty

Veteran

Ooooooooooooo I did not know there was such an alteration!!
It will change the bum pocket positions non?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Don't ever put jeans in the dryer. You will ruin them forever and there is no turning back. The excessive heat breaks down the elasticity of the spandex component - as a result the elastic no longer recovers.

I love my L&L's and only wear them with a belt (and tucked-in top) because I enjoy them roomy.

But sagging jeans are frustrating. I'd take them back to gap and try to exchange them for a smaller size.

Patty

Veteran

Thanks Angie!
I was thinking about trying to exchange them tomorrow despite having lost the receipt.
And there will be no shrinking experiments around here anytime soon coz my dryer broke down today-with the load of towels half dried. (I'm gonna take it apart tomorrow after the Gap trip and see what's what)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good luck at Gap, Patty! Sorry your dryer is bust. Very annoying

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the advice about the seat alteration -- I will definitely keep that in mind! I may wait a few more weeks before taking my L&Ls to the tailor. I'm now running about 20 miles a week, and as I increase my workouts with my training, I think my body will continue to change. Brenda, I will try the Perfect Boots next time I'm there, thanks!

Barbara

Veteran

Patty, jeans can be the bane of a stylish woman's existence! Alterations ARE an option, as long as they are not massive, which can cost more than the jeans.

Angie is right about NOT drying jeans in the dryer. It really does ruin the spandex. The real solution is to try on a zillion pairs of jeans, I have done this, find the ones that fit you like a glove and buy duplicates. Look for 2% spandex which will provide perfect stretch without stretching out during the day. This percentage of spandex will prevent the dreaded sprung out knee and baggy butt syndrome. Go for a SNUG, not skin-tight fit. If you like looser, try for an all-over relaxed, but not baggy, fit.

I'm a a tall, slim hourglass, so jeans that fit in the tush are WAY too big in the waist. I haven't try the Levi's Curve ID jeans, but I do need a pair of dark wash straight-leg jeans, so I may venture forth and check them out.

Anonymous

An alterationist will be able to tell you if taking in the waist will work. It all depends on how close the pockets will lie after the alteration. If you are thinking maybe getting a new pair of jeans then consider the Gap Curvy. I have them and for the first time, I didn't have to get jeans altered. I think its worth investigating any brand that has a "curvy" fit since the waist is already modified.