There is nothing as frustrating as having a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Maybe you've lost a few pounds, and pants that once fit you like a glove now fit more on a saggy diaper.
Or you have a whole bunch of shirts you bought because they were big bargains, but every time you try them, you remember that the sleeves are too long or gaping between the buttons.
Or hidden garments in the closet that were fashionable when you bought them, but now they make you look like you are in the past.
Knowing a good alteration service, you can turn all these near misses into perfect fits: tapering oversized pants or shortening shirt sleeves. You can also update your oversized jackets with a slimmer, more modern silhouette.
Not all clothing is worth alteration. For the quality garments, better go for a tailormade as an investment or anything you love and can't bear to lose doing alterations.
Advantages of ordering tailormade garments.
Tailoring clothes is a little more work than buying new ones off the rack. First of all, you need to find a reliable maker. Then, for each garment that is changed, you have to make at least two trips to the store - one to drop off the clothes and one to pick them up - and try them on each time.
Alternatively, you can order new garments from the comfort of your home by booking a private appointment with me.
However, the changes can be worth the extra effort. There are several reasons why tailoring new clothes is often a better choice than buying ready-to-wear ones.
The perfect fit
The clothes you buy from the rack are made to fit a generic body, with measurements that are close to average. However, real bodies aren't all one size fits all. Each person's measurements are slightly different, so when shopping off the rack, the best you can hope for is usually a fit that's "good enough." But by tweaking off-the-rack purchases before using it as a sample for the made-to-order, you can make them fit the way they were made for you and you pay a fraction of the cost of true made-to-measure or bespoke tailoring.
Displacement size
Not only is your body different from everyone else's, but it's also not always the same from year to year. So, if you've lost different pounds in the past year, the pants that fit you last winter will likely be a bit baggy this winter. You could just give them away or keep them in the closet in case you regain the weight - but having bespoke pants with a good amount of fabric margin inside, with just a little adjustment, you can keep wearing them and save yourself the trouble of buying new ones.
Changing styles
Fashions change from year to year, and clothes that still have a lot of life in them sometimes get stuck in the back of the closet just because they look dated. However, their update is sometimes as simple as lifting a hem or removing a pair of oversized shoulder pads. Even just replacing the buttons with a more modern style can give a garment a new look.
Save old favorites
Clothes that wear out don't always have to go in the rag bag. Sometimes it is possible to extend their life by replacing a lining or by turning a worn collar. But even when that's impossible, you can keep your old favorites alive by asking to make a replica of the garment. This is an expensive service, but for a garment you truly love and can't replace, it can be worth it.
Take advantage of the offers
Sometimes, you find a exquisite bargain on a sales rack or thrift store, but it's just not a good fit. Rather than giving up on the arrangement, you can take it to a tailor and change the suit to fit.
If the price is low enough, the total cost - even after the changes - is often less than the retail payment.
Get the most out of your money
The alterations are only worth the money if you like the result. If the maker doesn't do a good job - or if you didn't like the garment at first - then all you end up with is a lighter wallet and a garment you don't want to wear yet. So to get the best tag value, you need to start with a new tailormade suit.
Find a good maker
The hardest part of getting alterations is finding the right tailor.
Dry cleaners usually can't handle anything beyond a simple hem, while department store tailors are usually rushed, overworked, and not interested in your particular needs.
You need a person to be your tailor. Someone who knows what you like and what you can't stand, and can replicate that same look after perfecting the first garment you bring to them.
However, department store tailors are worth a try, as they usually have decent skills and low prices - and are sometimes even free for simple solutions, like hemming.
Unless you're very lucky, you won't find the right suit maker for you by choosing from a random list.
Know what to alter
Even the best garment maker in the world can't make beautiful clothes out of poor quality fabrics. Only high-quality clothes are worth the effort to alter, because cheaply made clothes don't last long enough to warrant the investment.
Many people complains that they had cheap shortened buds in the past, only to end up throwing them because some washes left them so badly battered or faded that they were unbearable.
However, even an expensive designer jacket will never look good on you if it's a color or style that doesn't flatter you. It's worth altering the clothes you truly love and will wear often enough to make you worth your money.
When deciding whether to commission any garment, ask yourself the following questions:
Do you love the garment? Don't order something that feels average to you. Ask yourself how often you will wear this garment if you make an effort to tailor it. If it doesn't flatter you, or if it doesn't fill an authentic wardrobe need, it's not worth it.
Is it worth it?
Consider the total cost of the garment before you even order it. For example, if you find a suit that sells for $ 500 and you know it will need an additional $ 50 in modifications to fit properly, then ask yourself if you're willing to pay such amount for it if it fits perfectly. If the answer is no, pass the order. But even if you've already bought your "deal," don't invest another $ 50 in tweaking it unless you expect the result to be worth the extra cost.
Can your tailor handle it?
Think about how much work it takes to get the right garment for you. Then ask yourself if you trust your tailor to handle the job.Basic modifications require a competent professional, and complex ones - picking up, altering the design of a garment, or moving a garment more than two sizes up or down - are risky even with a good tailor.
If you're not sure how to answer the third question, go back to the first question and reconsidering how much you love the garment. If you love it and think it's worth paying for, it's probably worth the risk.
Just be prepared for the possibility that the results are not perfect.
Keep in mind that some alterations are beyond the skill of the most competent tailor.
Get the right fit
You found a good one. You have a high quality garment to modify. Now all you need is the final ingredient: the right fit.
The ideal fit is neither too tight nor too loose. To some extent, it comes down to personal preference. Some people like their clothes to fit very close to the body, while others prefer a more relaxed fit. However, a garment is too tight if it feels constricting, and is too loose if it falls and moves in awkward places.
When a tailor picks up a garment, make sure the altered garment leaves enough room for you to breathe. After the fitter has you nailed, try moving around a bit to see how it feels. It shouldn't visibly move over any part of your body - chest, stomach, hips, or thigh - whether you're sitting or standing. The sleeves should allow you to move your arms freely and the pants shouldn't tie you in front or back.
On the other hand, the fit shouldn't be so loose that the garment appears lumpy or warped. Pants shouldn't sag in the buttocks or waist slit, and legs shouldn't be so long that you risk stepping on them.
The sleeves of the shirt and jacket should go to the bottom of the arms when they are lowered, but they must not expose half of the arms when they are raised.
Don't make the mistake of telling your craftsman exactly what you want to do to a garment, for example "These straps must be shorter than an inch". Your tailor knows more about altering a garment than you do, so just explain what you don't like - "This suit looks too loose in front" - and let the tailor advise you on how to fix it.
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