Tailoring Cost

sfend002 · Jul 24, 2009

Well, I took advantage of a great deal at Jos A Banks last weekend and got 3 suits for the price of one. Its a good store for my price range and I shop there for almost all of my dress clothes. I wear a suit to work so this is a windfall of new clothes at a great price.

One of the suits I wanted had to be ordered and came in today. After going in it was $100 for one to get he tailoring done! I was really surprised. I wear a large size jacket but have a small waist so I guess it takes alot of work but geez.

Are all tailors this much? Might have to look elsewhere.

Widebrim · Jul 27, 2009

Depends

No, tailors do vary a bit from locale to locale. Just don't go like I did to an upscale area, looking for alterations. I went to Studio City to have my father's 1946 DB suit tailored to fit me, and could've purchased a cheap, off-the-rack wool suit for what I paid.

Tomasso · Jul 27, 2009

Ballpark prices on the right.

59Lark · Jul 27, 2009

sewing wages are lowest paid.

For a skill that takes years to aquire and a lot of patience sewing is so underpaid and unappreciated by the average consumer. We ran a altersation business out of the sewing machine shop for years with a greek lady and she was skilled and with me guiding with equipment including a commercial machine she soon had a pretty good business. The work she spent hours taking stuff apart to put it just sew, it wasnt something everyone can do, the only aspect of that business that i did was get her into leather jackets repair. I found a niche busines putting new linings in expense jackets, she would painstakely take the old lining out and use it too make a pattern for a new one. I advertised in a bar on a electric sign and i did the estimates really high and she made money, average $100. including the material. and she was doing really well with that till her husband bought a restraunt again and needed a slave again. So appreciate the seamstress and tailor they are a dying breed and finding a good one with reasonable price all the ones here are old. 59Lark.

fftopic:

Cherry_Bombb · Jul 27, 2009

sorry to continue the off topic comments!

59Lark said:
For a skill that takes years to aquire and a lot of patience sewing is so underpaid and unappreciated by the average consumer.

So appreciate the seamstress and tailor they are a dying breed and finding a good one with reasonable price all the ones here are old. 59Lark.fftopic: fftopic:

Oh thank you! lol
I don't know how many times I've heard:
"Really?! It took you that long?!" as if any job should be a simple one.
And also:
"You want $_____, for that?! But it's only a small alteration!!"

Every single person who walks through the door thinks that their job is a simple job- and usually it's because they can't sew themselves, and don't understand the work and education that goes into making something look like it took no effort on the part of the seamstress/ tailor.

And might I add- seamstress/ tailor insurance can be through the roof- depending on the type of work they take in. If you allow for couture, one of a kind designer pieces, vintage clothing, high priced suits, tuxes or bridal, you need a heck of a lot more insurance than someone who merely hems pants/ skirts in a dry cleaner shop. Items like those are often considered irreplaceable by insurance companies, thus the insurance is higher to control damage or loss.

And please don't forget about the cost to upkeep sewing machines! A great machine is still eating a lot of lint and needs things like: oil, needles, thread, air cans, electrical work, basic upkeep, belts, motors, etc. And again- each machine needs to be insured.

It's not a cheap business to run, maintain, have been educated in, or insure. All just for those "small alterations".

Sorry this got so long!!

Cherry_Bombb · Jul 27, 2009

Please also remember the old standby rule: You get what you pay for.

Cheap price often means cheap work.
Expensive doesn't mean you got ripped off.

Remember, they are charging you for a knowledge that you don't poses. If you did- you wouldn't be there in the first place.

And never go to someone who calls themselves a "Master Tailor". A good "old school" tailor will tell you that you never stop learning. That there's always a new technique to learn- that they don't know everything. Those are usually the ones to trust!

sfend002 · Jul 27, 2009

Thanks for the great replies.

CdnDandy · Jul 27, 2009

How much is too much to tailor?

A question for you knowledgeable folks:

I've recently (past six months) lost around 60 pounds. I have two beautiful suits that I adore, but they're now several sizes too large.

So, what should I do? How much can a tailor take in a suit? Am I better off moving on and re-building my wardrobe from scratch - an expensive option, to be sure!

Cheers!

Bunny · Jul 27, 2009

I worked in a costume shop/tuxedo rental store for a few years and saw many items of clothing altered, made and transformed for many different body types.

I would say at a 60 pound weight loss your much better off buying new suits! Alterations are realistic for nips and tucks only. To take in a suit to fit you now, the tailor would pretty much have to take the suit apart and recut it in order for it to still look great.

Are the suits vintage? I would suggest selling them and putting the money towards "new"/new suits!

Congrats on the weight loss though!

Lamplight · Jul 28, 2009

The easiest thing to do would be to gain sixty pounds. But then, I never have been very good for advice.

Brian Sheridan · Jul 28, 2009

The tailors I deal with tell me the suits have to fit in the shoulders. It requires too much work to fix that.

Secondly, it might be tough to take it in around the front if too much tailoring throws the suit coat's balance off. It will pull in places and that won't look good.

Cherry_Bombb · Jul 28, 2009

I agree- it might be time to trade in your old suits.

CdnDandy · Jul 28, 2009

Thanks - you all have confirmed what I already feared. I appreciate the input

Barchetta52 · Jul 29, 2009

CdnDandy,

Over the past year and a half I've lost about 90 pounds and have been through a succession of pants being taken in, then buying smaller ones on ebay, having them altered, etc. At the same time, I've gone from an XXL shirt to a large.

Since I'm very near my weight goal I took one of my nicest sport coats to be altered. Turning this size 50 into a 44 was no small task! They had to remove the sleeves and redo the shoulders as well as taking in the body. Luckily the length and sleeves were fine. Anyway, it cost $110, but was worth it for this jacket.

I'd say, unless it's really special to you, consider selling it and finding something closer to the right size. Well, that's my experience.

Tomasso · Jul 29, 2009

Barchetta52 said:
Turning this size 50 into a 44 was no small task! They had to remove the sleeves and redo the shoulders as well as taking in the body..

What happened to the space between the breast pocket and the armhole? Seems to me that there will be an issue in this area with any major downsizing.

Selentino · Jul 29, 2009

CdnDandy, I have the same problem as you. I went fro 295 to 213 and work out so I need a 44 or 46L jacket but have a 34 inch waist. Every tailor told me to start rebuilding the wardrobe becase if they even touched my clothes they would consider it a rebuild and I could buy a new suit for what it would cost. I'm starting from scratch and its very hard to replace the quality of some of the clothes I took years to aquire. On the positive side when I do find a piece I like; I look really really good!!lol

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