RenaissanceFestival.com Forums

Faire Garb => Sewing => Topic started by: gem on September 09, 2011, 03:33:25 PM

Title: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: gem on September 09, 2011, 03:33:25 PM
I've pinned up the hem on my curved-front/corded-bodice dress, and I'm concerned that it might be too short (it's 1 3/4" off the ground). Walking in it, it feels right (it brushes the tops of my shoes but I don't step on the hem), but I'm hyper-sensitive to hem length. I can never seem to get it right. My brown dress is too short (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/17691164/314609899.jpg), which makes me crazy every time I wear it, and my peasant skirts are a hair too long, and if I don't hike them up under my bust, I'll trip over them.  Anyway. On the (painstakingly adjusted to my shod height) dress form, it looked fine, but once I put it on, I wasn't sure.

Please excuse dreadful pictures/dirty bathroom/mirror/etc. I *tried* to make these as level as possible:

(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23865558/398411670.jpg)  (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23865558/398411669.jpg)

Longer? Shorter? Ok as is? Help!

Gramercy!!!


Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: isabelladangelo on September 09, 2011, 03:34:43 PM
It looks fine to me in length.  Actually, there are plenty of examples of ladies showing a bit of ankle even.   ;)
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: operafantomet on September 09, 2011, 03:46:20 PM
Looks right to me too. And if you still think it's too short after wearing it, you can add a piping of the same fabric as the skirt (if you have more fabric), or of the colour of the guards. If you snip it, it'll look even more period. Win-win!

But I DO think it looks good as it is.
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: Lady Kathleen of Olmsted on September 09, 2011, 07:44:35 PM
I say you are good to go, gem.

YTake into consideration the terrain at the faire you attend. Lots of ups and downs. Even with a shorter hem, going uphill one can get caught up.
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: Alexandra Johanna on September 10, 2011, 01:02:56 AM
Looks perfect to me!
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: Rani Zemirah on September 10, 2011, 05:49:00 AM
Gem, did you say in another thread that you were going to add guards to the hem?  Will that have any draw up effect at all on the hem?  Even slightly, because of the double row of extra stitching?  I will confess to being a rank amateur here, compared to all of you, but I have had the length of a couple of things changed just a hair because of adding things to the hem area.  If this might be the case, would adding a quarter of an inch or so compensate for that effect?
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: Cilean on September 24, 2011, 08:23:45 PM


the falling to the floor thought is more Victorian than Elizabethan, It looks good to me, and more importantly? If it feels good to you? Go for it!

Cilean  ;)


Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: DonaCatalina on September 25, 2011, 08:56:17 AM
It looks fine to me.  ;D
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: gem on September 25, 2011, 10:14:06 AM
Thanks, Dona C and Cilean. I have LONG SINCE hemmed this dress, so the damage is done, but thankfully it seems to be fine. Going to wear it today, in fact.
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: irish on October 01, 2011, 03:02:19 PM
very pretty!  :)
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: TiaLD77 on October 03, 2011, 05:37:17 PM
Looks Perfect to me Gem, I prefer mine at walking/working length with is usually finishes it off right at my ankle bone. Lovely color BTW.
Title: Re: Need some quick opinions: Is this too short?
Post by: gem on October 03, 2011, 05:54:20 PM
Thanks, everyone!

You can actually see the pictures of the finished ensemble (!!) in this thread (http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=89.msg349067#msg349067). Really pleased with how it turned out (length and all!).