Can You Pinch More Than an Inch?

Tuesday 30 September 2014


I can! Special K - you have a lot to answer for - that has been ingrained in my consciousness since I don't know when.

And so I find myself liking my shirts and blouses more than I like t-shirts these days. I've only recently made this discovery but then again, it wasn't something that I was losing sleep over. I found my hand would hover over and skim past the tees hanging in my wardrobe and automatically reach for a favourite blouse or shirt.

Why? They are just more flattering on me. They are my new best friend. I like that they give you a little coverage and hide the bingo wings. I like the looseness of a woven fabric which helps skim the chubby bits whereas jersey tees like to point those bits out. And I also like that you can undo a few buttons at the neck and show a little skin. Covered up but not totally - that's what it's about. And I have a preference for blue shirts. Because they work well against my skin tone. And they feel a little less formal.


H&M shirt, Bag from Hong Kong, Topshop Koala espadrilles, MIH Tomboy jeans

A Birthday Bag Present from the Grumps


The black leather bag is about 5 years old and one I picked up from Hong Kong for a birthday present when I was last there. Not bought from a shop or anything but from one of the street stalls that was around when I used to go for an evening stroll in to the village. And just because it's a stall, doesn't make them peanuts, believe it or not. But I did like this bag - I think I visited it 4 times before I handed over the Grump's Hong Kong dollars.  The lovely thing about it, is I can wear it as a shoulder bag and it also comes with an extra strap in the same webbing detail so I can wear it across the body (last seen here). 

It was that little strip of burgundy which nabbed my heart! 


Anyway, my blue shirt is an H&M number. A little bit oversized but not so much as to overwhelm. It's a light thin cotton and came with some horrible sleeve tabs which I unpicked as I'm not fond of these. My other blue shirts include my Gap Oxford one and my Zara light denim one. Both still going strong, but very useful and getting a lot of love at the moment in the daily wear stakes.

  
Gap Oxford Shirt                                                  Zara Denim Shirt


Anyway, like I was saying, I removed the sleeve tabs on my shirt and if you're not keen on them either and you want to remove them, can I recommend you get a thread picker if you haven't already got one. This is an indispensable little tool (you can get them on Amazon) and is fab for fraying hems on denim and their intended purpose of unpicking thread. It's just that bit more precise than when you get a pair of scissors out and go a bit gung ho with them and then realise you've put a big nick in your fabric. Doh!



In this instance, I also started unpicking from the inside as you're less likely to catch the sleeve fabric. However, you will be left with something like this ....



... lots of small holes in the fabric at which point you go "nooooo - what have I done!!!" but what you do then is get an iron, dampen the area and steam and press it and it should look more like this. Which is a bit less scary.


A once through in the washing machine and the marks should practically disappear. The washing and drying action should knit the fibres back together again and then you're good to go!


See ya!


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Last Note :

  • Be careful which fabrics you choose to undertake this task on. Silks and finer fabrics are a little less forgiving and the holes might remain. 


36 comments

  1. I am starting to love things which are not tight! Shirts are a GREAT way to look stylish and feel comfortable.
    That shade of blue is gorgeous on you

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    1. I've stopped doing tight anything since I had Ben 8 years ago. My days of bodycon are long gone not that they were ever really there but at least I didn't mind the odd fitted jumper. Now I have ripples going down the side and it's not pretty. Loosey goosey for me.

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  2. Ha! I remember the bodycon days... Right now I'd say I'm in my midrise jeans and loose top days. Always love a blue shirt too!

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    1. Snap. That's me at the moment as well - the mid-rise jeans - just holding it all in. Age is not kind :o(

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  3. I am so with you on those annoying sleeve tabs, they're just such a bad idea! And I have to say, I love that H&M shirt on you! I'm not used to seeing you in something oversized like that and it feels really effortless and cool. Love it. Also loving the Gap oxford shirt, such a good color, such a good fit. And I totally agree that shirts are the way to go. I have amassed such an amazing t-shirt collection over the years (if I do say so myself), but lately all I want is button downs and more button downs. Helps that the cooler weather is settling in as well.

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    1. Ah - so it's not just me with those dratted sleeve tabs! They just look so false most of the time and serve no purpose and they also make ironing shirt sleeves awkward. Ironing seems like a small price to pay so no one can see my wobbly bits. BTW if you haven't got one of the Uniqlo silk ones yet - you should. I'm gunning for a plain black soon to add to my silk repertoire.

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    2. Well I never iron anything, literally, so I can hardly claim that as a rationale. But I just think a rolled up sleeve looks south better when it's doing it without any help or support by a lame strip of excess fabric. As for the uniqlo, I still don't have one and would love to, plain black sounds wonderful. But we don't have uniqlo here and I just don't know about sizing. I did, however, snap up an Everlane silk shirt when I was in the US and I am in love with it.

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  4. I love a great shirt but I always have problems with gaping buttons - how do I solve that?

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    1. Ooh awkward. Generally I'm lucky with shirts but on the ones which I find gape - I either don't buy them or maybe you could undo an extra button and wear some pretty underwear underneath? There's always something nice about a peak of lace showing isn't there?

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  5. Oh yes I can pinch more than 3 inches I think.... 5 Lbs over what I like to be and yes I have been favouring the shirts and my more looser tees. I am not a fan of those tabs either, my MIH oversized shirt has them ...... You have given me an idea now?! You really suit blue shirts and I am with you with opening a few buttons .... I like to do that. X

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    1. I'm over as well but I haven't weighed myself for over a year and now I daren't get on them. Ignorance is bliss - no? Besides, I tend to go by how my clothes fit and I know some of my jeans are tighter than I would like. That's all I need to know.

      And I didn't know the MiH shirt had tabs - get unpicking ... but do be careful!

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  6. I honestly can't remember the last time I've worn a tee shirt - short or long sleeved. It's skimming fabrics all the way for me. Loved your tips on how to remove those annoying tabs. You really are a secret domestic goddess aren't you?!

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    1. I've definitely fallen out of love with my tees - they just hug all the pudgy bits!

      Secret domestic goddess - nah - I can't bake.

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  7. I just bought a blue shirt, I'd wanted one for the past few years and agree you look lovely in these shades of blue x

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    1. Thank you!

      You're going to enjoy having that blue shirt. I find that they kind of create their own look but you look dressed without having to try too hard.

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  8. I may have to borrow the blue shirt look from you tomorrow Sue! It is the perfect thing for this tricky to dress for in-between/transitional weather we are experiencing!! I really love the pale blue teamed with grey at the moment too!
    Ohh and aren't those stitch unpicks worth their weight in gold?! Genius things!! I will also be trying the sleeve tab removing trick!! xx

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    1. The shirts have worked out brilliantly for me these last few weeks. They've been on constant rotation. And I get you on the blue and grey as well as I've been doing that as I have a pair of grey coloured MiH Breathless jeans. And I looked through some of my first blog posts and I was sporting my Gap blue Oxford and some grey jeggings. Obviously, a timeless combo.

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  9. Oh I'm with you Sue. The baggier the better. And you're so clever, I would never have dared to do that. Love a blue shirt, so classic x

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    1. Blue shirts are a classic but no one ever seems to remember to include them in the list of classic items along with white shirts and grey tshirts and Chanel handbags. I wonder why that is?

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  10. I may do the tab-unpicking thing on some of my Uniqlo tunics--I'm not into the camp shirt look either. Thanks for the tip Sue! <3

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    1. I think I may have started a sleeve tab un-picking thing unwittingly here. I never knew how much they were disliked till now.

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  11. Erm yep definitely more than an inch as baby is only 3 months old but it's starting to get to me a little so looser tops & scarves are my best friends at the moment!

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    1. Scarves are fab for draping round the front aren't they? Good pouch hiding tactics there. And I found smock blouses were another ally after I'd had a baby. Something fitted across the top but which flared out from the bustline so I still looked smallish on top.

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  12. I got rid of a chambray blouse because of the side tabs - I should have just done this, sounds a lot easier! I'm a big fan of the blouse over the t-shirt too - I've always felt that t-shirts make me seem a little.. sloppy?

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    1. I like t-shirts under something rather than being the main item these days. Under a jacket is best which takes away the sloppy factor because at the end of the day, a grey tee is something not to be dismissed lightly. And yes, a cotton picker thing would have sorted you out there with the chambray blouse. We live and learn don't we?

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  13. Don't mention the extra pounds.
    I have always steered clear of shirts with sleeve tabs It just seems to jar with me. Your unpicking idea is so simple but I would never have thought about doing that. I did get a JCrew oversized shirt whilst I was in the States this year but I also recently acquired a new t shirt that has a bit of flare at the hem and has a skimming effect. Haven't decided whether to return or keep yet.
    Your shirt looks great but I also like your MiH jeans. I haven't seen the tomboy style on an actual person. They look great.

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    1. I think there must be a whole bunch of us out there suffering with a few extra pounds'itis. But yes, anything which skims is good. Tees are okay - whilst I'm standing up but sit down and suddenly everything spreads. Not a pretty thought.

      And I am currently living in the tomboy ones. I keep seeing them on stock photos and the models seem to make them look like skinnys but I really don't see them like that - they are just a streamlined boyfriend but flattering and quite high cut on the waist despite them saying it's mid-rise. They are worth a try (but maybe wait for the sales?).

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  14. Hi Sue isn't it interesting that nobody likes sleeve tabs.....Why do the designers keep putting them on? I have always loved a shirt and a blue one is top pops for me! xx

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    1. Because no one has probably told them yet that no one likes sleeve tabs?

      And I'm agreed on the blue shirts - they work the best for me too.

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  15. I also love blue shirts, and that one looks great on you :) They really are the answer to put-together but comfortable!

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    1. Oh blue shirts are totally you Rachel! And I have found them so easy to wear - I can forgive the ironing I have to do with them.

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  16. I love my shirts too. I have many but I think my blue ones are my favourites. I am also a tab remover. Great minds etc and I wouldn't be without my little thread picking tool. Are we slightly sad? ;) H xx

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    1. Yes we are slightly sad but we can sad togevvver!

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  17. You're a genius! Wish you lived nearer and I'd be 'popping over' with my sewing projects! X

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    1. Funny you should say that, I was stopped in the school playground by someone who said "you can sew, can't you Sue". "Oh oh".

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  18. You are amazing with your alterations and customisations, Sue. So impressed once more. This is a great look for you. I llve blouses but don't suit shirts at all. I know exactly what you mean about clingy t shirts though - I'm drawn to draper tops and blouses as I progress through life.... Lynne x

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Susie So So