Looking for a ‘tailor near me’? The zip code locator will bring up all the tailors in your current area. A tailor makes alterations to clothes so they fit your body perfectly. Clothing alterations can save you money over purchasing new outfits if you understand how to calculate the cost savings.
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What You Need to Know
| If you’re searching for a tailor near me, the zip code locator will find a tailor close to your location. There is a difference between a tailor, seamstress, and dressmaker so be sure you are going to the correct service provider! Some services a tailor provides: > Hem a dress or pants > Resize a piece of clothing > Split the waist > Repair or replace zippers and buttons >European hemming Tailors will charge by the job or by the hour. If you prefer one over the other, speak to your tailor about the options. |
Have you searched for a tailor near me because you have a special event coming up and the perfect dress or suit is too long, or it doesn’t fit your body in some other way?
It can be frustrating when you have a favorite piece of clothing that doesn’t fit you right and keeps you from feeling comfortable. Usually, we just don’t wear these clothes.
There is another answer, so don’t take that outfit to your local donation center yet!
You can fix this by getting the clothes tailored to you.
Of course, all of this comes at a cost.
Yes, altering clothes costs money, but it is usually far less than the cost of replacing the entire outfit.
Clothing alterations are not always the best choice, but making adjustments to pricey items or anything you really love and can’t bear to part with could be a smart investment.
Pants too large may be taken in, dress shirt sleeves can be shortened, and even enormous jackets can be slimmed down to a more modern style and made to fit you perfectly.
Keep reading to get answers to the most-asked questions about selecting and using a tailor.
Tailor Near Me
Use the zip code search below to discover laundromats in your area. Then, use the suggestions below to filter down your list until you’ve found the cleanest, safest, and most cost-effective laundromat in your region.
NOTE: To use the tailor near me locators enter your zip code in the labeled box then click the button that says ‘Find Tailor Near Me.’ If the map doesn’t open in another window, be sure your browser popups are not blocked.
What is a tailor?
A tailor is a person or an establishment that alters clothing to make it fit better or change its look. A tailor can make hemlines shorter, fix necklines, make sleeves longer or shorter, and much more.
Clothes should always flatter your body type.
Even if you are just looking for simple hemming or taking in the waistline, alterations are very affordable these days, so there is no reason not to fix up those clothes that just aren’t working for whatever reason!
What is the difference between a tailor, seamstress, and dressmaker?
Tailoring is often used synonymously with dressmakers and dressmaking, but they are not quite one and the same thing even though the skills can be similar.
A tailor makes alterations to pre-existing clothes to give them a better fit specifically for the client. These outfits can include tailored suits, jackets, dresses, and more. They seldom create new (start from scratch) designs.
The job of a seamstress is to follow a design for custom clothing or create fabric items like pillows, curtains, or bedding. However, a seamstress can also modify and alter apparel along with other related services.
Dressmakers cut out patterns from cloth according to measurements given by the customer/designer, and then sew the pieces together to form clothing.
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What is done in tailoring?
Tailors perform the following duties:
- Take client measurements
- Mend and hem garments
- Remove and add seams
- Pin garments
- Repair tear or rips in garments
- Provide time and cost estimates to customers
- Cut and measure fabric and other textiles
- Sew garments using a sewing machine or manually using a needle and thread
- Fit garments for customers and recommend alterations
- Make final adjustments for fashion shows and special events
- Keep a record of clients and their alterations completed
The following video is an overview of what you can expect when you hire a tailor:
Where does a tailor work?
Tailors work in the textile and manufacturing industry.
Their place of work is typically found in the following business types:
- Textile and apparel manufacturing
- Clothing stores with alterations departments
- Dry cleaning businesses
- Wedding dress shops
- High-end clothing and department stores
- Self-employed
What does a tailor do?
There are different types of tailoring that can be performed on your clothes ranging from simple hems up to major changes in the shape of the garment.
For example, if you gained weight and need your dress pants let out in the waist or hip area, or if you are in-between sizes for a dress and it’s too big but not fitting in the waistline, you can hire a tailor to complete the job so you can save money by not buying new clothes.
Here are some common examples of different types of tailoring:
Shorten & Lengthen Hems
Instead of wearing pants that drag the ground because the length does not fit your height, a tailor can make them fit properly with the best length for you.
If a hem is too short and there is room in the material to remove the hem and lengthen the garment, a tailor can also perform this task.
Garment Resizing
Our body can change with weight loss, weight gain, or other changes. A tailor can ensure you don’t have to get rid of your favorite clothing just because something changed in your body shape.
Waist Splitting
Does everything fit except the waist of your pants? A tailor can split the waist so it fits perfectly like the rest of the garment.
Zipper Replacement
Have you ever tossed a pair of pants, vest, etc. because the zipper broke? A tailor can replace the entire zipper so there is no need to get rid of clothing from a broken zipper.
Zipper Repair
If a zipper can be repaired, a tailor will repair it rather than replace it.
Button Replacement
Losing buttons off of clothing is a common occurrence. Many good tailors will replace buttons for no charge. Even if there is a charge it is minimal and much cheaper than buying new clothing!
Dress & Skirt Hems
Hem length makes all the difference in how dresses and skirts look on different body sizes. Getting the right length is critical and a job you can get done using a tailor.
European Denim Hems
When you manually hem jeans, a basic double-turned hem is a typical method for the job.
However, on other occasions, you need a different method because the stitching on your sewing machine doesn’t match the delicate stitching on the rest of the pants, giving it away that you hemmed them at home.
Using a Euro hem method preserves the unique style of the pants while shortening them to the perfect length.
Essentially, a Euro hem is one that you cut off and then sew back on as inconspicuously as possible so that the original manufacturers’ stitching may only be seen.
Original Denim Hems
A distinctive look is wearing pants with a distressed bottom.
A tailor takes the amount of cloth required to shorten the pants, then they reattach the distressed hem (or whatever hem style you want) at the bottom of your newly cut jeans for a stylish denim hem.
How to Find the Best Tailor [Tips]
Finding a good tailor is the most challenging aspect of having clothes altered.
Many department stores and dry cleaners provide tailoring services, but many fashion experts suggest they are not highly skilled in completing difficult jobs past a simple hem.
Unless you’re exceptionally fortunate, selecting a random ad that pops up on the internet will not yield good results.
Style experts recommend the following tips to find a tailor that suits your personality and style:
Ask around
- One of the best ways to find tailors nearby is to ask people you know.
- If you know or see “impeccably dressed men” or “perfectly tailored and well-dressed women,” ask them who their tailor is.
- Ask high-end clothing shops where they send their customers that need alterations. They’re more than likely to suggest only the best options.
- Another location to search for tailors in your region is in online style forums.
Check reviews
- If you don’t have anyone to ask, try searching local review sites.
- When you search ‘tailor near me’ and get a list of the tailors in your area, there will be reviews and star ratings you can read.
- Examine the tailors with the highest overall ratings to learn what people appreciate and dislike about them.
- Pay particular attention to reviews from individuals with your specific body type, such as busty, petite, wide hips, etc., since they have personal experience with the tailor concerning these body challenges.
Look for experience
- In particular, if you’re seeking alterations on an expensive designer garment, look for an experienced tailor who works with this kind of clothing regularly.
- Check for tailors who specialize in custom menswear, whether you’re male or female.
- Generally, a tailor specializing in making men’s suits fit impeccably can easily handle the most challenging tailor jobs.
- Look for a tailor that specializes in the fabrics you need to have altered.
- For example, if you need an alteration in a garment made out of leather, fur, or another fabric difficult to work with, look for a tailor that specializes in these fabrics.
Examine their work
Take a peek at the garments on the racks waiting to be picked up by other customers.
What to look for:
- Is the stitching neat and even?
- Do the stitches show no pulling or puckering?
- Are the sleeves and hems and sleeves even?
- Does the garment look like it has been altered?
- It should be impossible to tell, simply by looking at the garment, that it has been modified in any way.
Start out small
- If you have a big job, such as taking in a winter coat, don’t use a tailor you have never worked with before.
- When trying a new tailor, start with a simple job that is small and doesn’t take a lot of time, such as hemming pants or pulling in a waistline.
When the tailor completes these jobs to your satisfaction, go a little bigger, and work up to feeling confident that they can handle a difficult alteration that is likely much more expensive.
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How much does it cost to go to a tailor?
Custom tailoring costs are generally calculated based on the amount of time that is spent modifying the item.
Some jobs are charged by the job, and others on an hourly basis. This also depends on your location for the norm in your area, as well as the personal preferences of the tailor.
The cost of modifying a piece of clothing depends on the job’s complexity.
Expect to pay more for complicated clothing alterations, such as taking in a dress or working with items that have lining inside the fabric.
Flat fees for small initiatives like mending holes and hemming jeans are common; bigger tasks like modifying suits, wedding dresses, or formal wear, on the other hand, are generally priced based on the fabric and pattern and the amount of time needed to complete the job.
Another cost factor is where you live.
For the same job, it may cost more or less in different locations and sometimes even in the same city, depending on what kind of tailor shop you use.
Following is a chart showing the national average prices for specific tailoring services:
Tailor Services Pricing Chart
Tailor Services - National U.S. Average Cost for Typical Services | ||
Job | Price | Exceptions |
Hemming Pants, Skirts, or Dresses | $10 - $25 | Lined skirts or pants cost more to hem than unlined clothing pieces |
Sleeve Shortening | $15 - $40 | Lined jackets and jackets or shirts with buttons cost more, and jacket sleeves cost more than shirt sleeves |
Waistband Adjustment | $15 - $25 | Skirts or pants with linings cost more than unlined |
Taking in a Dress Shirt | $15 - $30 | NA |
Taking in a Vest or Jacket | $20 - $50 | Jackets with three seams cost more than two seams. Taking in the sleeves costs an additional $20 |
Shoulder Adjustment of a Shirt or Jacket | $30 - $45 | Lined pieces have an additional cost |
Taking in a Sheath Dress | $30 - $50 | Raising the waist on a dress is an additional cost of $10 |
Shortening a Suit Jacket | $30 - $40 | NA |
Replacing a Zipper | $20 - $25 | A double-end zipper has an additional cost |
Replacing the Lining on a Garment | $50 - $150 | Lined pants have an additional cost |
Restitch a fraying seam | $5 - $15 | Special fabric can cost extra |
Replace buttons | 50 cents - $2 each | NA |
Move a button | $2 - $8 | Specialty buttons that are odd-shaped may cost an additional fee |
Add a hook and eye | 50 cents - $2 per set | NA |
 | ||
You may also be able to find a traveling tailor to come to your home. However, be prepared to pay more for the added convenience.
How much does it cost to hem a dress?
The average price for a tailor to hem a dress is $10 – $14. If the dress has a lining, the price will increase up to $20. If a zipper is involved, the price will be around $25 for the complete job.
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Can tailors alter any clothing?
As long as it is in their skillset, expert tailors can alter almost any piece of clothing to make it fit you perfectly.
However, there may be certain limits on the tailor’s abilities.
It might be tough to extend a vest or jacket, for example. It may also be difficult to make the clothing bigger or smaller.
The best action plan is to schedule an appointment with a professional, be specific about the job you want done, and let them tell you if it’s possible.
How many sizes can dress be taken in?
Depending on the style and what item of clothing is being altered, typically a dress can be taken up to make it two sizes smaller or one size larger.
Will a tailor take your measurements?
Good tailors will take your specific measurements before they begin the job. This allows them to be the most accurate to get the best fit.
Will you have to go back for additional fittings?
Some tailoring jobs require one fitting, while others might need more fittings to ensure the alterations are up to your expectations.
It depends on how complex the work is and how well your initial suggestions are understood.
For example, tailored suits will likely take more fittings than the simple job of hemming a pair of pants.
Plan for at least two fittings.
Where can you get a free suit size?
After determining your measurements, you can get a free suit size to take with you when shopping.
How does a tailor measure you?
Taking accurate body measurements is essential if a tailor tries to get an item to fit your body perfectly.
The best tailors use a relatively new tape measure, so it isn’t stretched out, then make their notes in a notebook using a pen or pencil.
They typically use a body chart that looks like this one from Fold Line:
The Fold Line website offers a free copy to download.
What should you take to a fitting?
The following list will prepare you for your fitting:
- Wear the same underwear or lingerie that will be worn under the outfit when it is finished. This makes a difference because padding can vary in bras, for example, when measurements are taken.
- A lightweight robe is helpful to keep you covered when the measurements are being taken for fitted attire, such as tops or leggings since you will be wearing only undergarments.
Do you tip a tailor?
Tipping tailors is not standard protocol.
However, anytime a talented tailor goes above and beyond the basic service you expect, offering gratuity is a thoughtful gesture.
Reasons that warrant tipping your tailor:
- You have to go out of town unexpectedly and the tailor completes a rush job for you (that is well done)
- You request a specialized stitch that takes your tailor additional time to learn and complete
- Your tailor completes multiple fittings to make your wedding dress fit precisely and perfectly
- You have a friend in town that needs an unexpected alteration and your seamstress does the job in a rush situation
If you do decide to give a tip, first ask if the tailor will accept gratuity. If so, offer them an extra 15 percent to 20 percent of the total price to complete the job.
Do you tip a seamstress?
It is not customary practice to tip a seamstress. However, if you pick up the final product and are absolutely thrilled with it, tipping 15 to 20 percent or $15 to $30 dollars is acceptable.
You should never tip after a fitting or prior to the item being completely done and ready to pick up.
How long do clothing alterations take?
It might take a few days or several weeks to finish your modifications.
In some situations, a change may only take an hour or a day.
The amount of time to complete the alterations depends on how booked the tailor is with other clients, how many items you need to have modified, and the complexity of the altering.
When you find a tailor near me and get the contact details, ask them what their estimated turnaround time is for a job like yours.
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Is it worth it to pay a tailor?
A clothing tailor can modify something that appears to be made for someone else and make it fit your shape flawlessly.
If you have clothes in your closet that don’t fit, it can save you money to take them to a tailor rather than replacing them with new ones.
The same goes for outfits you find at a thrift store, on a clearance rack, etc. If it is something you love and have a specific purpose for, it may be cheaper to buy it and have it altered than to pay full price for an item that doesn’t need to be modified.
For example, on a recent thrift-shopping trip, I found a suit for $47.
The jacket was a perfect fit, but the pants were too long and needed to be hemmed. I took them to my tailor and had them hemmed for $14, making the entire suit cost $58.
This is far less than I would have paid for a new suit at retail since most tailored suits cost upwards of $300 retail.
Once you find a tailor to use, the door is opened up for the option to purchase inexpensive outfits that don’t fit you and turn them into wardrobe favorites that are the ideal size and fit for you.
Obviously, when purchasing this way, you need to remember to include the cost of any modifications in your budget.
An oversized jacket that looks like a great deal at $21 looks a lot less inspiring when you add on an extra $30 to have it resized.
On the other hand, a $12 pair of jeans that needs only a $10 hem to fit your perfect length is a steal compared to buying the same item for $70 that fits exactly when you purchase it.
Tailor Near Me [Key Takeaways]
Finding a reliable tailor opens up a world of possibilities for wardrobe purchases.
There’s also little as frustrating as having a closet full of clothes but feeling like you have nothing to wear!
Maybe you’ve dropped a few pounds and your formerly tight trousers now hang from your smaller frame.
Perhaps you have a lot of outfits you purchased because they were excellent deals, but every time you put them on, you notice the sleeves are too long or the buttons gap open.
You might even have a few clothes in your closet that were exceptionally popular when you bought them, but now make you appear like you’re stuck in the past.
If these situations are something you are going through, finding tailors near to make the clothes fit may be the answer.
And with the money you save going to a tailor, a great plan is to use the savings to jumpstart your budget plan!
Starting a budget will make a huge difference no matter how much money you make.
If you feel like you have your financial goals going in the right direction and don’t have a budget, that’s great! However, just think about how much a budget could put even more of your hard-earned money back into your pocket!
The free Budgeting Basics eBook is the perfect resource to get your money under control or fine-tune it in a specific area.
If you need ideas for creating your budget, hop over to 20 free printable budget templates to get you started.
