Tutorial: DIY scallop hem for skirts, dresses, shorts or tops

Supplies: A too-long skirt, iron, thread, a circular template, fabric chalk, scissors, and a butterknife or chopstick

Last weekend, I watched one of my younger brothers, Ed, graduate and was beaming with pride the entire time. I can't wait for him to settle into the Bay Area for grad school, so big sis can invite herself over and gorge on all the good eats there. During our long drive home from graduation, I mentioned that I'd been meaning to post the steps for this skirt, but had no spare skirts or scrap fabric to recreate the hem. Ed offered to whip up a simple animated tutorial. I had no idea what to expect, especially since I was certain he dozed off while I yapped on about the detailed steps. A few late nights of editing later, I think he did a great job conveying the basic concept (& the nice manicure was a bonus)!

*The below can only be viewed in flash-enabled browsers (ie. not on iPhones). Click play to begin.*

A few reviews & related thoughts

I have a few reviews today, but first wanted to share some related thoughts. As someone who often shops and recommends inexpensive clothes manufactured in lesser-developed countries, last month's tragedy in Bangladesh has been especially weighing on my mind. Unfortunately, it took such an event to bring this issue into the mind of the public—myself included. After discussing this topic on end with many friends, I've found that focusing on a few points has helped me to better process the events and to think about my own actions for the long-term.

Become more informed 
I want to learn to be a more responsible consumer by getting information from reliable sources. It's easy to sign petitions, or boycott retailers accused of poor practices, or say one is willing to pay more for items made "in better conditions." But there are many moving pieces involved (ie. retailers in developing countries provide jobs -as low as wages may be- to workers who may otherwise not have one, and lower-priced items are not necessarily made in worse conditions than something priced at 20x more) that I need to learn more about. Below are a variety of links friends have passed along, and I'd appreciate any other specific sources of information on the industry and certain retailers.

- 2012 Apparel Industry Trends (sent to me by Petiteish) - An interesting report done by Free2Work which grades 50 apparel companies on a number of metrics including child & forced labor policies and workers rights. Amongst the evaluated companies are H&M, Gap, and Forever 21 (would be curious to see J.Crew and others in the ranks). Overall ratings can be found on pg 4 of the PDF.
- Article from the NY Times (shared by Elle) on retailers that joined Bangladesh safety coalitions after the tragedy, and also ones that have not. The reader commentary is very interesting - some informative, some naive, but mostly interesting to hear perspectives from different angles.
- "Shop with a Conscience" guide by SweatFree.org - I was curious to visit all of the apparel retailers on the list, but only found tee shirts, tanks, flip flops, etc. I'd love to learn about any companies that have similarly transparent labor standards, but offer styles comparable to the clothes featured on this blog.
- Post by Michelle that inspired me to share my own thoughts. She mentions that she has started to "build a spreadsheet...a check off list of ethic topics" that I am looking forward to reading more about.

Continue re-evaluating my shopping habits
When I first started blogging, I browsed stores every other day and often had several new purchases each week. I started to feel like I was living in a landfill of disposable items that all looked the same. Over the past two years, I’ve tried to reduce my overall consumerism (starting by tracking # & types of items bought) with more careful purchases, and pay more attention to sustainable fashion. That included prolonging the life of existing things in my closet, getting more from the second-hand market, and also doing my own sewing. It's been a challenge, as I admittedly enjoy shopping, have limited patience and skills for thrifting/sewing, and realistically don't expect to stop visiting mainstream retailers. As these goals are a constant work in progress, I would like to better understand the implications of my actions and learn more about the options for consumers.

At the end of the day, everyone has varying beliefs, needs, and means, and many of us will continue to shop the same retailers for inexpensive clothing that we can rely on to fit. As my following reviews indicate, I've personally been a longtime customer of the same handful of companies for those precise reasons, and am still turning to them for shopping needs. Re-evaluating this habit is hard, and I'm trying to start small by becoming more informed and to continuously work on my aforementioned goals. I would love to hear about your personal practices, as well as any sources of information that you rely on when making shopping decisions.

Spring in full bloom: Candied tweed + floral dress as a top

J.Crew dress in "Garden Floral" sz reg 00 (this year's version - use SALE30 for 30% off everything)

Burberry trench sz 2 (similar), Ann Taylor skirt, Pour la Victorie wedges (similar by PLV)

I've lived in Boston for 8 years, and I never remember loving springtime so much. In contrast with recent events, the blossoming trees and beds full of tulips look prettier than ever. I felt inspired to dig this little floral number out of storage, and make the strapless style be suitable for work.

Faux-pearl necklace from Nordies Rack (similar on eBay), Coach bag (review)

I absolutely adore this "Garden Floral" print, and was excited to see via Gigi that J.Crew brought it back this year at their factory store, in a more work-appropriate style. I showed 3 ways to style this dress last year, and am rounding it out with #4 - worn as a top.

Weekend Wear: DIY Scalloped skirt & Ferragamo Varina Flats

Thrifted skirt w/ DIY scallop hem, BR Mad Men dress c/o (last worn here) and swing jacket (old)

Ferragamo Varina flats, Ann Taylor foldover clutch, Chanel tortoise wayfarer sunglasses

If you have any plain old skirts or dresses that need a touch of something, consider trying your hand at a DIY scalloped hem. This skirt was a happy find for me at Savers/Value Village thrift store for just $3.99. The waist (labeled a size 6) fit perfectly without alterations, and there are pockets on each side (score!). I started to do a basic hem on the matronly mid-calf length, however switched gears partway through to something a little more unique.

I took photos for a scallop hem tutorial but made the mistake of "learning as I go." My scallops initially came out very defined, almost jagged, and could've given Freddy Flinstone a run for his money. After making some modifications, the second attempt came out exactly like I had hoped. Unfortunately, precious fabric was lost due to errors from round 1, leaving me with a skirt short enough to inspire some thigh toning exercises.