Shortening my new top- 10 or 13 cm? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Shortening my new top- 10 or 13 cm?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi everyone now a month since I bought the top, and the weather is warmer. I checked the fabric, 65% cotton, 30% polyester, 5% elastane.
Yesterday I wore it to work for the first time, blousing it out of my white jeans as suggested in my first post by RobinF. Thanks Robin!
Today I have pinned it to two lengths, up 10 cm/4 inches, or up 13 cm/5 inches.
Is either of these good or should a different length be tried? Also, there is that idea about not having them finish at your widest point, considering body flattery. I think my upper thighs (“saddlebags”) may be my widest point but my upper hips are close behind, I have hip dips. I don’t want to highlight my widest points either, as opposed to it being too long! Opinions?!
Pics 1/2, bloused out as worn to work yesterday.
Pics 3/4/5, pinned up 10 cm/4 inches
Pics 6/7/8, pinned up 13 cm/5 inches
Pics 9/10, original long length

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from RobinF

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love the outfit as you wore it, with the top tucked and bloused. Perfect!

For hemming, I like 8, 9, 10 best. My only hesitation would be whether that is comfortable or feels too short in back when you sit down. To me it looks very flattering. Would you still be able to tuck it in and blouse it, though? (Or would you want to?)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don’t see a lot of difference between the two shorter lengths but I definitely agree that the shorter length is nicer on you. I have gotten quite a few tops hemmed to hip length (short torso people problems! LOL) with great success. I have even chopped off tees and left the hems raw.

You can always have it hemmed so the back hem is a little longer than the front, if you want more coverage in back when you sit, as Sharan mentions. I’ve done that with tops with slit hems and like the result.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Something I don’t really understand after all these years- what is a semi-tuck exactly? Does it just mean tucking one side, or does it mean tucking then blousing out like my first two pics here?
If it means tucking one side, I think I always get the feeling looking at others that they forgot to tuck one side in properly!

Joyce

(website)

Jenni, I think the top tucked for waist definition in the first picture looks good. As you noted, it is difficult when a contrasting top ends abruptly because it draws the eye to that point.

Lisa

Veteran

I like the tucked and blouson version as well as the shorter version. When a top is tucked, or semi tucked, or tailored to be shorter, it let's you see a more defined waist which is what you have here with the tucked and shorter versions.

This top looks great with white jeans! There are so many fun, happy colors in this top!

Edit to add: For semi tuck, I tuck in the front only, and let the sides and back of the top loose. It creates a different drape then when doing a full tuck.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you Lisa, that’s helpful about the semi-tuck. I will see if others say what they do.

Dee

Veteran

I too like the top tucked and bloused out the best.
Semi-tuck is typically just tucking in the front portion of a top, either in the center or sometimes on the side. Back portion is left untucked. See photo

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you Dee! Maybe I can try that also.

Irina

Veteran

I think Angie would be a best judge on the length.

My two cents - tucked top looks fine but it also looks more casual to me. I like longer of two possible shorter lengths.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like the tucked/ bloused version best of all for proportions. But I will defer to Angie on lengths!

Nodding to the images/ descriptions of semi-tuck. I use a front semi-tuck (as in Dee's image) very often. I find it helps with proportions and can feel easier or less "done" than a full tuck. But I also full tuck happily. I sometimes do a half-tuck with a shirt -- i.e. tucking one side and leaving the other side loose.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks Irina for thoughts on the length. I was leaning towards the longer of the two lengths I pinned to, but wondering if I like the tucked/bloused version better than those.
I do agree that version maybe looks a bit more casual, but my work is not at all corporate and I am also considering dropping my hours or even retiring next year when I will be 64. I had no comments on the work outfit yesterday. I often do get compliments but not every day of course, haha.
I am worried the shorter lengths I have pinned to here are not very flattering. My bum looks big! Thank you Joyce for your comment. I feel the eye is drawn to it.

Star

Veteran

I like it tucked. Once it is cut it is cut IYWIM. As I said on the previous thread I like the original length. Although then it would be be necessary to get the shape of the bottoms right, which could make it more of a pain to style. I only wear my longer tops with certain pants. You could put in the initial work and then you know which ones to pair it with when left out, but still have the option to tuck with others. Like Janet I don't really see a very noticeable difference with the two pinned lengths. I took a closer look and will add that if you sure you want to cut it 10cm is better to my eye.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I like the tucked version, such a nice top! Or if you want to hem it and still have the option to tuck, choose the longer length. Might I suggest hemming even a bit longer than shown in 3? Maybe an inch or two longer? Just enough to get rid of that little dip showing in the full length, untucked version in 9. My experience is there’s a danger of going a smidge too short when hemming knit tops.

I’ve finally discovered a method to just tuck the front for the look you have in 1, and though it’s kind of a nuisance when using the restroom a few times a day, I’ve enjoyed the look. I pull my top front up at bust level and smooth it out below so the front hem is a couple inches below my waist. Then I finish pulling up my jeans and fasten them over that 2” area. Then I smooth down the front so there is a “bloused” area over the waist band. My description is silly, but I could never tuck or semi-tuck in a top when my pants were already in place, if that makes sense!

JAileen

Veteran

I really like this top on you, especially with white pants. I like the bloused look, and 3-5, which is slightly longer than the other shortened look. I looked through my pictures for an example of semi tuck but couldn't find one. I do it on the side, not in front. The top kind of blouses, and takes up excess length without a full tuck which I don’t want to do anymore. I used to fully tuck everything and wore belts and showed off my tiny waist. I don’t have one any more. Oh well!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Queen of lengths reporting for duty

I prefer the slightly longer of the pinned lengths. The top will creep up a bit anyway, so best to give it some ease.

I like the pattern mixed outfit too! You are a fashion forward pattern mixer, Jenni!

slim cat

Veteran

Slightly longer - closer to pics #3-5. Maybe a little bit longer on the back - if seamstress can assess the fit and do the pinning on you.

Sal

Veteran

Such a pretty top on you and I like the outfit. I like it tucked best but I think cutting 4 inches off will also make it easier to tuck.

Cookie

I really like the second of the shortened lengths and do not think your bum looks big!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Ha! Thanks Cookie! I have opinions both ways now on the length, my next attempt is going to be cjh’s method of tucking. Thank you cjh for such a good explanation, and also J’Aileen for your explanation of tucking one side, which I can consider but feel I might not like it feeling uneven? Not sure.
I also used to have a tiny waist J’Aileen! But probably it was before I had 3 children. In my teens and twenties only.
Thank you Star also for saying the obvious, that once it is cut there is no going back. I might try pinning a third length as well that is even a bit longer.
I think all the tucks may work well with the white jeans but as the summer gets warmer those will be too hot, and tucking may not look as good with my white cropped pants or my shorts, so I may need to bite the bullet on a hack then. I might practice on my older coral T-shirt which is also too long and which I don’t like as much any more. It has had #30 wears already.
I really appreciate everyone’s help even though opinions of course differ.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Agree that a shorter length or tucking is nicer and I think what Angie says makes sense.

Star

Veteran

Good idea to practice on the coral one!

Lynette

I vote that there is no need to hem since it looks wonderful tucked and then bloused out as in the first photo. That is a new look for you!

RobinF

Veteran

I prefer the first photo also, emphasizes your small waist. Or try a half tuck - I can never get that to work for me but others do it all the time.