Slim jeans without scrunch--okay or no? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Slim jeans without scrunch--okay or no?

Maya

Veteran

Every time I get a pair of straight leg pants or jeans hemmed, I ask for them to be on the long side, so that they scrunch. And every time I get them back from the tailor, they are scrunchless. I don't know how it happens. This has been the case with 2 tailors, so perhaps I just underestimate the amount of scrunch I need.

Moreover, my straight legs are the same length for heels as for flats. They come maybe 1/4" off the ground or skimming the ground. Does that sound completely wrong for heels? I'm really frustrated because I have SO many jeans but virtually none of them seem long enough for heels.

This is what I want:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....pid=719881

This is what I always end up getting:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....pid=731722

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from rute

Dashrashi

Veteran

My tailor constantly, constantly, constantly hems things higher than I want her to. Actually, every tailor I've ever gone to has done this (three in three different metropolitan areas). What I do now is wear a heel one-step higher than I intend to wear the pants with to get them hemmed (low wedge for flats, regular pumps for low heels and wedges, my crazy-high heels for regular work pants with pumps). I've also been known to move pins down in the dressing room, to good effect. It's like they can't help themselves, so I just try to stack the deck in favor of length as much as possible (it gets old to keep saying, "No, longer; no, longer" and you start not to trust yourself as they give you a raised eyebrow. Hence the need to stack the deck. Or maybe I'm just conflict-averse).

taylor

Veteran

Maya, I don't believe every slim jean needs scrunch, in fact I think * skinnies* look best with scrunch.

I have several slim fit that have no scruch and I rather like the clean line on those

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

The jeans from your want photo are are a couple of inches longer than the ground would be in flat feet, so that's what you should ask for.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Maya- I'm thinking you are not overly tall so actually having less scrunch might be better for you. I would think too much scrunch might be leg shortening on you? just a thought...

Ele

(website)

First of all, you need to pin your jeans YOURSELF, before you even get to the tailor! Have your Mum or someone do it for you when you're standing in front of the mirror- you only need to pin one leg, in one place (either the inseam or the back); they'll do the rest. This way you can be 100% in charge of what you want.

Also, the whole scrunch thing just confuses me. It depends so much on the width of the leg, and since skinnies and straight-legs vary so much, I think it just boils down to personal preference. I think scrunch looks best on very tapered skinnies (which I don't really wear), and straight legs just look messy with too much scrunch.

Of the pics you linked to, it looks like the first ones are actually wider than the second, so they're obviously pulling over the heels more easily. In fact, I don't love that forced look, with slim jeans and heels: I think it looks like a "hoof", ha ha! My straight legs are hemmed to one length- they scrunch a little with flats, and with heels fall longer, but not enough to skim the floor or get hoof-foot (they're too slim for that, anyway).

Basically, I'm sure your minimal scrunch is fine. If you want more, pin your jeans yourself next time to be absolutely sure you're getting what you pay for.

Maya

Veteran

It's not "less" or "minimal" scrunch--it's NO scrunch. You're probably right Ele. I'll have to do it myself. I go to the tailor wearing 2" or even 3" heels but it doesn't seem to help.

Maya

Veteran

Here is a better example of what I want.

http://www.jcrew.com/browse/po.....=undefined

It's pretty obvious to me now that mine are all too short. What a pain. I can neither afford nor do I really need more jeans.

Ele

(website)

Maya, I can't see the j. crew link! Is it wrong, or is it because I'm international? Keeps directing me to a blank page...

Dusty

(website)

I get a blank page, too.

Maya

Veteran

Oh, let me try again:

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../87492.jsp

Second picture.

Isabel

Veteran

I kind of like the scrunch - though remember, I am a novice here : )

Regarding the tailor - I tell my tailor to go about 1/4 of inch longer than I need and to leave a hem in case they need readjustment and to compensate for washing.

You should try on your pants before you leave the tailor and ask for a redo if it doesn't work.

Finally, some tailors super steam the clothes ( my tailor irons ) and it shrinks the clothes. So you might want to wash your jeans a couple of times before you take them in for tailoring. ( my mom used to make samples for the NY shows and she NEVER altered something without it being washed or cleaned first - cotton, that is.)

Tailors are a lot like hair dressers - they have a vision of what looks good so they might be insistent - so you need to be very insistent back ( though nicely of course ) and don't be afraid to speak up. I recently took the big Angie leap and committed to a pant length. Some of my pants I wanted long to wear with a little heel - and my seamstress thought that they were too long -so back and forth we went. It was very out of character for me, so she was worried I wouldn't like it. I told her I wouldn't blame her for it. But I ended up with what I like and I am now COMMITTED, ladies.!

Once you get a pair you like, measure the inseam and give the inseam when you drop them off and pick them up.

shana

Veteran

I like my skinnies with a little scrunch but my straight legs actually have minimal or no scrunch and I prefer them like this. I just think they look more streamlined this way. Of course, I have only worn them with flats, not heels so maybe that's why?

Yes, I noticed that my tailor did the same thing with one pair of my pants. Maybe they're just not leaving an allowance for the actual sewing. Guess the best thing is to pin them at home!

April

Veteran

Maya -- do you wash the jeans before they go to the tailor? Maybe you're losing a tiny bit of scrunch if they shrink a little after hemming. Definitely not two inches worth, though.

Maya

Veteran

I do wash everything first. In theory they shouldn't shrink anyway since I wash them in cold water and hang dry, but I do it anyway to be on the safe side. Most tailors just don't seem to have a clue about PPL or scrunch or anything, which is sort of appalling.

Most recently I had my ponte pants hemmed and I am totally disappointed. I'm actually thinking of either selling them or passing them on to another lucky YLFabber, even though they were a gift. I really can't wear them with anything but flats and even then there is no scrunch at all. The irony is that I lied and said I hadn't washed them yet, so that she would add 1/4" of length. I was thinking that if anything, they would come out too LONG. So much for that.

rute

Veteran

Maybe its not so bad.. can you post a photo of the jeans? I agree with quennie.. I'm petite and I prefer my skinnies with no scrunch