The perfect body does not exist. And your body type obviously can't fit all the different types of pants or jeans. When this happens, a feeling of discomfort arises - it's as if something is wrong. Even if you love the cut, the material, the design... some discomfort remains.
Fortunately, today there are different types of alterations that allow you to adjust the pants to your figure . When you buy an exceptional piece, it's normal to want to feel good in it: and it's not up to your body to adapt to a piece of clothing, but quite the opposite . This can be at the waist, to gain a little ease or, on the contrary, be more fitted. This may be a thigh to tighten to avoid any floating. This can also be a bottom to make thinner or wider, depending on your desires or needs.
Moreover, when you buy pants in a BonneGueule store , we offer to cover 50% of the alterations.
But alteration isn't just about new clothes . It is also possible to have pants taken back that you wish to readjust after years of use. This is also what we highly recommend: before you get rid of a piece of clothing because it no longer suits you (the body may change over time, and that is normal), and to replace it with another part, first give it a second chance by going through the retoucher box . It is a more sustainable and responsible approach, as well as more economical. It will always be cheaper to have pants you like to wear altered than to buy new ones.
My personal experience with retouching
For the record, I did my first touch-up recently (last June to be precise). During a stay in Lyon, I took the opportunity to visit my colleagues at the store (hello Mathieu and Kelly). I still remember this date since it was the long-awaited release of our Melbourne pants, and incidentally my birthday.
But as explained above, the perfect body and perfect clothing do not exist. With these summer pants, I had a problem with the cut and the belt.
As David tells us in this article , I oscillate between two sizes: 46 and 48. I particularly liked the cut and the finish with size 46. Unfortunately, at the waist level, I was really at narrow - which quickly became unpleasant. Conversely, in the 48, comfort level, it was perfect. But the result was really not satisfactory, my legs were floating in the pants. So I altered the size 46 pants at the waist, widening them. The objective was to reconcile comfort and aesthetics.
Here is the final rendering of my Melbourne pants. I'm delighted with it, it fits perfectly and I'm very comfortable in it.
Possible alterations to pants:
Before listing all the possible alterations to pants, let's address the question of price. Please note that the price of a touch-up is quite affordable. Allow on average between 10 and 20 euros for the most specific touch-ups. When your pants are made from a beautiful material, it would be a shame to deprive yourself of them: see it as a very long-term investment.
Belt alteration
Let's start by talking about the waistband of the pants. If you feel cramped and your stomach is tight, it is possible to expand it. Because yes: some manufacturers leave excess material inside the clothes, anticipating this need. However, this is not the case with all clothing brands: if the pants do not have additional material, you will therefore be unable to widen them. It is therefore essential to take this element into account before purchasing .
Conversely, if you feel that the model is a little loose, you can have it tightened at the belt. This is one of the most common alterations.
Retouching the width at the bottom
If you find that your pants are too wide at the bottom , it is possible to narrow the width. The retoucher will then sew a little on each side of the leg. This alteration is carried out from the knee, which is not touched, in order to preserve the original silhouette of the garment.
Retouching the width of the leg
If you find that the knee is floating a little, as is the bottom, it is possible to have the entire leg reworked by a retoucher. This touch-up must be done carefully so as not to alter the cut . Be careful though, knee comfort is important when you sit and move!
Rear thigh touch-up
If you find that the thigh is floating a little, it is entirely possible to undertake a touch-up at this level. The retoucher will then intervene from the inside of the thigh . Conversely, if you feel tight when sitting, the retoucher can enlarge the thigh opening by a few inches - again, if extra material is available.
Release the crotch
If you feel discomfort in your crotch, especially when sitting, it is possible to release
Hem alterations possible
Are your pants too long? Several alterations are possible.
The first is the most popular: the hem. Obviously, this is the most classic and all-purpose way to regain length. There are different types of hems such as single, double, invisible stitched hem...
For a double hem, the alterationist will fold the fabric twice. The result is very minimalist since the bottom seams will no longer be visible. For a simple hem, it is only folded once, so the edge of the fabric will always be visible. So there is not really a type of hem to favor , do it according to your preferences.
For a more pronounced style, you can opt for a lapel . From very thin to very wide, several types of cuffs exist. For example, if you want an Italian Pitti Uomo style, dare to use a 5-centimeter lapel (which is already an imposing lapel). Conversely, if you want a more casual look, a little cuff is welcome .
Here, the reverse is not “sewn”: it is not made by a tailor. On the other hand, it can give you an idea of the final result. The selvedge finish is very appreciable for a backhand.
And finally, for the more daring, a bottom of pants that we see less often today is the split bottom : very elegant, it helps to somewhat reduce the breakage of the pants and lets them sit elegantly on the shoe .
If choosing the finish of your pants seems difficult to you, we have written an article on the match between the cuff and the hem which you can find right here.
Before concluding this article, I wanted to share with you the addresses of the retouchers with whom we work on a daily basis. In the four corners of France, they accompany us to help you alter your favorite garment.
- Paris: AM retouching - 17 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010
- Toulouse: Maison de la Retouche - 5 rue de la Pomme, 31000
- Strasbourg: Atelier HB couture - 10 rue des bonnes gens, 67000
- Rennes: The girls' workshop - 1 rue Victor Hugo, 35000
- Lyon: Point Retouche - 2 rue Mulet, 69001
- Lille: Le Dé Filé Retouche - 70 Rue Pierre Mauroy, 59800
There you have it, we've covered all the possible alterations for pants. If you would like to know more about possible alterations for other types of clothing, we have written a dedicated article on the subject:
