Since I get so many items tailored and am always asked about how much alterations cost, I’ve compiled a pricing guide below. I hope this is helpful for anyone looking to assess the feasibility of altering anything from a recent shopping find, to thrifted items, or even handed-down family vintage. The price guide below has been gathered from various sources around the web, as well as my own experiences having things tailored by multiple shops arou…
…and was much closer to me than the tailor I want to use for more difficult alterations. I crossed my fingers that 1) my estimation of what they needed was correct, and 2) the tailor would do a decent job on the alteration. Here are the jeans post-alterations: And a side-by-side comparison: Cost of alteration: ~$10 It’s a subtle difference, but the alteration leaves the leg line looking slimmer and neater. This was an alteration I had never tried b…
…photos of garments needing tailoring, and explains some of the most common alterations. The best part is…my tailor, Marina Interlandi, here in Los Angeles was consulted as an expert for the feature! All images: Instyle Magazine, Makeover, Fall 2009 Click the pictures for a larger view. Check out the InStyle Makeover Fall 2009 issue for the rest of the article. It’s a great visual resource for people who find themselves needing a lot of things tail…
…this week), and available in a size that would fit like-sized readers, no alterations needed. I love the idea of layering bustier tops (and crop tops for that matter) over full-length wardrobe items, with my item of choice being button-ups, but tees and dresses would work as well. I came across this bodice because I am really loving everything windowpane, and thought a bustier or crop top in this print would be fun to layer with. It arrived the o…
…ats (height – weight – shoe size – etc.) to their signature, so other women can get insight into what might work for them, by what works for you. Visit the Alterations Needed Forum: forum.alterationsneeded.com Register here Thank you everyone! And as always…please don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason: alterationsneeded@gmail.com…
…cated. Luckily, the three seams at the back of the blazer are sufficient for contouring the back and waist. To see this blazer after alterations, see the finished item here….
Freshly back from the tailor, I’m elated to wear some real pants for once and give my jeans a break. As mentioned in the “before” post, I asked my tailor to slim the legs and take in the waist. Taking in the waist alleviates the need to always wear a belt, or else spend much of your day hiking your pants back up into place. It also makes sure there are no pinches in the pant caused by a belt cinching the extra waist fabric into a bunch. Slimming…
Hi everyone! I wanted to share with you a quick and easy alteration I had done on last post’s tunic, to better flatter my short proportions. The original length of this maxi tunic would have probably worked fine on someone even a little taller than myself, but at 4’11”, I felt it dragged me down visually a little too much. I wanted to play with a long tunic, just not one this long. From experience, I know mid-thigh is usually a good spot for a lo…
A very sweet friend gifted me this bracelet, and even though it didn’t fall off my wrist, I wanted it to fit tighter so the cute design would lay flat on my wrist instead of flopping around. A jeweler can easily shorten a piece like this for you for a small fee, but I did it myself in less than 10 minutes. Here’s how: The tools I used were bent nose pliers, round nose pliers, and side cutters. These tools came in a jeweler’s pliers set from a cra…
After wearing this blazer for a few seasons, it was finally time to slim the torso a bit. Some reasons you might find yourself wanting this type of alteration are, but not limited to: you’re shopping the “schoolboy” blazers that are so popular right now, which, just like boys blazers, fit boxy in the torso. you’re shopping actual boys or mens blazers for better prices or fits. you’ve thrifted some great boys or mens blazers for a steal. you’re br…
I had to post this because it’s my first attempt at using a sewing machine, and it didn’t turn into the complete fiasco I imagined it would be (thread and buttons flying everywhere). That said, if I can do it, anyone can! The subject of this project is a Banana Republic red short trench coat from Spring 08 that had these ugly red metal buttons and cheapish red plastic belt buckle. I’ve worn it a bunch of times, but always meant to do something ab…
This post goes out to like-sized readers who may find themselves in need of a new coat this season. The other weekend, I spent a nice day in San Francisco with Mr. AN, and on a whim, wandered into All Saints. I usually equate All Saints with leather jackets, so after admiring a few smooshy, zippered beauties, I happened upon this long coat and literally freaked out. It’s called the Lorie coat, and is a near perfect fit off the rack in size US 0/U…
