All Your Questions About The Tailor, Answered…
You know when you have a piece that is ALMOST perfect but there’s one little flaw about it just bugs you, so you never wear it?
The perfect jeans BUT the waist gaps so you need a belt.
The perfect blazer BUT the sleeves go over your hands like you’re a kid.
The perfect thrifted vintage top BUT it’s two sizes too big.
There’s a simple solution to the the almost perfect>disappointment> donate cycle:
Get a dang tailor already!
I know, I know. But you’re nervous! You don’t know what to say to a tailor. You don’t know where to find a tailor. You don’t know how much it is. What if they think you’re dumb 😬
I got you, friend. I’m gonna answer all your questions, so you can walk into the tailor like it’s your 10th time, the 1st time.
By the end of this blog, you, like this person from my DMS will be ready to proudly say:
Jump to your most burning questions here:
Why should I go to the tailor? | How do I find a tailor? | How do I know if a tailor is good? | What do I bring to the tailor | What to expect at a tailor? | How much does tailoring cost? | Is going to the tailor worth it? | Check out these before and afters!
Why should I go to the tailor?
Clothes that don’t fit quite right steal your mental energy, comfort, and the joy that could be yours if that one little thing was fixed.
Getting clothes back from the tailor, that were literally made for you, gives you that just-left-the-salon-with-perfect-hair feeling. Like you won at life and fashion. Clothes that you were previously picking and pulling at self-consciously, go from ugh to OMG.
Most importantly, tailored pieces can make you feel excited to be you, with no notes.
How do I find a tailor?
The best tailor is going to be a mom and pop shop owned by a grandmother who immigrated here from another country. This theory was unilaterally confirmed when I shared in DMs. Abuelas and Grandmothers from Cuba, Iran, Italy, and Egypt came through for our community big time.
You want generational sewing wisdom, with heart. Someone who is confident, skilled and practiced. Who doesn’t just offer one thing, like hemming. Peep their services board to see what all they can do and how versatile they are.
If you’ve combed google reviews for nearby tailors, and haven’t been lucky enough to source a sewing grandma, there is always Nordstrom. They’ll be pricier, more likely, but consistent.
How do I know if a tailor is good?
A good tailor will listen to your vision, and be honest about the results you can expect, how they will achieve it, and the cost. If they anticipate any issues based on the garment’s construction, making what you want done unachievable, they will suggest alternative fixes. They would rather turn down a job than fudge what’s possible in order to get your business.
With a good tailor, you shouldn’t be surprised by the final result. They should explain what they’re doing, pin it, and get your consent BEFORE you drop it off.
And if you pick it up, try it on in the shop, and the fit isn’t as they promised, a good tailor will offer to fix it, with no extra charge. They take pride in their work and have integrity.
The only way to know for sure if a tailor is good is to bring in one or two items to test their work and process. Something you’re willing to risk.
I’ll share what to expect below so you don’t feel like you’re going in blind!
What do I bring to the tailor?
That depends on what you’re having tailored!
If you want to get pants hemmed, you’ll want to wear the shoes to the tailor that you plan to wear most with those pants so that you can get the length right.
Also wear or bring relevant undergarments (i.e. the bra you want to be able to wear with that top whose sleeves you’re going to shorten, etc.)
Think about what you’ll need in the dressing room! If you’re wearing a dress to the tailor, but taking along pants to be hemmed, make sure you also bring a shirt to try them on with. You don’t want to get caught in the dressing room with just pants, and have to walk out topless lol.
What to expect at my first tailor visit?
YOU’VE GOT THIS! With your pieces in hand, walk in and say “I’d like to try on a few pieces and get a tailoring consult and a quote, please. Is now a good time?”
If someone else is there trying things on, you might have to wait a bit. If there’s no line, they will take you back, probably to a small dressing room behind a curtain.
Bring your pieces in, and put on the pieces you want tailored. (If you have several things, there will be a few rounds of this).
Step out. There will probably be a mirror and potentially a raised platform for you to step on.
Now is when you tell the tailor what you want. Example:
“Can you take in this dress in the waist?”
“Can you shorten the sleeves on this blazer to 3/4 length?”
“Can you hem these jeans so they almost touch the floor, but not quite when I’m wearing these shoes? I want you to keep the original hem.”
(If you don’t ask them to keep the original hem on jeans, they will just cut off the bottom, turn them under, and sew a thin line. To me, this feels unfinished. I personally ask them to keep the original hem, and if they couldn’t, I would find another tailor who could.)
The tailor will put pins in your clothes as guides for how they plan to sew them. This will give you an idea of how much they are taking in or how long the hem will be.
After they place the pins, they will ask what you think.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SHY! Put on your big girl pants and tell them if you think it’s too short, too tight, too loose. It’s very easy for them to adjust at this stage. Try moving your arms, make sure it works.
If everything looks good, you can ask them how much each alteration will be.
Maybe you flew too close to the sun and asked them to take in the waist on a dress, add a zipper, change the neckline, and hem it and stumbled your way into an $80 alteration that’s out of budget.
It’s ok, you can say “how much if I just take in the waist and do the hem?” It’s no big deal. Each individual thing you alter on a garment is an additional charge.
Your tailor may push back on what you’re asking, based on the garment’s construction.
They might say things like:
“I can make the legs of these jeans more fitted, but I can’t make the crotch less baggy because of this rivet.”
“I can only give you half an inch more room in the bust because that’s how much seam allowance this top has.”
“If I take in the flare of this skirt, the shape might lose some of the drama, let me pin it and show you”
Ask them for their opinion on the best way to go, and see if that works for you.
You can then ask how long the turnaround will be. If you have an event you need it for, let them know the date.
If, at the end of your consult, you feel heard, they gave you a good idea of what to expect, and quoted you a price and timeline that feels worth it, drop your clothes off!
But if anything feels off, your gut senses a red flag, or it’s just more expensive than feels worth it, you are free to say “let me think about it” and leave!
If you decide to go for it, when your items are ready, try on the pieces in their dressing room, and inspect them to see if they fit as promised, also checking if the seams and stitching look professional and good.
If everything checks out, you’ve found your new tailor! 🙌
How much does tailoring cost?
As a rule of thumb, every time they cut into the garment, you can add $15-20 to the tab.
So like $15-20 to hem pants, $15-20 to take in the waist of a shirt, $15-$20 more to alter the neckline.
Jackets and dresses tend to cost a bit more, like $40-$80 depending on what you need. Wedding dresses and gowns cost a lot more, like hundreds.
This will definitely vary by tailor and region. This website has a great reference table of all the common alterations and their typical price range in the U.S.
You typically pay when you pick up your items.
My tailor is cash only. I also like to leave a tip of like 10-20%, though it’s not expected. According to reddit, many tailors would mostly just appreciate your repeat business.
Is going to the tailor worth it?
I have found tailoring my clothes to be well worth it.
Think about it: you have a shirt that’s too boxy, so you never wear it. You could either buy another shirt to replace it (for $50) OR have it tailored to perfection for $15. The tailored one is going to fit better than the off the rack one, and for less money.
Plus, it’s a THRILL to get clothes back from the tailor that fit you perfectly. And it’s better for the environment than over-buying. Also, it helps fund a sewist in your community.
Check out these before and afters from some pieces I had tailored this year if you need an extra push!
Blazer way too big, bikini top falling off shoulders, dress fit frumpy, jeans too big and low.
Blazer: took in waist and shortened sleeves, Bikini top: altered to make the straps cross in the back, Dress: took in the waist and bust, Jeans: took in the waist 4 inches for a high waist fit.
Batch your tailoring:
I like to drop off 5 or 6 pieces at once, saving time and energy. Typically I start a pile and take things just before the season that I need them. So I take my fall stuff in during the summer, my spring stuff in the winter, etc. It gives me the dopamine of a back-to-school shopping trip, and lowers my drive to impulse buy stuff for the new season.
You’ll probably wish you had tried tailoring sooner!
That’s how I felt, at least.
But alas, style is a journey, and this is just one step in a lifelong adventure.
If you feel like a first-timer with style in general, low-key dread your closet, and just need A LOT more help like this, but worry that ship has sailed for you, I got you 🫶
I made a whole podcast-style audio course, just like this, with friend-to-friend, step-by-step guides to help you learn why your closet isn’t working for you, how to tap back into your own style, and how to build a closet, in your best colors, that works for you.
Click the button below to learn more!
XO, Lindsey from Created Colorful
Hang out with us on Instagram! We talk colors, style, and we dance to club hits from the 2000s.
