Maxi coat: how much to hem?

April

Veteran

Mr. April gave me this beautiful maxi coat for Christmas. I adore it but on me, it's a tripping hazard.

I'm going to get it shortened (the rear vent is *very* long so I could remove quite a bit) but by how much?

It will be an expensive alteration and I want to get it right.

Thanks in advance

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2 years ago

General

38 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Runcarla

Veteran

Long enough to to cover the hem of the longest dress that you are likely to wear under it. Experiment with pining it up first and with the footwear/boots that you are most likely to wear with it.

2 years ago

Star

Veteran

Firstly what a gorgeous coat! I agree with Runcarla, I was going to say it depends what you are going to wear it with mostly and if it includes dresses/skirts make sure it is just a bit longer than your longest one. I like her idea of experimenting with footwear most likely to be worn.

2 years ago

Synne

Veteran

Nooo, don't do it! Floor sweeping coats are rare to come by, and extremely flattering on most body types, also on petites. How about pairing it with platform boots?

2 years ago

April

Veteran

Synne, I too don't mind the look of extra long length, but I walk with crutches and have tripped on this coat hem more than once.

The crutches make platform boots untenable as well -- more's the pity, since that's a look I would love.

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I’m thinking keep it as long as possible… but I’m wondering if it’s the length of that back vent that makes it such a tripping hazard. Maybe close that up a bit?

2 years ago

Anonymous

Beautiful coat . I think you could easily lose a few inches without affecting the line of the coat and the vent opening ( which I don’t agree with closing up . It’s not that simple , number one , and is necessary for walking in such a long coat )

2 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Be sure to review how a shorter length looks against the bottom row of buttons which to my eye means longer is going to look better.

2 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Fab coat…I’d go as long as you can but short enough that you can walk without tripping LOL i know not very helpful
…wondering if 2 inches buys you enough from to walk? Is it possible to get it pinned and try it, or is the coat to heavy and you’re going to need to do the actual work to see it?

2 years ago

Sloper

Veteran

It's a stunner of a coat! I like the long swaggering length, but practicality and safety are important too

Will be interested to see what the final decision is - sorry I have no useful input though.

2 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

No help...but that lining fabric!!! Gorgeous!!!

2 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I hope Angie weighs in with her opinion on this. At least go high enough to eliminate the tripping hazard, especially on steps. Maybe it could be the length of your longest skirt or dress, or a little bit longer so that it covers.

2 years ago

Elle

Veteran

It is an absolutely beautiful coat. From the pictures, I don't think hemming it 2-4 inches would make a huge difference to the drape. The vent is important so I wouldn't change that. Can you try pinning it or using fabric tape to see how it would look a bit shorter and whether you could move safely in the coat. If you are going to drive or sit on public transit, I'd try sitting in the coat and seeing how much drags on the floor.

If you live somewhere with open clothing stores (and feel comfortable), try on some other long coats and see what length works best for you.

2 years ago

Anonymous

Great coat! Yes to trying different length coats before altering *with the things you'd wear that coat with*.

2 years ago

April

Veteran

The buttons are hidden but the bottom one is up pretty high - the designer did a good job of not hobbling the legs.

Honestly, I thought I should remove more like 6 or 8 inches, but yes, let's see what Angie has to say.

My very first major alteration was a Cinzia Rocca winter coat that Angie said should be hemmed a little. I think we took off 4 inches. It seemed like a small change, but it made a huge difference in how it looked on me. (I think that was 12 years ago and I am now prioritizing not falling over "do I look stumpy")

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

As little as possible, and as much as necessary. Even if you prioritize appearance—it *is* a beautiful coat—falling down doesn’t look good! Seriously, take care of yourself.

2 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

It's gorgeous! Love the lining.

I honestly think you could lose 4-6" and still keep the integrity of the design. I feel that it shouldn't lose more than 6", but I also don't think less than 4" would make enough of a difference to help prevent tripping. Please do not close the back vent -- it creates a beautiful line.

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Being a mechanics geek… It occurs to me that it clears your shoes now, so ankle length. So it clears your heels. I’m guessing what happens is that when you lean forward on your crutches, it dips *forward* and lower. That is, it’s not getting under your heels. With the back vent to almost what looks like waist height - that could enable all that cloth to slip forward and tangle in legs and crutches. I’m wondering if this is the case.

My long puffy is that length. The vent is six or seven inches. It’s held back from drooping forward by that limit I think.

2 years ago

Anonymous

If you're going to be using crutches for a while that is absolutely the number one condition to accommodate. I would be a little ruthless with a "tripping hazard".

Maybe measure the distance from center to center of the buttons and bring the hem no closer to the bottom button than that measurement plus a few inches.

2 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

I don’t have other advice to offer, other than agreeing with Phoebe about being ruthless with a tripping hazard. But I wanted to chime in to say what a gorgeous coat your husband gave you.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I wonder if a couple pieces of stiff elastic or something could bridge the vent, hidden inside the coat. That way it would still hang nicely and have some give when you walk, but would not be able to fall forward the way RachyLou describes (much). I’m thinking you wouldn’t have the long strides that call for the vent to be able to open far.

2 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think you need to pin it (or have the tailor pin it) and walk with it with your crutches. Then go for the longest length that works. It is a gorgeous coat but no coat looks good with the wearer tripping on it!

2 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

Gorgeous coat! I think about 10cm (4 inches), but do check it against what you will be wearing it over.

2 years ago

April

Veteran

For the record, I have tripped on this coat both walking up my driveway (an upward incline) with crutches, and walking up a staircase indoors without my crutches. And yes, my crutches are permanent.

Blasphemous thought: not sure I care that much about the coat covering my longest item. I only wear midis anymore, so no outerwear shorter than floor-length is likely to cover all of them.

Final word: yes, Mr. April done good.

2 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

That is a gorgeous coat! You could definitely take some off and not ruin the look of the coat. I would try it with shoes you are likely to wear with it and pin it up. I would be a nervous wreck cutting that beautiful fabric though!

2 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I suspected the tripping issue emerged going up hills and steps. I’ve encountered that with maxi skirts, which is why I tend to tie up a corner of them! Definitely have a tailor pin it up as much as possible and then see if you can find a spot to navigate some stairs or ramp to test out the length.

2 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

What a stunning coat, even the lining is beautiful. Using crutches is hard, so if you have to sacrifice a bit of length on the coat - that would be my priority. Luckily Angie is both stylish and practical, so I would follow her advice to the letter.

2 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Beautiful coat! Is it sea foam? Mr. April
is clever

Do the sleeves need shortening too? Easier with the crutches perhaps.

What Shevia said. Shorten with pins to access which length works best with crutches. I’m guessing a good 4 to 6 inches can come off. Not too much, but will make quite the visual and practical difference.

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Enough to clear stairs then(!)

2 years ago

April

Veteran

It is kind of a sea green, Angie, yes.

Mr. April may have begged for specific gift suggestions and may have been sent a link to this coat (Peruvian Connection's "Tribeca" coat) along with other items, but I didn't imagine he would actually buy it. He can be a touch extravagant when it comes to gift-giving.

I know the sleeves are longish but I like that luxurious length for warmth.

2 years ago

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