Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year! As for me, I took a very nice mental vacation where I didn’t do much else besides eat, sleep, and see good friends who were in town for the holidays. =)
Since my collection of basics seems to be pretty respectable at this point, I’m looking more and more to add interesting pieces to my wardrobe, even if it means a little bit of adventurous tailoring is needed. Case in point: this Rag & Bone printed blazer that I’ve had my eye on since it first hit stores months ago (not to mention, Rag & Bone is one of my favorite brands, so I’m always on the lookout for pieces by them I can add to my wardrobe).
I love the print and nothing else similar has caught my eye enough to divert my attention away from it. I knew it would need a lot of work to get it to fit, so I waited patiently hoping it would go on sale enough to justify the tailoring bill. Sure enough, during the holiday sales I was able to snag it at a great price and decided to go ahead and alter.
This blazer needed a pretty big overhaul:
- shoulders taken in – a costly alteration that I would suggest you avoid if you can. Unfortunately, my narrow shoulders makes this alteration a common adjustment. The sleeves are detached at the shoulder, the shoulder cut smaller, arm hole adjusted, and sleeves re-attached.
- sides slimmed – the blazer is easily taken in at the back seams, similar to this blazer.
- sleeves slimmed – another easy alteration that really elevates the look of a blazer.
- sleeves shortened – the working button at the bottom of the sleeves complicates this alteration. Since the sleeves were getting detached for the shoulder alteration, my tailor shortened the sleeves at the shoulder instead of at the wrist.
Even after all those alterations, it will never look the same way on me as it does on the model because of the length, which is shrunken on the 5’10” model, but fits more like a “hacking” style blazer on 4’11” me. I’m beginning to appreciate this as one of the coolest things about tailoring non-petite clothing down to fit…it’s like creating a whole new unique garment that no one else can just buy in a store. Is it possible I have the only Rag & Bone chevron Bailey “hacking” jacket in the world? I’d like to think so. =)
I’ll note here for Los Angeles readers that I used a new tailor for the first time who came recommended by Wendy. Hector in West Hollywood has done a fabulous job on so many of Wendy’s items that I tagged along on one of her tailor trips to see Hector’s work in action. He did a very good job, as you’ll see in the reveal post.
See this blazer after alterations.
Loved the blazer so much. :)
Love,
Bong’s Belleza
I can already tell this is going to be adorable when you’re through with it :)
Having tried three different pieces from Rag & Bone, I find Rag & Bone’s quality to be very poor and disappointing in relation to its steep price, but I’m excited to see the after photo of this blazer. :)
Hi Helen! I’ve seen disappointing pieces from them too, as I have with pretty much every brand. I used to have a skirt from Rag & Bone that was the best quality skirt I’ve still ever seen (the tailoring, materials and construction were superb!) and I recently bought a pair of jeans from them that are my new absolute favorite. As with every brand, you’ve gotta pick out the gems. =P
yeah, I guess it also really depends on the individual too.. One of the pieces was actually the exact same jeans you have (skinny in Preston) and I did not like them at all!! They flattened my butt and were very uncomfortable for my skin :( I’m glad you love them though!
Aww! What a shame! I love the skinny in Preston so much! Too bad they weren’t as great for you. =(
love the pattern on the coat! can’t wait to see how it will turn out…
xoxo
Mady
thegirlfromthemirror.blogspot.com
The pattern on the jacket is unique! Great buy! I can’t wait to see the alterations. It surely will be a whole different jacket!!!
This is going to be a fav blazer after the alterations..
Happy New Year Kelly! I adore the pattern on that blazer. It is so unique and fun. I can’t wait to see it post alternations.
ugh, this post is such a tease, Kelly!! ;)
now dying to see this reveal!
it would be nice so let us know how much the alterations were
*to let us know how much the alterations were when you get something altered. I have a blazer that fits, the only thing is the sleeves are too wide and I don’t really know the average cost to get it slimmed. :( guess I should just call around.
Hi Michelle! I didn’t list price for two reasons: first, price varies from city to city and tailor to tailor, so I can’t give you an accurate price for what it will cost in your city with your tailor. Second, I usually drop off a load of items and pay one lump sum for all of it, so by the time I get my items back, I’m not exactly sure what the cost of each specific alteration was either. To slim the sleeves of a blazer, my guess is somewhere between $20 – $30 depending on your city, tailor, and if the blazer is lined. But again, the price could vary. Slimming blazer sleeves is one of my favorite alterations and really changes the look of the blazer for the better. You’ll be a lot happier. =)
great blazer though