Bad tailoring experience :( - YouLookFab Forum

A week ago I dropped off a shirt to be tailored. I have had it lying around for almost a year and finally decided to go get it done while I had some time off. It's a woven surplice top I got from Anthropologie for my birthday. There is a band underneath the bust, and then some of those blasted pleats (in the front and back). It also had pleated puff sleeves which were too puffy for me.

I took the top to the tailor for her to remove the sleeve pleats, but while I was there I asked her if she could remove the front pleats and make it flat instead of gathered. She said yes and asked if I would like the back pleats removed as well, but we both agreed that they looked good and they should stay.

So I got the top back today, and it feels a whole size smaller! It also feels slightly shorter. The sleeves came out fine, but all the fabric she took out made it so tight around my stomach, and now the back pleats bunch up awkwardly. I knew some fabric would have to be removed, but not this much. I'm not a seamstress so I'm kind of miffed that she wouldn't warn me of that. It looks good from the front, but I constantly have to pull it down to keep the back pleats from bunching up over my bum. I think I might have to have some vents put in the back

Worse still, when I went to pick up the top, I also dropped off my R&S jeans to be hemmed. But today was a freezing cold day and I was wearing boots, and I came straight from work so I didn't have shoes with me that I would normally wear with them (I had the jeans because I left them in the car).

At this point I had not received the top or tried it on, so I didn't know how it came out, but I had been to this place before and had good experiences so I wasn't too worried.. I asked her if she would still be able to hem my jeans for flats even if I didn't have the shoes, and she said yes and she would just leave them a little longer than my bare feet. I trusted her so I let her have at it, but I asked her to leave the original hem intact just in case

Now that I saw the job she did on my top, I'm afraid of what she might do to my perfect jeans. My mom said I should call first thing tomorrow and ask for the jeans back. I don't know if that would be overreacting. I did ask for the original hem to remain, so if she does end up making them too short, at least I can go somewhere else and have it taken out. Hemming is also a much simpler job than the top. My only worry is that it was probably ill-advised to have them hemmed without shoes. Even flats have height and I wonder if a good tailor would have advised me that way.

Any advice on how I can fix the top, or if I should take back the jeans would be appreciated. If my explanation of what happened isn't adequate, I can try to take pictures but it's dark and the top is black so I don't know if it will help much.

17 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I have no advice about the top, but if I were you, I would call her first thing in the morning and if she didn't start the job on the jeans, I would tell her to hold off. I am normally shy about these things, but in this case, you have a good excuse. You can say that you didn't want her to hem the jeans without trying it on with the shoes. Then if you trust this tailor with your perfect jeans, you can either bring your shoes with you to the store and have her take measurements again, or you can just take your pants back. You can say that you haven't yet decided which shoes to wear it with.

Ana

I'm sorry this happened Maya.

I love and trust my tailor, but if I drop something off that requires more skill than a simple hemming, I always try things on before I leave to make sure they are okay. This is a common practice, and they even ask me if I'd like to try it on before I leave. This way, if something is wrong, they can make adjustments, and those adjustments should be free (or, technically, included in the price you paid for the original adjustment). In the future, I'd probably advise this, but since you're not happy with the tailoring job, I'd go back and try it on and show them why you are not happy. There might be something they can do. Since you have been to this tailor before and they have done a good job, maybe this is a one off thing. My tailor has a team that works on clothing. Maybe they hired someone new who doesn't know what they are doing--the tailor needs to know this kind of information. If this is the first "major" alteration you've had them do and they've messed it up, I'd look for a different tailor for difficult jobs.

As for your jeans, I'd call them and tell them you changed your mind and want to try them on with shoes to make sure they are perfect. If you have had things hemmed by them before and were happy, you're probably still okay to have them do your jeans. Definitely have them pinned with the shoes you plan on wearing though. I've just guessed in the past when I didn't have the shoes either, and I've never had stuff turn out right that way.

Anonymous

I think that tailoring a shirt into a another garment is so much different than hemming jeans. I can't say if the tailor should have advised you before hand that the top would change shape. They probably do not know this until after the fact.
Like Angie's post on her garments made in Hong Kong, the tailor will probably make it right with you. It's a tough job.
I'm terribly sorry that this happened to you and hope it works out for the best. It scares me that I wanted to be a tailor when I was younger.

Maya

I guess the job was more complex than I thought. I'm going to take it back when I pick up my jeans, which I have decided to let them go ahead with. Since I asked for the original hem, it won't be such a big deal if they end up being too short. I can always have it done again if necessary, and it's a simple enough alteration that I don't anticipate anything disastrous. It's going to take the same amount of time anyway because I can't come in until Monday. Who knows...maybe I'll luck out and the length will be perfect.

The shirt might be a lost cause. If she takes out the back pleats, it's going to become even smaller, and I almost certainly won't be able to wear it at that point. I think the only other option is to put vents at the sides, which might not be all that flattering. I find that they make me look hippy.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Rotten luck. I’m sorry Maya. I’d go back, fit on the blouse and ask the tailor for suggestions. If they can’t help you out, they should reimburse you in some way. The hems on your pants will probably be absolutely fine, though.

I certainly hope so! I wanted to wear them to the YLF convention. I also wanted to wear the blouse but I don't know now I'll have to rethink my outfit.

Maya you are so very creative, I bet you would be good at sewing, tailoring, costume making and that sort of thing. Have you ever taken to sewing? You have so many great ideas about clothing and fit and a creative imagination.
Would you mind showing us a picture of the botched alteration?

Anything involving impeccable craft is not going to be my strong suit, San. I have done some quick fixes here and there, but I can barely sew on a button.

I will try and get a picture this weekend when I'm at home during the day. It's hard to get a good shot of it since the shirt is so dark and the problem area is on my back.

Maybe a good tailor should have said no can do. I am a moderately experienced seamtress. I mostly work on flat projects like quilts these days. When you throw in fit it becomes a whole other ball game. So they being 'paid experts' should know the level of remaking they can do, and be able to say no to projects. I think the whole tailoring aspect of sewing is going to be somewhat hit and miss, because when the person tries it on, now we have the personal fit issue, and being able to move comfortably. Since I also used to be a carpenter I can say that we always used to say that it was easier to build a new house than to remodle an old one. I think the same goes for clothing and tailoring, somewhat.
I bet they will somehow make it right with you, as part of their business.
Since you do not sew, you can be the designer. That would be the fun part for someone as creative as you.

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