Dress Pants Alteration Question

[VMan]

Hey guys,

I have two pairs of Prada semi-dress/casual slacks. Nice pants, except that they are very narrow at the ankle. I like my pants to have a slight boot cut so they fit well over shoes or boots.

I was thinking of making a 2-3" vertical **** in the bottom of the leg, right on the seam, on the inner-side. Do you think this would work? Note, I wouldn't be wearing these slacks as dress pants, just casually.

 

[LA Guy]

Get the job done professionally, and add a zipper to the *outside* seam that goes midcalf. It'll make the pants look more casual in and of themselves and look good over sneakers unzipped about 3 to 4 inches, or with slim shoes zipped up nearly all the way. Good street look.

 

[VMan]

Get the job done professionally, and add a zipper to the *outside* seam that goes midcalf.  It'll make the pants look more casual in and of themselves and look good over sneakers unzipped about 3 to 4 inches, or with slim shoes zipped up nearly all the way.  Good street look.

Yeah I was thinking of doing it professionally...I can do minor alterations myself (hemming pants and shirts, tapering a shirt's sides) but these were rather expensive pants new (I didn't pay much at all for them, but replacement cost if something goes wrong, would be high) so maybe I should trust the tailor.

The zipper is a great idea. I've seen some Versace slacks that had this, and they looked nice. Though the zipper was maybe only 6" long. My tailor is a more traditional Sicilian though, who isn't too up on the latest fashions. I wonder what he'll say when I ask him to install zippers on my pant legs.

 

[j]

The zipper is a very cool idea... (I can hear the collective gasp of the traditionalists.) Prada gutter punk.

If you just wanted to make the **** it would be very simple; make a bar tack across the inseam or outseam and/ or stitch an "end" on the seam (inside the pant leg) where you want the **** to stop. Rip the seam up to that point. Unfold the hem (assuming these are not cuffed) and either sew along the edge to tack it down, or if you want to be really crafty, mitre the corner and sew it up (it's really not hard if you take a sec to figure it out). Thinking about it I almost want to go try it to see how well it would work.. I think I have an old pair of Dickies around that don't break well. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

[VMan]

J -

Thanks - I just might try it myself, but first on a pair of thrift store pants or something, I would be mad at myself for ruining a pair of good pants. Maybe I'll get a tailor to put a zipper on one pair, and then just have the **** on the other.

 

[amirrorcrackd]

Versaceman, did you ever do this? How'd it turn out?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[jinx]

i did this to my levis stright leg cords. i just opened up the seams on the sides and left it at that. i even left the lose threads. ive seen a lot of people do this, i think it looks good if you just leave it messy.

 

[VMan]

I tried it with one pair of pants; I cut the ****, but I haven't gotten around to sewing it up yet. It looks OK - definitely better than they did before, but they still don't look great. They are narrow, and then open up right at the bottom to fit over the shoe better, rather than have a gradual flare all the way down.

 

[amirrorcrackd]

So did you nix the zipper idea complete.

Dan

 

[leroy]

good to leave such professional job to your tailor. such "operation" needs to be done professionally to make the addition of the zippers look nice and every part of your pants. best to have the zippers hidden under the seams.