Finding dresses that are an ideal length for the office can be difficult if you are 5’8 or taller. Most retailers are now offering tall sizes online, which is a huge improvement from a few years ago, but it can still be tough to find a dress you love only to realize it hits you mid-thigh.
Sometimes when a dress isn’t available in a tall version, I’ll check the hem and see how much fabric is left to assess whether or not the hem can be taken out to make the dress longer.
I recently sent six dresses to the seamstress to be lengthened. Prior to this, I was wearing these dresses with flats, but now I can comfortably wear them with heels.
One of the dresses I had altered is the one I wore today, from Gap:
Do you have your clothes altered or do you skip buying items that are too long or too short?
I usually just skip buying the item unless I absolutely LOVE it. I have paired a few of my dresses/skirts with a lace underlay and it looks awesome!
Linh
https://abeautifulrawr.com
Being petite and 5'1 I feel like I miss out on a lot of clothes I like because it's hard to find my size. I find the stores only carry a few items that are a smaller size–and they go fast. If it's tops I'll just miss out because taking in a top from the sides and the shoulders is just more of a hassle. If it's pants I normally just tuck them in because I can adjust the hem based on the heel length of my shoe.
I am short, but not exactly petite, so finding pants is the most challenging for me. I used to just pass up items that weren't the right length to begin with, but I need to start trying a tailor because as I get older I don't have the time and patience to shop as much as I once did. Loving your dress here!
Two questions for you:
1. How do you find a seamstress? Any recommendations on the most cost effective vs. good seamstresses? (I live in Houston as well)
2. In your experience, how much do various types of alterations cost?
I am open to taking clothes to get altered, but just completely unsure of the entire process and cost. Thanks!
My mother in law took them to her tailor! email me and I can send you her info 🙂 veronabrit at gmail dot com
these ones cost $18 which is a lot cheaper than any other places in town I called
I am 5ft7in, not exactly tall, but I have a long torso and shorter legs. I am pear shaped too (yay for me). I have had sheath dresses altered because if it fits on bottom, I am swimming in the top part. I always have my pants hemmed because I am in between regular length and petite length. I usually skip dresses and skirts that are too short, but i like your idea to have the hem let out. I may have to give those dresses/skirts a second look. What seamstress do you use? I live in Houston too and am not sure if this is something my dry cleaner could handle.
email me—she is in my MIL's part of town! veronabrit at gmail dot com
Don't you hate it when you go to the store and they direct you to their website for long lengths? And if you do happen to stumble upon long lengths in person it is always boring black trouser pants. I mean sometimes I am shopping for black pants, but how many pairs do you really need? As if women who are tall only wear black. I have absolutely no sympathy for short women. You can always take away length, but most of the time you are limited with how much material you can drop from a hem or it's not possible at all. And don't even get me started with the heel height of most shoes. : )
I agree! I wish that as a happy medium they added more fabric to the hems so that petites and tall gals would both have an easier time with alterations 🙂
I am 5'10" and slender so I get clothing altered all the time. Just about anything other than jeans. (I only buy jeans if I absolutely love them or they are cheap because I have bad luck with good looking jean alterations.) I am a very picky shopper so when I find something that is the perfect color or fabric, but doesn't fit right, I get it altered. Also, I only own one maxi dress. I eyeballed it at Target for 3 months until it went on clearance. I had to buy an XL to have enough length and then I had the sides taken in to fit my torso.
I'm 5'5' and quite a curvy a pear shape (my shoulders are so narrow most bag straps fall off them and my hips are simply not capable of lying) so for me it's always been seperates as the sizing is so different. Dresses are an absolute nightmare! But luckily my Mum can sew, so she's my seamstresss ^^