Advice on getting jeans tapered?

[uluvbs]

Hi, all.

I just bought AG jeans that I will need to get hemmed (shortened).

I think the legs are also a bit billowy. How risky is it getting the legs tapered (maybe narrowng the opening by 1.5 inches and getting most of the leg taken in a bit)?

Is this something AG (or another tailor ud recommend) would do and can it be done safely? Also, I'n assuming the would open up only the inner seam and remove fabric in that manner? Thanks.

 

[DBoon]

Any tailor in the world can do it, but I'd reccomend making sure your tailor speaks good enough english that they can repeat back to you what you want. I assume your jeans have no selvedge line, and thusly it doesn't really matter if they alter the inseam or outseam. But unless they stitch it back up with neon pink thread, or mess up the measurements, you'll be fine. Most people are happy that they went through with a taper.

 

[brohymn]

It's a pretty safe procedure. With the advancements in tailoring within the last 20 years or so, there's really only a 2% or so risk of a life-threatening altercation.

 

[AR_Six]

Just took a pair of 2010s in to the tailor today for this very procedure. There's really no reason for those jeans to have such a huge leg opening, I don't know what KMW was/is thinking there.

 

[warlok1965]

Any competent tailor can do it. I had a pair of bootcut Crates slimmed; my tailor was a bit resistant to the idea of a 7" hem but I stuck to my guns and he did a great job.

 

[effang]

Originally Posted by warlok1965

Any competent tailor can do it. I had a pair of bootcut Crates slimmed; my tailor was a bit resistant to the idea of a 7" hem but I stuck to my guns and he did a great job.

how tall are you?

 

[warlok1965]

5'11", or 6' if I feel up to it.

Here are the Crates I had done, before and after:

 

[uluvbs]

so I could ask the tailor to trim, say, a half-inch starting at the mid-thigh and taper them such that we remove a full inch or inch and a half at the hem?

As you can see, they look a lot more snug (and better) when sitting down.

 

[uluvbs]

Bueller?

 

[joel_954]

What model AG's are those? I have the Protege in All color. I think the same thing now that you brought it up. I think your 1/2" mid-thigh to 1.5" at hem would make sense. I might do this also. I see my tailor next week. I'll ask him about it.

 

[esspee1200]

just be careful when tapering jeans. you dont want to pull the MC Hammer look!!

 

[DeadDJ]

Since this is already bumped up, I'd just like to ask warlok why your tailor resisted it? Did he think it would throw off the proportions or balance? Have to say it looks great.

I'll be throwing up a picture of a pair of Pure Blue Japans I just took to the tailor today. Smallest it got was at the knee about 7.625 but then flared out to 8 at the hem - it was supposed to be a straight leg. Kicking it to a 7" hem, tapered from the slimmest part at the knee, inseam only to save the selvedge line.

 

[warlok1965]

Naw, he's just an older Italian guy, a classical tailor who doesn't keep up with modern trends like skinny jeans. I was there a couple of days ago and he told me when he was a 12 year old in Italy he was apprenticed out to a master tailor for room and board, started out sweeping the shop and other menial stuff, and later was gradually introduced to the art of tailoring. That was how craftsmen were trained back in the day; we had a laugh about it that such a thing would probably get the parents and the master thrown in jail in this day and age.

 

[DeadDJ]

Wow, your tailor has quite a pedigree. My guy... uh... I trust him. That's all I need to know.

 

[warlok1965]

I think they're a dying breed. Pretty soon there will only be old ladies at the dry cleaners who know dick about men's tailored clothing.

As for my guy, he's hilarious. I think he must be incredibly bored because I usually have to set aside at least a half hour per visit while he chats about various things. Sometimes it's a little annoying, but it adds that "unhurried" European flavor to my tailoring needs so its cool. Plus he really educates me about clothes and how they are made. This last time he busted out with his tailoring bible (in Italian, from the 50s) that shows you how to do anything including Roman and medieval costumes all the way up to the modern lounge suit.