For the longest time dear readers, one of my mottos for Goodwill shopping was: don’t buy it if it has stains and doesn’t fit quite right. I thought that if I was paying so little for a piece and possibly taking a risk, it better fit really well. If I needed to get something hemmed, I might as well just have purchased a full priced item. For the money that I paid for hemming, I could have gotten 2 or 3 more treasures at Goodwill. You get my dilemma?
In the past 2 weeks, I purchased some clothing that had me asking the question: Is it worth hemming?
My thoughts are changing on this rule that I once adamantly lived by. Recently while perusing the racks of Goodwill I came across a pair of new with tags bell bottoms by Anthropologie and a plaid corset dress by All Saints. I really wanted to take these home with me, but was concerned about them not fitting because of my rule. And because I loved them so much, I started to think that it might be worth getting them hemmed (gasp!). If I love it enough and know I’ll wear it multiple times, I should consider putting in the extra effort?
These bell bottoms fit me perfectly around the waist. The dark blue and corduroy fabric make them a fall must-have. Originally they sold for around $100, but I snagged them for only $3! The problem with these is that they’re way too long on my petite frame. I’m not even kidding! The extra length is about half of my body.
I really want to have these hemmed but is it worth it? Because they’re bell bottoms, will they lose the shape? Should I give them to a friend? What are your thoughts, dear readers? I might just go for it and get them hemmed. After all, they do fit my waist and are flattering at the top.
I found this plaid corset-style dress from the Annandale location. It was only $9 and I felt that I HAD to take it home considering the original price was upwards of $200. The top of this dress fits like a glove. It’s so snug and comfortable that I could wear it for an all-day outing. In a corset-style dress, no less!
My qualm with the dress is the length. Being on the smaller side, I feel uncomfortable with it hitting right at me knee. I feel like it makes me look shorter than I really am. I’d like to get your opinion though. Is the length okay or should I hem it? I’m thinking it could go both ways. For all I know, it could actually be perfectly fine!
Let me know your input on my two finds in the comments! How do you feel about hemming clothing from Goodwill? Is it worth it?
funny, because my opinion is the total opposite — assuming the item is still in good condition, i figure, since im paying so little for it, why NOT invest in the tailoring? that’s what makes the tailoring affordable, IMO!
as for your pants, you’re right — they might lose the shape you love with hemming. but a good tailor should be able to tell you that before doing any work. if you cant bear to cut them, maybe reselling or donating them is the way to go.
as for your dress, i dont think it’s too long at all! (just longer than youre used to.) but if you DO want to hem it, it looks like there a seam a few inches up from the current hem where it could be re-hemmed rather easily…
Thanks for the input!
I totally hear ya on that one. Lately it’s been a tug of war on my thoughts. It’s either: why alter an item when I can just buy more pieces that fit for the price of alterations OR what you said, it’s so cheap so why not go the extra mile if it’s worth it.
For the dress, I think I’m just going to keep it as is. I’m just so petite, and I feel uncomfortable when things hit below the knee. I worry that I’ll look like a child. Here’s for trying something new!
I think you need to hem those awesome pants and I’d leave the dress as is, especially if you wear it with heels, I think it looks amazing as is! Great finds!
Thank you so much, Anne!
The pants should definitely be hemmed. I just don’t want them to lose the style. I’m pretty petite to hemming the pants would be cutting off a quarter of the pant leg!
The dress, I’ve decided to keep as-is. You’re so right. With heels, it will look great!
A magic hem is actually really easy to do yourself with minimal sewing skill. I am only 5’2″, so I would be broke if I hadn’t learned how to hem all my pants myself. Whenever I hem flared leg pants, I think they actually look better, because wider legged pants are hard to pull off when you’re short. Also, that dress would be darling with a full petticoat underneath to give the skirt volume.
Hi there!
Thank you so much for weighing in! You hit the nail right on the head. I should learn to do a magic hem. That would change my pants game forever. I usually avoid the pants section because I KNOW hemming will have to be done.
Good call on the petticoat! I think I have one laying around that I could definitely use. The skirt of the dress does need some more volume.
Hem it hem it hem it!!!
Most clothing manufacturers do the cuts of fabric for a certain body type, one which I do not have. I have to get about 80% of my stuff altered, usually just nipped in just a hair in certain spots. It may seem insane, but it makes SUCH a difference. Celebrities get everything tailored, and it makes such a huge difference. I’m convinced that’s why they can pull off certain looks and I cannot… Either my mom alters things or one of my friends who works in fashion can do it for me, but I think it is SO worth it!!! Especially if you’re going for quality not quantitity. It’s better to have 10 dresses that fit you like a dream and are flattering instead of 40 dresses that are meh.
Thanks for your input! I definitely agree and you make some great points! There’s a reason why celebrities have amazingly fitted clothing…it’s tailored accordingly.