Shortening a wool coat.

[allegretto]

I have an ankle length, good quality wool winter coat. I never wear it as it just swamps me and looks dated. I was wondering whether to get in shortened and if so, to what length. Has anyone done this? I don't want to spend money on a seamstress (can't do it myself!) if it ends up looking rubbish!

I'm normally a big believer in altering clothes but I don't think shortening from maxi length always works. I certainly ruined a perfectly good coat when I tried it. I did it myself and a seamstress would have done a better job of the sewing but it was more the shape that was wrong afterwards because there was quite a lot of fabric mid calf and it just looked truncated (which of course it was).

I'd have been better off putting it away until the style came round again.

But a good seamstress would advise you.

A great tailor would do it well , it won't be cheap though so it needs to be a expensive much loved coat for it to be worth it in my opinion .

I agree with flo, it depends how much fabric will be flapping around your knees, if it's a straightish style then it might work better

Does the coat have back bent/split? That's a consideration.

Get yourself a pack of large safety pins or long dress making pins and pin it up on the inside to different lengths. You'll get an idea of how it would look at different lengths and whether it needs more shaping at the side seams for example.

If you haven't got pins and you're impatient then you can use a thick tape like duct tape but detack the tape a bit first so that it doesn't get so stuck on the lining that you pull the lining removing it. Get a section of tape about 6inches long then holding both ends of the tape press it on to your jeans (its what I do) this takes away some of the adhesion/tack on the tape and tape the coat up at intervals all around.

Just below knee length might work. A good seamstress/tailor will do a good job.

Sorry, back vent.

I had a very long coat that I shortened myself because I felt it swamped me. I did a perfectly good job but a few years later I regretted it because styles had changed and it would have actually felt stylish.

I don't think a long coat will ever become useless. Unless you're so short of space that otherwise you would have to get rid of it, put it away for now. (With appropriate moth protection.)

It has a back vent. I don't think I will ever wear it long as it doesn't suit me. I need to wear heels to not look swamped so I hardly wear it.

It's gorgeous as it is op, I love it and wouldn't shorten it

Agree it's a lovely coat. Maybe you just need a couple of inches off the bottom.

Well I'd shorten it to knee length, I think it's a great shape for that.

Lovely coat!

I think it may be contingent on whether the whole style is overwhelming for you (eg if you have petite proportions and it has big shoulders or low waist) or if it is simply a bit too long. If the pockets are too low, arms too long (basically if the coat doesn't fit everywhere else) or if the design is bold (big pockets, big lapels etc) a shorter length may not look good. A seamstress/tailor may be able to advise.

Do you wear a lot of black/dark colours? I'm tall but a black coat would make me feel similarly overwhelmed because I don't get on with black very well (though as a bit of a goth/indie kid/misery guts I wore it almost exclusively in my teens and 20s lol).

I do love a long, sweeping length on a coat, but I appreciate that others may not.

I see it looks like it has funnel neck - ? That may be what's making it feel like one long sweep of fabric from earlobes to ankles iyswim.

I agree w pp that it may be better to shorten to knee length due to its proportions, but if you bring it to a tailor they can advise and/or pin it up at various lengths to see what suits.

Grr a funnel neck of course.

Glad you like it - I was expecting someone to say "bin it, it's awful at any length!" It is quite old but it is good quality and very warm.

Yes, it has a funnel neck. I am quite tall (1.76m) but the length doesn't flatter me. I think a long coat needs more shape to it (love this one: www.etsy.com/it/listing/173401320/altalena-cappotto-womens-cappotti)

I'll take it to the tailor and if it's not too expensive, I think I'll go for knee length - will post the finished result here! Thanks for the help.