Possible to alter leather skirt?

Becky

I found a suede leather skirt by Vince in a consignment shop. It is 1 or 2 sizes too big on me in the waist. The length is fine if it sits on my waist but the skirt falls to my hip bone at the moment. The skirt is lined. It is a wrap-style skirt but I don't remember seeing a buckle. Maybe there is one (I can go check tomorrow if necessary).

I don't have much experience with getting clothes altered. Is it possible to alter a leather skirt? What are the factors that change the complexity/risk of the alteration?

Edit for clarification: I am not altering this myself. I am pretty terrible at sewing

4 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from Becky

Vildy

Veteran

Sure. You can make it smaller but never bigger because stitching holes in leather are permanent. Are you doing this yourself? You can't pin or baste because of those holes. You could try binder clips while trying on on wrong side. You can also do this without separating from the lining if you don't mind quick and dirty. A buckle closure sounds easiest to manipulate instead.

4 years ago

Anonymous

You can - but have a professional do it , unless you have the proper leather needles and feed plate for your sewing machine .....but then if you’re asking I’m guessing you don’t

4 years ago

Becky

Active Member

Vildy, definitely not doing this myself. I can barely sew a missing button....

So this will be a fairly straightforward job at a good tailor?

4 years ago

nuancedream

Veteran

The waistband of a leather skirt can be altered. Just make sure you seek out a leather alteration specialist.

4 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Seconding nuancedream....totally doable, but only by someone who is used to altering leather. in my city there’s a specialist, she also does fur.

4 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I bought an unlined suede skirt at a vintage shop, and had it taken in on the darts. It cost me around $40, but I wore the heck out of it. Totally worth it.

Things that will affect the price of your alteration:

1) If the skirt is lined, that's an additional alteration that adds to the cost.

2) If the leather is thick, it may be a search to find someone who has the equipment for thicker leather, and the tailoring skills to go with it.

Whenever I have questions about the alterability of an item, I take pictures and post on Facebook, and ask friends to chime in.

4 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

It is possible to alter, but is likely to be almost double the cost of an alteration using soft fabric. It really depends upon how much you like this skirt as I imagine that the cost would be over $50 for this alteration and possibly double that amount.

4 years ago

Becky

Active Member

Thank you so much for all your replies!

I decided against getting the skirt in the end since the frequency of wears just won't justify the cost.

Onto searching for the next great item!

4 years ago

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