Tailoring edge?

Carol

Fashion experts recommend tailoring, and certainly when I love a pair of pants or a skirt, I will do that. But I have only ever asked for a hem shortened, or a waist brought in.

Are there any other adjustments you would recommend to consider regularly? Tops? Dresses? Jackets? etc.

Pants come alive when you get the waist and length right. Are there any other garments that do that?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

4 weeks ago

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from Carol

Irina

Veteran

Getting item tailored to achieve a better fit depends on your individual needs.

I have to get some of my items altered due to petite height - 5,3”or 159 centimeters.

I often need to shorten sleeves and hems on tops, pants. I had dresses that were a bit too wide.

I like my clothes to fit well and proportionate on my body.

4 weeks ago

RobinF

Veteran

Same as Irina. I am 5'2" and do most of my own tailoring. I will shorten pants, dresses and skirts but also sleeves and tops. I have taken in pants hips and narrowed the legs occasionally. I often let out the waist when possible as I have a proportionally large waist to hip ratio. Bottoms are harder for me to fit than tops.

When I purchase an item I always take into consideration what kind of alterations it will need and how easy or hard those will be. I am not super picky overall about fit (if it is comfortable) but length is a biggie.

4 weeks ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I often have to take in sides (sometimes just one side since I’m asymmetrical!) of dresses and tops after sizing up to accommodate the bust. I also frequently have shoulders of sleeveless tops and dresses shortened to fit my short torso better — it helps bust darts fall into the right place and correct for low armholes. It’s usually a pretty easy alteration.

I’ve also had wide shoulders on sleeveless garments narrowed a bit to help them fit my narrow-ish shoulders better and create a nicer line.

I’ve had pants taken in at the waist and also the seat a bit (I have wide hips but not much booty). I’ve also had wide-legged pants narrowed a little bit to make them a bit more wearable and versatile.

I’ve had a skirt shortened from maxi to midi length by removing some fabric from the top rather than the bottom — it was an elastic waist so an easy matter to simply redo the elastic into a new band from the same fabric at the top!

The one alteration I wish were easier is narrowing the back and shoulders of a jacket or blazer — I cannot tell you how many times I’ve tried to size up to accommodate the bust only to have too much room across the back!

4 weeks ago

kkards

Veteran

Nodding along with Janet. Back in the day when I wore business and then business casual I would have jackets and some blouses slimmed/nipped in. I once had the sleeves of a dress narrowed, and small shoulder pads added, it really took the dress to the next level.

In fact I’m on my way to the tailor today -a couple of basic shortening/hemming jobs. But also a skirt that l’ve had almost 30 years but needs some work done on the waist line. And a new skirt that I bought that is almost fabulous, but I don’t like the extra fabric at the waist and want or see if she can rework it.

4 weeks ago

Roberta

Veteran

I am very interested in true tailoring, but it takes real skill. I would hesitate to ask the average drycleaning personnel to tinker with an complex garment. I have never done more that take something in at a straight seam, or hem a garment.

A blogger I love often has her master tailor (Fatima) alter garments to fit her precisely - The Directrice. You might enjoy her approach to tackling revision herself: https://thedirectrice.com/welcome-back/

4 weeks ago

MsMary

Veteran

I used to work with somebody who had all her clothes tailored and -- wow! She always looked great! I've also heard that celebrities have all their clothes tailored and that's why they always look so great even in jeans and tees. I usually stick to hemming and having sleeves shortened (shoutout to my fellow T-Rex-arms gals!) but I've had some things adjusted in the body and it's really made a difference.

4 weeks ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I never even thought of shortening tops until it was suggested on the forum about 4 years ago, by Irina actually, on a T- shirt. Always before I had hemmed only pant legs, myself. The older T-shirt I shortened myself, and then recently the bright pink one I paid to have shortened, look way better proportionately than they did. But now I am trying not to buy them too long, there are some shorter ones around but it means being quite selective.

4 weeks ago

Irina

Veteran

Roberta, I love The Directrice.

My seamstress has exceptional skills and I trust her completely. In retirement I don’t need much but still see her a couple times a year. I would say the best seamstresses work for bridal or high end brands. Nordstrom here used to allow to engage their alteration department even for items bought outside of Nordstrom.

4 weeks ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Roberta your link goes to BR! But I Googled The Directrice anyway, never heard of her before. Looks fun.

4 weeks ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

One of the great things about having even a simple top shortened is that you can also have the hem modified — a little lower in back, higher in front, or maybe adding a vent on the side, etc. Same for pants or a skirt!

4 weeks ago

Kate

Veteran

Ha, Roberta, I got my wonderful tailor, Fatima, from Directrice. Fatima is absolutely stellar, and I would trust her with anything. Plus, she's delightful to work with. She is as much a designer as a tailor. I was just thinking about rounding up some clothes that need her skills.

I don't take routine things to Fatima, like hemming jeans, but anything complicated goes directly into the basket for her ministrations.

4 weeks ago

Theodora

Active Member

I used to have an amazing tailor, who could almost remake an outfit, but I moved. Now I stick to hems and sleeve shortening. I always seem to need the shoulders of sleeveless dresses shortened as well, but I admit to having a backlog of those because I’m not sure who near me could do it well…

3 weeks ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Like Theodora, I used to have a favorite tailor but in my case she moved. She took in the hips and legs of several items and it made a world of difference.

3 weeks ago

Star (Lise)

Veteran

I used to tweak l lot of the second hand items I bought at the tailor. Taking in pants seats, shortening tee shirts, etc. Then it got really pricey to do, and seems counterintuitive as it can cost up to 5 x more than what the item cost me! Now I rather pay more attention to fit when I shop.

3 weeks ago

Penny

Veteran

Shortening sleeves on dresses is a big one for me, besides shortening hem lengths. Sometimes three-quarter sleeves or elbow-length sleeves are too long on my frame, and an inch or two can make a big difference. And if you love a piece but something doesn’t feel quite right, a skilled tailor can help you think about adjustments. I love buying second-hand and don’t think twice about paying much more for tailoring than the items. A perfect fit is priceless!

3 weeks ago

Lisa

Veteran

I've had pants and jeans shortened, and sleeves shortened on blazers. Once I've had pants lengthened with extra fabric. The only full tailoring I've had done to an item was my wedding dress.

3 weeks ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think I am with you Star, that it would hurt to pay more for the tailoring than for the item. But Penny’s perspective is interesting. I guess if the thrifted item is excellent quality then you still might get a fantastic well-fitting item for less than retail.
I was happy to pay extra for my mother-of-the-bride dress to get tailored in 2019, but it did soften the blow that the dress happened to be on sale anyway, unexpected, as I was happy to pay full price for an important event. In the end $40 for the dress and $28 for the alteration. I also paid $70 for a tricky alteration to the waist of my tulle skirt, more than it’s original price, but that made it wearable again as it was just so large on me it was falling down! And I still loved it.
It did hurt to pay $29 recently (all 3 the same tailor) for just shortening my bright pink T-shirt. I have racked up the wears since though and got compliments.

3 weeks ago

Star (Lise)

Veteran

JENNI for a special event or even work wear I can see the possible value, for my everyday casual lifestyle not so much.

3 weeks ago

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Have been busy--thanks for all your thoughts. Will try to get back to this tomorrow.

3 weeks ago

Carol

(website)

Veteran

All--thank you for all this wisdom. I was definitely wondering about taking in the sides of a dress/jacket--I have a dress that needs just that.
Roberta--thanks for the link, I will check that out.
Star--good point about paying attention when shopping--always working on that.

2 weeks ago

Category