How to Look Taller: Heels & a Hem

The Banana Republic outlet dress is back from the tailors. I tried to save $20 and spent 2 hours painstakingly ironing and hemming it by hand (recently got rid of my sewing machine...smacks head), but gave up at the lining. I took it to my trusty Korean tailors and they were aghast at my crooked stitching. Shaking their heads and clucking their tongues, they tore apart my hard work, but thankfully charged me a pity price of just $10.
It's no secret that heels are a petite gal's best friend, but let's revisit the importance of wearing the right skirt/dress length (old post here). For this, I pinned and re-pinned and finally settled on right above the knee:

Before (left) and After (right)

Sheath dress: Banana Republic outlet size 00P (tag info here - they ship for $5)

Heels: Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps sz 5 (a work staple!)
Flats: Tory Burch  80" 7-8mm freshwater pearls: eBay  Flower: J.Crew outlet

Shorter is not always better when it comes to length. Higher-waisted dresses can get away with a shorter hem (see altered Theory dress here), but regular-waisted dresses such as this one need a sufficiently long skirt length to make it look balanced and proportional. The right skirt length makes the entire look more refined all-around.

Side view - before (left) and after (right)

 

Back view - before (left) and after (right)

The belt was a smidge too big and long, but I couldn't use my trusty hole puncher because it was fabric. I ended up just poking the prong where I wished there was a hole, and then pulling the belt through:

 I know several petites also picked up this dress. It retails for $99 but the BR outlet frequently has sales. I picked it up for 40% off, and you can use your AAA card for another 10% off. Check out this thread in the AlterationsNeeded forum to see how it looks on Annie, Aubrey, and Megan. Hopefully the other ladies who got this from DoubleZero will post their pics so I can borrow some styling ideas!

Mustard Cardigan: Martin & Osa sz XS (similar here for $25) 
Belt: Banana Republic Outlet sz XS   Pearls: eBay

A hem job is a simple but critical alteration for certain items, especially if you're petite. It's a shame my tailor charges $20+ (more for lined items). I wish I had the time and patience to do my own alterations.

Readers - Do you always get your items altered to fit perfectly? If so, do you DIY or shell out for the alterations?