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Jean Alterations + Brand Recommendations

MsLuna

Veteran

I just confirmed recently that comfort is absolutely essential to my personal style. Based on yesterday's WIW, my mood and how I felt about a perfectly wonderful and stylish outfit was not only coloured by my arthritis pain, but also due to ill-fitting jeans.

Im IT with very apple tendencies. Jeans are probably the most annoying and ill-fitting items on me (next to pants). I like my jeans either slim cut or flared. I managed to find flared jeans that fit amazingly (Rachel by Rachel Roy flares) but skinny jeans tend to pool on the knees (massively) even when the waist is tight. When I fit the waist, everything else sags and bags. Boyfriend jeans are not an option for me because they're just not my style.

Despite searching far and wide for jeans that flatter my apple tendecies, I'm looking into the option of alterations. However, when I requested a tailor to take in the side seams of jeans that have a waistline that fit, they said that jeans are tricky and cannot be altered at the seams. Somehow - I doubt this.

So here are my questions:
-have you had to gave your jeans altered before where the waist fits but you have to take in side seams? Was the tailor willing to do it/was able to do it?

- if I am going to get alterations, should I purchase and upscale brand to be altered or should I stick to lower/mid-ranged priced jeans?

-any denim brand recommendations for Apple -types?

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from lisaflex

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

A couple of brand thoughts on the cheaper end, both available at Kohls: the Vera by Vera Bradley jeans and the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans are very straight up and down (I.e. wouldn't work for my pear shaped figure at all). The GV ones have a long rise which is a plus for some and a minus for others. Also, Lucky Brand has a straight up and down cut, I think it's called the Charlie.

As far as altering goes, taking in the outseams of something like jeans could be tricky - some jeans have flat felled outseams - the thick double stitched type of seam - and if you're taking them in through the hips you've got the issue of the pockets to deal with. It's not impossible though it may not give you the nice looking result you're hoping for.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Let me preface my reply by saying... I have never had a waist taken in or the legs slimmed on a denim garment. I rarely wear jeans. I love the look on others, and I periodically buy a pair, about once every two years... only to eventually realize that t my jeans got worn once, or not at all. I reach for other things first, always.

Insofar as alterations go... I know it can be done. Heck, Oprah's Jeans Episode talked about that, years ago. Clinton Kelly has addressed it on television. It may be that your tailor just cannot, or doesn't want to. Or it may be the particular pair of jeans you brought in - and how and where the denim has been treated or lightened.

To explain: here are some articles on altering jeans, from Alterations Needed, which is a petite website - but the information is very useful:

Alterations to jeans: http://www.alterationsneeded.c.....tions.html

Here is what happened when she had the jeans hemmed and the waist taken in:
http://www.alterationsneeded.c.....it-of.html

Slimming may be an option for you, if you get a pair with the waist already fitting:

Here, she compares jeans that are good to slim, versus bad ones:
http://www.alterationsneeded.c.....jeans.html

More on slimming:
http://www.alterationsneeded.c.....ing-2.html

Anyway, I hope it helps!

rae

(website)

Veteran

At Nordies, the tailors won't take in the side seams on denim, because those seams are double stitched and interlocked. You can't just taper it; you have to undo the whole seam and redo it.

What I'd recommend is trying legging styles sized up - usually that is what works for my apple shaped customers with slim legs. Or, I have had great luck with getwear.com custom denim. They will just make the jean to your specifications.

MsLuna

Veteran

Ladies, these are excellent recommendations! Thank you so much! Really excellent point on the side seams being flat felled seams though. I should know this having formal training in fashion design and all but I've never constructed a pair of jeans before.

@La Belle: like you, I tend not to reach out for jeans often. I'm usually in dresses because I just look/feel good in them. I do like the look of jeans though and really want it to work for me.

@Rae: American Eagle Jeggings are often my best bet so I guess I should try sizing up. Hopefully the fabric won't "pool in the knees" or sag on the bum for me. I have that issue with both jeans and dress pants.

Aida

Veteran

Are you shorter MKK? As a 5'3" gal with borderline normal length legs I've found that that knee pooling is often caused by the knees actually being too low (plus I have knobbly knees). Which is an alterable situation, getting the knee break raised up so that there's not as much excess fabric. Perhaps something you might need as well?

MsLuna

Veteran

Hi Aida! Yes, I'm only 5'3 but with proportionally longer legs. On some brands, I don't need hemming. And hmmmm... Maybe you're right about the knees being too low! I have skinny little knees too so it makes sense! Thank you!

Anonymous

I have the same stomach pain issues that you do ~ sometimes it is okay sometimes it is excruciating.

I have found that I have had to go down in quality in order to be able to wear my clothes. Sometimes I will cut the sides of the jeans and wear a shirt that covers them in order to be comfortable.

I have bigger legs though so I'm not sure if my recommendations would work. I love these Jolt pants even though the quality stinks:
http://www.amazon.com/Jolt-Jun.....3&

The other suggestion is about diet...have you tried some kind of an elimination diet to help? Along with other things, I eliminated gluten for a bit and then added digestive enzymes with HCL. Now I can eat a bit of gluten. For a while I couldn't eat an apple without bloating up as they have a lot of inulin (?) in them.

One more thing...as your pants are drying stretch the waist out as much as possible by pulling on the fabric. This has helped a lot!

I like these AE jeans as well:http://www.ae.com/web/browse/p.....cat6910165

cciele

Veteran

To accommodate my expanding waistline, I'm finding myself turn toward low-rise jeans. In particular, Rag & Bone has been working well for me.
Good luck in your search!

Isabel

Veteran

It is time to find another seamstress ! Men's tailors are particularly good at this. I have my jeans altered all the time. I call myself and "extreme" pear. Well, a real pear is kinda extreme...I digress, sorry. : )

I have had the sides at the thighs taken in, I have had the back bum seam taken in and they have always turned out great.

I am sure that Angie will let you know ! Yoo hoo , Angie !

Suja

Veteran

I have apple tendencies and Kut from the Kloth Diana jeans work well for me. Also, this year, on Angie's recommendation, I tried the Loft Modern Skinny Zip jeans and I love them! I love zips in general but the fit is great for me. Trouser jeans are also a good cut on apple shapes, I think.

I've never tried to get jeans altered.

traceyws

I am also an apple and at 5'2", sz 12-16 depending on brand, I rarely wear jeans anymore as they just don't do much for me. The stiffness of denim in the abdominal and hip areas, contrasting with the bagginess in the lower hip and knee just make me look squatter and wider. Not to mention the muffin top that inevitably shows. I did have some luck a few years back with NYDJ brand, but only with the more trouser-like cut.

Have you tried the petite ranges? The legs may be cut better for you and the knees a little higher.

I find myself reaching for actual trousers, or for leggings or slim-cut ponte or jersey pants. Much more flattering and comfortable. I just recently moved back into dresses and skirts after about 20 years of hardly ever wearing them. Even with my ugly legs I am loving the look.

neonginger

I am not quite 5'3" with an apple shape. I find Loft curvy fit jeans really work well with the extra weight I tend to carry in my midsection. They come in both regular and petite sizing and are fairly inexpensive.

Vix

Veteran

Hi KatieKat --

A friend says the JAG jeans pull-on style is ridiculously comfortable in the midsection and they look awesome and not at all geriatric on her slim-hipped self. Some Lucky and NYDJ styles have also worked well for her.

I hate jeans shopping. Good luck!

lisaflex

Veteran

just a side note on JAG pull on jeans - be sure to size down. they immediately bag out within an hour or so. and the crotch area is baggy. i loved when i first got them from amazon - now, not so much. they are a nice cutof denim but have a bit too much stretch in them in the wrong areas imho