Everything You Need to Know Before Going to a Tailor: 9 Tips for Making Custom Clothes

Finding a good tailor may be more than half the battle. “Not all tailors are created equal,” says fashion designer Maria Murph. “Some have an off-the-charts skill level that will make you look like a million bucks. Others are great at hemming pants and skirts, but you’d better not trust them with a wedding dress.”

How to find a master in your craft? The first method is very simple and known to all: word of mouth: ask your friends for recommendations. The second way will take more time: do your own research and analysis of studies on the Internet.

“I also recommend asking a tailor to show you their work. Even hemmed pants can tell a lot. Are the edges straight and the seams neat? If you don’t like what you see, thank them for their time and walk away. If you’re planning on making a complex outfit, consider starting the collaboration with a less expensive job, like tailoring something,” says Jennifer Love, founder of her own womenswear brand.

You probably know that custom-made clothing isn’t a cheap endeavor. (And when it comes to wedding dresses, the prices get downright astronomical.) However, often times, alterations that seem trivial to you can turn out to be complex and costly.

“For example, I once found the perfect navy blazer at a thrift store for just $7 and took it to the tailor I’ve been going to for tailoring since I graduated college. It turned out that you simply can’t adjust the shoulders of a jacket for a reasonable price, in my opinion—the thing has to be pretty much completely disassembled. “I ended up giving my find to a friend,” says Mike Henson, a freelance writer for men’s magazine Primer.

“Before you go to the tailor, decide on your budget. If the job costs more, tell me how much you have – maybe they can offer you some kind of compromise,” advises Sonny Grant, an employee at the London studio.

For the tailor to do his job properly, he needs help: take with you the shoes that you are going to use to complete your outfit – this rule applies to both men and women.

“This is especially important with pants: they need to be hemmed differently for different types of shoes,” says owner Saren Alsharif. “However, in the case of skirts and dresses, it’s also best to adhere to the condition: bring the shoes you plan to wear most often with the item.”

You also need to take it with you – if you plan to wear an evening dress over a corrective bodysuit, you cannot take measurements while wearing regular cotton panties without a drawstring.

“Also think about your bra. Which one will you wear with your outfit: a push-up that pushes your chest forward and up, or a minimizer that hugs your chest perfectly? A dress that looks good with one piece of clothing can look terrible with another,” says Alsharif.

“Do you want a certain look? Show studio photos that you like – this will help the designer understand your vision for the outfit and create something that will not only look good on you, but also meet your desires,” says Saren.

According to stylist and creator of his clothing brand Nguyen Hai, this is very important information. “If you plan to wear a blazer mainly to the office, it is better to mention it: professional tailoring comes with its own challenges,” he says.

We are sure you know that silk does not stretch as well as polyester. But there are a huge number of types of fabrics – it is possible that there are some whose properties are unknown to you. Perhaps, for example, it is better to implement an idea using coat wool? Or lyocell? Discuss this question with a seamstress, she will tell you which material is best suited to your idea.

When making clothes to order, it is impossible to be satisfied with just one visit: be prepared for the fact that you will need several fittings. Do not worry if, during one of them, the item does not fit you at all as you wanted – appointments with the seamstress are necessary just to solve this problem.

“Too loose? Too long? Too short? Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion. You’re a client and every professional wants to do something you’ll be happy with. The sooner they hear what you’re not happy with, the better,” Grant says.

“If you don’t like the result, say so before you leave the workshop. You will be invited to try again if it is possible to resolve the problem. If the tailor tries to explain to you that you must be happy, then smile, nod and go get another one,” Jennifer says.

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