Friday, January 31, 2014

Alteration Help? And More Vintage Love!

I found these totally fabulous vintage inspired high waisted trousers at Forever 21. They only had small, medium, and large so I ordered the small... and they are way too big in the waist, by maybe 3-4". I really want to keep these and alter them, but I'm not sure what the best plan would be. There are seams in the side pockets, a side zipper, and two welt pockets in the back. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Other than that, I LOVE this style and I'm determined to replace all of my modern, hip hugging jeans and pants with vintage styles. They are SO COMFY and flattering. I don't know how we ever got to the place we're at with modern pants... :-P

Photo on 2014-01-31 at 15.34
Photo on 2014-01-31 at 15.35 #3

I pinned them in back to show you how much needs to be taken in...
Photo on 2014-01-31 at 15.39
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7 comments:

  1. Lauren StowellJanuary 31, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    The only time I've taken up the waist in pants was by adding or adjusting darts in back. This might not be possible with the pockets, though - hard to see.

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  2. HelenFebruary 1, 2014 at 2:40 AM

    I always have to take in pants at the waist before I can wear them :P I would take all of that extra fabric out of the back two pieces, since the pockets are in the way at the sides of the front pieces. I'd alter the pants at both the back and side seams. I think you'll have to remove the back waist band at least partially and rip the side seams down to the low hip. Take about two inches off the CB seam and blend into the crotch curve. Take the remaining two plus inches off the back pieces at the side seams. Looks like you'll have to reset the zipper on the one side. Blech. Also, check to make sure you can get into the pants after you've taken in the waist but before you've done the zip. Since you've changed the waist to hip ratio, you might need add a second zip to the other side or use a longer zip so that the waist opens up enough to be pulled over your hips.

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  3. Katie LovelyFebruary 1, 2014 at 11:06 AM

    Take them to an alterations place. The little Vietnamese place in Standale did Rich's suit trousers for like $10 or something ridiculously cheap like that.

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  4. Tam FrancisFebruary 3, 2014 at 9:45 AM

    I agree with Helen. It's tricky to take in pants and you have so much you need to take in. With Sailor Pants usually you can just adjust the buttons, so maybe you could do a little of everything. Side Seam, back seam, and move buttons.

    So vintage looking! Best of luck.

    Tam Francis
    www.girlinthejitterbugdress.com

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  5. WhitneyFebruary 5, 2014 at 12:59 AM

    Newbie seamster here, but I actually just finished altering a pair of waist-high trousers, bringing them in about two inches. I did approximately what Helen suggests, but only at the back--removing the waistband in back, taking in and blending the seam downward in a curve into the crotch, then resetting the waistband. I thought it'd affect the back pockets, but it actually set them to where they ought to be.

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  6. UnknownFebruary 5, 2014 at 9:30 AM

    I know it might not be couture sewing or altering but at the costume shop I work for we typically take in the side and back seams with prousers like that and attempt to not disturb side and back pockets as best we can. We took in 4 inches on a pair of men's trousers on a boy. fit him in the hip but he has a tiny little waist and huge shoulders. The Norfolk jacket that went with it was more difficult to take in than the pants.

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  7. Loola 2April 17, 2014 at 11:11 PM

    I like this design. sharing your very interesting.
    Hopy 2

    ReplyDelete