Monday, September 27, 2010

Boycotting the RTW (Ready to Wear) JEAN!!!!

As of late, I've felt an occasional chill in the air that reflects the changing of the seasons. The official first day of autumn was a couple of days ago and of course I've had to face the reality that Summer's coming to the end and like you all go through the task of choosing my Fall/Winter wardrobe. I've already highlighted some of my sewing projects for the next couple of months HERE. But as usual around this time I get that same knot in my stomach. It's at this time I know I have to answer that AGE OLD question of  "What jeans and I going to wear"? Usually at this time every year I'd be lucky to have 2 pair of nice, well fitting jeans. This year I have NONE since I just wore out my last pair of jeans---the pair of Gap jeans I got from a fancy consignment shop for only $4 (that was an awesome deal!). I have ALWAYS had the hardest time finding jeans that fit and weren't Super expensive.

The reason I have so much trouble is due to the length of my lower half. I have some long legs!!!! Now I don't say that to brag or anything---- I'm simply just stating a fact. I am 5'8", short-waisted, and have a 34" in seam which makes it EXTREMELY difficult to find jeans that I like. You know, jeans with all of the right characteristics --- great fit, color, stretch in addition to them being long enough. I can usually survive the Spring and Summer without problem thanks to capris! Where would I be without them. I even buy pants too short for me and convert them into capris. But I have no way of getting around the issue during the cold weather. And since I know that's impending, I'm determined to break the cycle of panic and head this problem off early.

I've elected to do things differently this year and every year hereafter. I've made a new decision when it comes to finding jeans. I will no longer look for them and spend countless of hours searching for the perfect fit and length. It's OFFICIAL and I'm calling it QUITS!!!!  I've decided to "Boycott the RTW jean ALTOGETHER!!! I'll be making my own from now on.  I love being a Seamstress!!! As most of you know the arrival of such great jean patterns such as Jalie 2908 (which like most of you I also own) have made that a possibility. I've  I also have a couple of other jean patterns as well. In addition to that I've already got jean fabric and corduroy fabric as well.
 Sigh.......(exhales)...you don't know how liberated I feel! I'd always planned to sew my own jeans but for some reason kept holding on to the hope that I would find the jeans I was looking for. But I've gotten tired of even hoping. The last straw was when I bought a pair of "Long" jeans from Old Navy (during their $15 jean sale last month) and they still ended up short!!!! What's the world coming to when a "Long" Jean doesn't fit  long legs!!!!LOL!!! To Old Navy's defense, upon visiting their website, I realized they have "Tall" and "Long" lengths--but I'm still unsure on how they differ.  I guess I should stop complaining though, I could be Daryl Hannah (the actress from the movie Splash--pictured below) who is rumored to have a 40" in seam.
Legs that long pretty require some custom tailored pants for certain!!!

So I wrote this post to EXCLAIM that I'm joining the ranks of all you jean-sewers out there. I will probably be a Jean-Sewer-for-Life, that is until Express begins selling their $50+ jeans for $5. I know, not likely to happen but a Girl can dream right---LOL!!!! Jokes aside, I'll only buy jeans if I find everything I want for a decent price. If not, I'll no longer stress about it, especially since I can sew my own. In boycotting the RTW jean I'm finally ending the years of struggle of finding the right jeans. Now I know I'm not the only one out there. Since You've been sewing, what's the one RTW garment that you've Boycotted (or came close to Boycotting) and Why?

28 comments:

  1. Oh, I don't know that I've boycotted anything yet but I TOTALLY want to make my own Jalie jeans. Thing is, jeans seem really complicated and it's one of the things I find easiest to buy RTW. Nonetheless, given how often I wear jeans, I think I should know how to make them...

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  2. I feel your pain~ I have the same issue you have, Height and long legs. I bought the Jalie pattern as well,but I haven't been bold enough to try them.
    After seeing Erica B's jeans just recently, I really want to try them. I believe her pattern was a Vogue. However, I will join the ranks of others and try the Jalie jeans~ they look so good; and, I can control my length, waist,hips, and crotch area. :)
    I can't wait to see yours.

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  3. I would buy 38" length if I could find them in my waist size. I haven't enough nerve to sew them yet.
    Can't wait to see yours!

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  4. I know you're boycotting, but you should really try the Gap. I love their Long & Lean jeans and I wear a 36" inseam with 4" heels. Those are my go to jeans.

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  5. You go girl! Jeans are fun to make. I also have just recently fallen in love with the Gap curvy girl jeans.

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  6. Sewing your own jeans?... Yay! I am looking forward to see your completed project... May be that might encourage me to join the bandwagon. Hope you have a good fall/autumn season.

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  7. Well...I've been sewing since I was 9 and once I hit my growth spurt in high school I've had to turn to sewing my own clothes or spending the ridiculous prices for tall clothing. For me, I am also tall (5' 10") and short-waisted; I am all legs with a 37-38" inseam. Try to find that one in ready to wear! Next to impossible! The only place that has worked for me as of late is Aeropostale but of course the jean style that I loved and they carried for several years is now gone. So....enter the Jalie pattern. I purchased it within the past year but haven't had the opportunity to make a pair yet but the raves from fellow sewists tell me it is a great pattern. Will look forward to your posting and maybe this will get me going on cutting out the fabric I had purchased for this pattern for I am down to just a few pairs of jeans as well. I definitely know where you are coming from when the subject turns to RTW and pants for the tall woman. I don't think they exist and if they do it isn't at a price I want to pay :-D

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  8. This is what led me to sewing over 40 years ago. It was great that I saved money - who doesn't love to do that, but you will get the fit and style and look you want - every time. No more searching for just the right pair that is shaped just for you. It's just so dang easy. Have fun!

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  9. Skirts! Why buy one when they are so easy to make?!

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  10. Yay. Welcome to the club!! After sewing my Jalie jeans, I will never, ever buy RTW again. My Jalies fit better than RTW even without adjustments, althou I too am in the long legs camp(although my inseam is only 32 - still tricky to find). You'll never look back...

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  11. Ladies of all sizes feel the same way you do about jeans - if its not the inseam, its the waist,not the waist - then the hips. Women are so wonderfully various.

    But as I was reading a larger question loomed in my mind.

    How do you know Darryl Hannah's inseam?! :)

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  12. Best of luck. Can't wait to see the finished pair.

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  13. I am about ready to boycott the RTW jeans. I have trouble finding them to fit me. However, I am not that great sewing pants, so I am still holding out for awhile to see if I can find the perfect jeans. Like Erica said, the best luck I have had has been the Gap.

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  14. I have the book Manipulating fabric. I haven't actually used it yet. Hopefully I'll take the time to go through it in earnest one day. It's a very fascinating book.

    I haven't made my own jeans yet, but I share in your frustration. Many others have had great success using the Jalie Jean pattern. I look forward to seeing yours. Maybe I'll make my own one of these days, too.

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  15. Can't wait to see the final result! I'm not brave enough to try my own yet... can't wait to see yours!

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  16. I don't buy pants. I can't find rtw that fit well and that I can afford. I am about to embark on a jeans odyssey as well. I am going to try the Jalie pattern as well and I have a few others to try as well. I have fabric, now I need a perfected pattern.

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  17. I have a really tough time shopping for jeans, although my problem is my thighs, not the length of my legs. I've been dying to make some jeans, but I have yet to find a "big 4" pattern that doesn't look like "mom jeans" (no offense, moms....=D )

    Where would you recommend buying the jalie pattern from? I don't seem to have any retailers nearby, and fabric.com doesn't have the pattern in stock! (Or, what other jeans patterns have you tried and recommend to me!! Your advice would be much appreciated!!)

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  18. I'm feeling your pain! I'm 5'10" and have the same problem. I shop exclusively at NY and Co. because they stock talls and most of the time the fit my 33" inseam fine but I always have that huge gap in the back because of the 14 inch difference between my big ole butt and waist. Jean shopping is the WORST! I can't wait till I have the skill to try these Jalie jeans. I am so looking forward to seeing how they turn out!!

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  19. My plan was to boycott suits, pants, skirts & dresses, but caved in last week after not buying clothes for 8 months....uggg. The only thing to do is start all over again.

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  20. Land's End makes jeans in 34" & 36" inseams in their regular women's sizes. Unfortunately not so in plus size - I also need a 34" inseam. I haven't attempted pants yet, but definitely need to. Besides LE, I also buy Talbot's RTW as they put decent sized hems in their pants which can be let down.

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  21. I'm in the club to Victoria! That's the reason I started sewing 42 years ago. I have a really short trunk and long legs too. 34" inseam and I'm only 5'6"!!! I could never get a good fit, much long a great fit! If the RTW pants/jeans were long enough, they were to big in the waist/hips. If they fit in the waist/hip, they were too short! I gave up a long time ago!

    Unfortunately, I'm one of those that pays a lot for jeans so they fit perfect, but have a feeling that's going to change with the Jalie pattern! I've not made a pair yet and plan too soon! I think my days of paying through the nose for a pair of jeans are numbered and I'm happy at the thought of that!!

    Good luck on your fall wardrobe and your first pair of Jalie Jeans...I'm waiting to see how they work for you too!

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  22. Thanks for all of you Gal's comments--it seems you guys understand all too well and have fitting issues of your own!

    Erica, I will look at the Gap brand. The pair I just blew out was from the Gap and I loved them. I'll give them a try. But I need a coupon or something---those prices are a little steep from me:)

    sewistafashionista--LOL!!! I wish I could say I knew Daryl Hannah's inseam because she were a client of mine! LOL! Nah, I just heard about it on TV long time ago.

    SabrinaClementine--I bought my Jalie pattern off of Patternreview.com. I also have a OOP Vogue pattern (can't remember the # off top of my head) but if you email me I can get that info to you.

    Sheila, way to go on your 8 month boycott!!! No one said it had to be forever, it can be "seasonal" LOL!

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  23. I boycott RTW bras. I used to spend a fortune on imported bras (no local brands stocked my size). Not anymore! I took a one-morning bra-making class about 7 years ago, and haven't bought a RTW bra since. There are good bra patterns out there and a steadily-growing lingerie-sewing community, with quite a lot of online tutorials.

    I am working on a second muslin of the Jalie jean - if I can make it work, that's the next thing I'll boycott.

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  24. I would like to try jeans, but I am too scared of pants. With my big booty and swayback, I could fit a watermelon in the back of pretty much all RTW jeans. I'd like a new pair before my trip to Turkey, but I haven't been able to bring myself to go to a store and try any on!

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  25. We have the same fitting issues with jeans. But I like Erika's suggestion, try the Gap. I'm planning to make at least one pair of jean with matching jacket. It's nice to have creative options.
    C

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  26. OMG someone else that feels my pain!!! 5'7" short waisted...long legs clean to my arm pits...36 inseam...Now I have learned something about ready to wear...Talls mean tall everywhere including the crotch..the rise is long too!!!Long on the other hand is just that long..and sometimes long is not long enough..with heels..anyways...Nice to know others have my problems..always said..if my body matched my legs I would be 6ft 5...

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  27. Oh, good for you. I would do it if I felt confident with pants. I rarely buy skirts or dresses anymore, though will buy a well made shirt (usually thrifted). But I still buy jeans. I think I am scared of all the multiple fitting issues. I am going to work on blazers and jackets this fall. Maybe coats soon. Jeans will probably be later on - though with my son (2 T waist and 5T inseam, and I REFUSE to give him bubble butt!) I may approach pants if he ever desires jeans - he loves the comfort of elastic waist jersey pants though so for now I'll do that. But I might want to practice on that scale first!

    Looking forward to seeing your effort.

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  28. I own that pattern too, but I haven't sewed it up yet... I intend to, just need to find the right fabric first

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and for following me on my 10,000 Hour Sewing Challenge:)

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