Shoes choices: Hemming pants & the dreaded PPL

Blog

Forum

Finds

Shoes choices: Hemming pants & the dreaded PPL

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

To PPL geniuses,

I received my Polo Ralph Lauren pants today and being part of Team Short, I have to take them into the store for hemming.

These navy blue front-zip wide chalk stripe pants fit great as does the waistcoat (same color, but interesting narrower stripe adds appeal) and they will mix it up nicely with the blazer I first bought.

Now, to the BIG question: How do I know which shoes to bring to give me the best PPL for this? I want to make the right decision with my shoes and the PPL. In rereading Angie's earlier blog on the subject here, I realize I have to make a decision with the shoes:

http://youlookfab.com/2011/01/.....d-bottoms/

I'm considering going in with my DLP black pumps. Do you have any other suggestions to help me with this hemming job?

Thanks for your help with this! I'll post a photo when I can of each of these items.

13 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

Anonymous

Gee I dunno Vicki, are you asking us which shoes will look the best with them? I'd have to have a link to a thread where shoes and pants are pictured. Maybe you just have to commit to a certain heel height in inches (say 2"), then you could wear any of your 2" heels with them. Am I on the right track?

13 years ago

Marley

Veteran

Hey Vicki - I agree with Claire! I think you just have to decide on a heel height and go with it! Can't wait to see this suit!

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, I am so excited about this suit!

I think the best idea would be to pick a heel height that works well for you, maybe one that describes at least a few of your shoes.

13 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

This is a tough one - you do have to pick a pair of shoes that you love, and a heel height that you enjoy wearing in order to decide how to hem pants to PPL.

What heel height do you wear most often Vicki? If you pick the heel height you wear most often, and have your new pants hemmed perfectly for this shoe/heel height, then you'll get maximum wear out of the pants.

Don't try to make the pants fit around one single pair of shoes (been there, done that). I'd figure out which heel height you like to wear most often and hem the new pants to work with your favourite and most comfortable shoes.

I hate to say it, but I do have some pants that are hemmed for shoes that I just don't wear all that often, and as a result - those pants are kind of 'orphaned' in my closet. Don't laugh, but I have 'sitting shoes' AND I have 'sitting' pants - because said pants only work with certain shoes. I won't make that mistake again.

Take your most comfortable, most 'feel good' and stylish shoes and make the pants work with those.

13 years ago

sarah

Veteran

Ugh, I've started having PPL anxiety attacks because of this issue. I think you need to post pics and commit to a pair (i.e., a heel height). Otherwise, it's going to drive you nuts.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

When I bought my white jeans Vicki, I ended up having to just pick the pair of shoes I figured I would wear the most with them and hem the pants to that heel height.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Lol @ Velvety's "sitting pants"! Funny but sad. VC, high thee to thy tailor!

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

VC's suggestion sounds wise. To get the most out of these pants, dress them both up and down, you'll want a variety of shoes to pair with them. Your most-used heel height sounds like a good plan.

13 years ago

April

Veteran

PPL is a serious pain when you do wear a variety of heels. Skinny jeans are just about the only thing that can dance with partners of varying heights.

I agree that choosing your most-often worn heel height and hemming to 1/4-inch off the floor in those shoes should work well. You might also want to have the pants cleaned first, just in case of any shrinkage. Even a quarter-inch of shrinkage can mess with PPL.

ETA: I have sometimes had pants hemmed for the shoes that look most flattering with them, only to realize that those shoes are more of a heel than I usually want to wear. And VC called it perfectly -- then you end up with "sitting pants." So go for your favorite heel height even if a higher heel looks better.

13 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, wise ones!! I loved your excellent advice!

You are absolutely correct that I commit on the shoe and make sure that it is both comfortable, one that I enjoy wearing and one that will go well with these pants. I want to have a couple of choices to either dress down, with boots, or dress up, with heels, so I've got to find a few that are at my sweet spot and then commit to the hemming for PPL! You've certainly made this task less daunting!

13 years ago

Category