Suit Alterations

The biggest thing that makes or breaks an outfit isn’t how much you spend on it, it’s the fit. Looking great in any outfit comes down to how well the suit fits on you. It doesn’t matter if you spend $300 or $3,000 on a suit if it is ill fitted. The biggest reason to invest in tailoring your garment is that it will save you time and money of replacing those items in the long run. Some items like jeans are easier to replace than a classic navy suit. 

This is by far the most common question asked about clothing alterations. And unfortunately, there isn’t a very straightforward answer to it. The truth is: every tailor prices differently, and every alteration project differs greatly in price, depending on a couple of factors: 

1. Type of Garment: For example, alterations for a wedding gown are usually going to differ greatly in price compared to alterations for a pair of jeans or a blouse. Additionally, the characteristics of a garment can also increase the price of alterations. For example, if a jacket or pair of pants has a lining or a dress with a zipper needs to be tapered or a vent (slit) in a dress needs to be changed. All of these elements of a garment will increase the cost of an alteration project. 
2. Intricacy of the Alteration Project: Alteration costs can increase if a garment has a lot of beading. Costs can also increase depending on the original fit of a garment. For example, say you walk with a suit that you bought off the rack that is way too big, but you got a great deal on it. Alterations for the suit, depending on how much work needs to be done to get both the jacket and pants to fit correctly, could potentially cost more than what you paid for the suit. Another example could be formal dress alterations. Let’s say that you bought a dress for a wedding and the dress is a bit too long so you need to get it hemmed. Depending on how many layers that dress has and what material the dress is made out of, each layer hemmed will count towards the final cost.  

Here is the general rule of thumb regarding alteration costs: the more changes to the original fit of the garment, the more expensive the alterations will be.  

An estimated list of alterations and prices is at the bottom of the page. Please be aware that this is just an estimated list and prices could change depending on the complexity. An accurate price estimate will be given once I've had the chance to evaluate your garment and the alteration project in person. However, some projects will be cost estimates based on the number of hours an alteration project takes to complete. 

My general rule of thumb is approximately 2 weeks from the time of drop off. However there are a few factors to consider:

1. How much work is being completed?
2. How busy is my workload?

It’s common to bring in multiple garments at once to get the alterations done. Be aware that this might extend the turnaround time. Also it’s important to consider peak busy seasons around prom and bridal- if you need a garment completed by a certain date, plan ahead. Brides should expect a longer timeline for wedding dress alterations.

Bring the shoes you plan to wear if you are having your pants hemmed. 

Due to the limited space please limit guests to 1 or 2 additional people. 

Minors will need a legal adult to attend all fittings

Shortening sleeves:

While your jacket may not fit you 100% exactly how you would like it to adjust the length of the sleeves can make a big difference. Having a sleeve that looks too long can give you a sloppy appearance. As a general rule, your jacket’s sleeve should hit just above your wrist.

Pant hems:

This is by far one of the most common alterations. In the off the rack suiting world, don’t be surprised if your suit arrived with unfinished hems at the bottom. This will allow for you to get the exact length of the hem correct based on your height. I always recommend bringing the pair of shoes you will most likely be wearing to help determine the correct length of the pant.

Waist and seat adjustments:

A common adjustment is changing the waist and seat of the pant. It can be brought in or let out at the waist and seat, but a general rule is you don’t want to plan on letting anything out more than 1/2-1”.

Tapering pant legs:

Tapering your pants will give you that polished, pulled-together look that you need with a great-fitting pair of pants. You want to do the sit test while wearing your pants as a rule of thumb. If you can sit comfortably in a chair without your legs feeling like they will bulge out, that means the fit is correct. You want a little bit of room to be able to sit and stand comfortably but not enough that they look baggy.

Going to your first visit can be a little intimidating, especially if you’re new to alterations or have never gone to a tailor or seamstress before. During your first visit you’ll need to try on the clothing you want altered. I have a dedicated changing room to make the process as comfortable as possible. Once your garment is on I will pin it to fit you, take any necessary notes, and give you a price estimate. Be sure to bring the shoes you plan to wear with the garment and any undergarments or shapewear. These are extremely important as they can change the way a garment fits. During this visit be sure to ask any questions or get any clarifications about the process or the way a garment will fit upon completion. The goal is to have you feeling comfortable and confident about your visit and alterations.

When you come in for pick-up, make sure to try on your garment again before you leave. This allows you to evaluate the finished alterations in person and raise any concerns about the work. If adjustments need to be made, we can address them and get the garment refitted. 

Payment is expected to be paid in full at pick up. Cash is preferred but all cards are also accepted with a 3% processing fee.

If your garment is not done to your satisfaction or needs further adjustments it will be redone free of charge. After a garment has been picked up and left the premises it won’t be re-accepted for any further redos. 

Although I can work magic on a lot of projects, there are certain limitations to what can and can’t be done. The biggest rule of thumb is that I can always reduce the amount of fabric on a garment but I can’t make something bigger, at least by much. Exactly how much can be sized up depends on how much seam allowance has been left inside a garment. Fast fashion and cheaper garments tend to have less seam allowance than higher-end garments due to the cost associated with their production. If you’re unsure, buy a garment a little larger or to fit the largest part of your body.

Also, consider the life expectancy of a garment. At some point, the garment will have reached the end of its life and I will no longer be able to mend it. I will let you know that there’s simply nothing I can do further and that it’s time to toss or recycle it.

If you are running late, call or text as soon as possible. (816) 986-9530

If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, your appointment will be canceled and you will need to reschedule.

Missed appointments will be subject to a $25 no show fee or will be turned away for all future projects.