Easy Tips for Altering Your Clothes
Tailoring your clothes is an excellent way to make your wardrobe more sustainable. Alterations involve adjusting the fit or style of a garment to suit your body or personal taste better.
My rule of thumb is to find clothes that are 80% of the way there in terms of fit (as long as they fit your other non-negotiables like style, fabric, and color) and then have a tailor take the garment the other 20% of the way. Simply said, tailoring makes pieces perfect for you and customizes them for your body. While the thought of alterations can feel overwhelming – here are some helpful tips to make the experience more successful.
Tips for Successful Tailoring:
It’s easier to tailor garments down than let out. So, purchase a piece that fits the widest part of your body – and take the rest in for a customized fit.
Find a top or jacket that fits in the shoulders as that is the most complicated and expensive alteration.
Hem skirts, dresses, and cropped pants to the point on your leg where it tapers. That is different for everyone and will be the most flattering for you.
Hem full-length pants to the specific shoe height you’ll be wearing. A slight break in the front and ¼-½ an inch from the floor in the back. This will create the illusion of legs for days.
Ways to Tailor Your Clothes
Adjust the length of jeans, pants dresses, or skirts.
Take in the waist of jeans, pants, and skirts so there's no gapping at the waist
Cut the hem of jeans for a raw edge
Shorten or lengthen sleeves.
Add or remove pockets.
Take your tees up in length (so when tucked there’s no extra bulk)
Take the tanks up in the shoulders (so it doesn’t show side bra, and fits better in the neck).
Change the neckline or sleeves of a shirt or dress
Tailoring is not just important for perfecting fit; it can also be essential in caring for your clothes. When you invest in a piece, you want it to last, and tailoring helps ensure that your clothes are well-fitted and, therefore, less likely to stretch or lose shape over time. By taking care of your clothes, you're also contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry because you’re more likely to keep (and wear!) them for years to come.
With Love,
Charline Z