Buying a garment off the peg means choosing an item in the size closest to your body measurements. Because the industry uses prototype measurements that fit a variety of body shapes, the item might fit you ‘well’ rather than perfectly. Body shapes are unique and individual, and we are often in-between the classic sizes. You might be a size 8 in your shoulders, and a size 10 in your hips. For this reason, most clothes we buy would benefit from some alterations.

Should I have all my clothes altered? 

Not all clothes need altering. Some can be worn with a more relaxed fit, and some short-term clothes are not worth altering because they might lose shape after several washes.

You should alter the clothes that are important to you; this might be a signature piece, clothes you want to wear for a special occasion, or an item that you love but that just doesn’t fit quite right.

In London, the city of fashion and professionalism, first impressions shape relationships. Well-fitted clothes contribute to confidence, comfort, and presence in encounters, meetings, shows, and presentations. Shakespeare’s insight—’the apparel oft proclaims the man’—remains relevant: properly altered garments matter.

Are cheap clothes worth altering? 

If they are important to you, you love wearing them, and you want to create your best looks, they should be altered. Mention the budget you set aside to your tailor before your fitting.

Fast Fashion and alterations

Unfortunately, the trend towards low-cost clothing has created the perception that alteration costs are out of line with purchase costs because their charges don’t match the low value placed on the clothes. However, it is not the alterations that are expensive; it is that we have come to expect all aspects of our clothing to be much cheaper and to match what we paid for them new.

Remember, regardless of what you originally paid for a garment, when you have it altered, you are paying for the tailor’s and seamstress’s overheads, time and expertise, materials, and fittings.

Where should I have my garments altered? 

Depending on your garment type, quality and value, you might like to use a variety of alteration services and tailors. Your tailor around the corner can easily shorten a pair of standard jeans or taper the legs of suit trousers but might struggle with designer finishes like distressed looks or embroidery. Where should you bring those? Which alteration service can guarantee that your evening gown will be altered without compromising its style, finish, or proportions? Choosing the right service for the job at hand is critical.

Standard or high-quality alterations

What is the difference between standard alterations and high-quality alterations? Is it the fit, the finish, the attention to detail, or is there even more to it?

Choosing the right alteration service for your garment

With so many options for alteration services, it can be challenging to get it right. The better your wardrobe and the more you care about detailing, finish, and your item’s style, the more careful you should be when choosing your alteration service. Online alteration platforms offer a range of services, including repairs and ironing. Often, value-for-money budget alterations, as part of dry-cleaning services, offer simple alteration services.

If you are picky about your clothes and your wardrobe includes high-quality and designer wear, we recommend choosing specialised professional services that offer extra care, including quality control and fitting. They tend to be more expensive but so worth it.

Whereas the overall aim of alterations is to ensure that the garment is wearable, high-quality alteration services applies the person’s measurements, making sure the piece fits like a glove and that the alterations are invisible.

High-quality alterations start with a professional fitting, during which the client’s garment is pinned to show what it will look like once the alterations have been completed. The fitter will first take measurements and then advise the client on which alterations are technically possible. It is important that the fitter has years of experience so that they can advise you properly regarding what is feasible and what will suit you best.

Original

Cheaper services tend to run an additional seam next to the original seam, e.g., tapering trouser legs or shortening dress hems, whereas quality services unpick and re-sew the hem with the same thread colour and stitching. This is the first hint for a quality alteration.

Proportions

The proportions of a garment should stay intact. If a garment needs to be taken in or let out, the amount should be distributed evenly across panels and garment elements to avoid affecting the proportions.

Finish

It is important that the finish of the alterations stays as close as possible to the original – a French seam should always stay a French seam, for instance. Certain finishes have been used for a reason (the French seam is regularly used to keep a tidy finish, often on a translucent fabric) and to compromise the garment’s finer details is almost always the same as compromising the entire garment.

By choosing appropriate alteration services, you ensure the value of your item is preserved, whether you plan to wear it for many years or to resell it at some stage.

Well-fitted garments bring joy, and there is nothing more satisfying than leaving the house in the morning and thinking – “Gosh, I look amazing today!”

To find out more about high-quality alterations and how your wardrobe can benefit from an alteration overhaul, email reception@designandalter.com