r/AskATailor

I just recently picked up these trousers (pinstripe) from the women's section and they fit great apart from the crotch area. I need some more space there and I did some research and think it's the rise that's too short (feel free to correct if wrong). I compared them to another pair of trousers that I like and got the differences (as seen in the images). I saw some people saying that adding a gusset could increase the crotch area but I'm not sure how much to add or if I can even add enough to fix the problem.

I'd appreciate any insight that you guys could provide on how I could potentially fix it, thanks in advance.

I have a dilemma as a bridesmaid. I found this amazing dress and I’m absolutely in love with it except for one thing. Im rather small chested with broad shoulders and a small waist. The dress just barely fits my rib cage however there’s an awkward gathering of extra fabric right around the center of the bust. (unfortunately these photos don’t exactly show it as well because I’m wearing a push up bra whilst trying on but due to the open back, I cannot wear a normal bra during the actual wedding) I tried it on using the silicone bras once I got home however they offer no real push up and I wind up having too much space and extra fabric in the bust area.

The second “issue” is that all bridesmaids were to get their own dresses and I wound up choosing the same one as one of the other bridesmaids. The bride assured me that it would be fine as the other bridesmaid has a completely different body type and look than I do so they look quite different on us, but I can’t help but feel badly about it and I wouldn’t mind changing this dress so that it doesn’t look completely the same.

I don’t get clothing tailored and I’m useless at fashion. I’m having a hard time thinking about what I could do to change this dress so that it first of all fits the bust better, and second of all can look a bit different from the other matching dress. Does anyone have any suggestions? Would it be a crazy ask to change the neckline of the dress? Or could I add some sort of broach? Please let me know your thoughts and if you have photo examples I would love for them to be posted in the comments so I have a visual!

Thank you so much!

Hello everyone! (tldr at the bottom)

EDIT: first pic is the dress I tried on at the bridal shop, and the second pic is the dress I bought (secondhand) after alterations have been done to it.

I just picked up my wedding dress from alterations a couple days ago and thought it looked ok, but when I got home and showed it to my mom and friends, they said it looked awful and nothing like the dress I had tried on initially. I have spent the last couple days crying about it lol. I contacted the seamstress last Friday a couple hours after leaving her studio, and she didn't reply to my call or text until today, after I called her a second time. I am going in tomorrow to have her look at it, but I am leaving the area for another state to prep for my wedding in a week and I'm afraid she won't be able to fix it in time. Also, she didn't seem to think anything was wrong with the dress when I tried it on, and kept saying it was perfect. I guess I let her opinion sway how I saw the dress on when I tried it.

Initially, at the first try-on with the seamstress, I felt like something was off and asked her if adding something to the hips would create an illusion of more of a waistline that the first dress had. As you can see, it doesn't seem to have helped, and it just looks lumpy to me (hello, diaper!?). The waist feels like it could be taken in a good 1-2 inches. The upper bodice/cup area also looks different somehow, and really feels unflattering to my chest. I asked her about this in the first appointment, and she kept saying it looked fine and that we should leave it. I want to trust her since she is the expert, but I am just feeling really disappointed, and frankly really ugly in this dress now.

I purchased the dress online from someone who decided she didn't want it, and it is 2 sizes bigger than my size. I'm not sure what size the first dress I tried on was (from the bridal shop).

I am unsure what alterations should be made to help get it closer to the first picture (which is the dress that made me feel beautiful!), but I would love input from those of you who know all about this!

Tysm in advance :)

TLDR; Bought a dress I LOVED secondhand 2 sizes too big, alterations went wrong and now I feel so ugly in it. What went wrong in alterations? or is it something that can't be fixed since the dress bodice is bigger?

Hi there! I have never posted here but I was left feeling deeply disappointed and frustrated with the alterations on my wedding dress. My partner and I decided to elope on somewhat short notice, so I had to rush the alterations and didn’t have much time to make tweaks. When I bought the dress, the straps were too long (pic 1). It was literally the only alteration I needed. I brought the dress in, and my tailor, who I like and have worked with before, said that in addition to shortening the straps, we’d need to raise and change the shape of the underarm. I didn’t really understand why, but I trusted him. I noticed when I tried my dress on one final time before the wedding that I felt very constricted with the raised underarm and that the shorter straps were now slipping off my shoulders a bit, widening the neckline of the dress. I knew we didn’t have time to change it, so I didn’t say anything. On my actual wedding day, the straps were falling down the entire time and I was really self conscious in the dress. The straps gave sort of an “off-the-shoulder” effect that was not intentional and I did not like (pic 2). Frankly, I’m really unhappy with how the dress looked on the day and in photographs. I took it back to him because my spouse and I are going to have a party to celebrate our marriage, and I’d like to wear the dress again. I asked if he could fix it, and he suggested shortening the straps even more and said the only way to stop them from slipping because of how far out they’re placed is to add a fabric tie across the back connecting them. I don’t love this idea, and I think I should get a second opinion. At this point, I wish I’d never touched the dress and had spared myself $1,500 dollars in rushed alteration fees. I am beside myself and would love any advice or support you can offer!

Edit to add: Do you think it’s reasonable to request a partial refund? I’d like to take it somewhere else. I’m also curious about how much it would cost and how long it might take to fix the straps!

Hi! I bought this 1982 wedding dress, but it's a smidge tight on me. Definitely wearable but maybe not as flattering as it could be. It has just about 1cm (cm, not inch!) of seam allowance, is there any chance a professional could let it out just a tiny bit (or is my best bet to lose a couple lbs and wear good shapewear)?

(Apologies for the cat butt photobomb)

I accidentally burnt my friend's dad's jacket, and really want to try to fix/repair it (cost is not an issue). Can I get some kind of leather etc patch over it to fix it? Can I get the original thing fully fixed, by any chance? Can I get it shortened to be made half-sleeved instead?

Hi folks, recently the jacket (100% polyester) was sent to have the sleeve shorten. Unfortunately after multiple visits the stitch still kinda uneven. Can someone kindly advise:

1. is that expected given the thicknesss and nature of the fabric?
2. other tailors said they don’t have the machine to work on the jacket. Just curious what type of machine do we need here?
3. is there any way to conceal bad stich around the cuff?

Thanks.

I got this set tailored recently. The vest and pants are supposed to be linen and the jacket a blend of linen and cashmere.

Even though custom-made, there was no pinning on the body or multiple fittings. They just measured me and had everything ready the next day.

Is this well-tailored and well-fitted? How would you rate it out of 10? I feel the jacket might be slightly too long. The v of the vest is shallow because I asked it to be. The pants hopefully would be the right length with heels. What alterations are needed and possible?

Hello! I am an amature/hobbyist seamstress and tailor

I cant figure out the best way to alter this neckline so it drapes properly. It just seems to be too wide, even though its meant to be asymmetrical/off the shoulder (last photo is the model photo). Every spot i try and test looks bulky, puffs weird, and makes the pattern misaligned in a very obvious way

It was too expensive for me to wing it without a second opinion. Thoughts? Happy to just pin it, also happy to do some sewing. I have about a week before the wedding im attending.

Is it possible to shorten the sleeves of this suit jacket? I would only need about a quarter or an eighth of an inch. The inside of the sleeve has 1.5 inches of extra material.

I’ve had this coat lining hemmed at the bottom of the coat (pic 1). Before it was loose and unstitched. But is the finish/stitching ok?

I’ve also attached another LP coat (2nd pic) I have that doesn’t show the stitch line across and looks like it’s been stitched within?

Looking to sell so I need a clean finish!

I love everything about this dress except the neckline and I’m finding it difficult to find a dress that fits my vision without going over budget.

Would it be possible to alter this neckline to be more of a scoop/cateye? Something similar to the second photo and third photos, anything to get that shape. The dress material is mikado. Thank you!!

Edit: First of all, thank you so much for the helpful responses. I called the bridal shop and they said they would be able to provide an extra yard of fabric, would this be enough? And if so, around how much would this cost?

Hello! I bought this second look dress for my wedding and it is slightly too big, but it took about 8 weeks to arrive to me so I don’t have time to return and buy a size down in time for my wedding! I am unable to go to a tailor until tomorrow but i’m anxious so I need to know- is this something that can easily be brought in by a wedding tailor? Than you! Dress and more info is here : https://www.azazie.com/products/azazie-anaiza-diamond-white-ball-gown-strapless-lace-mini-wedding-dress/96535645?subsite=bridal

Please pardon me if this is an unrealistic question that I should be crucified for asking, as much as I admire the art of garment-making, I am not yet too knowledgeable in the field myself.
I’m currently in the process of crafting an outfit with a peacock motif, and am trying to gauge the feasibility of getting something this intricate through custom tailoring.
The attached mock-up is the only piece of inspiration I could find with the silhouette I desired, so here is my big conundrum:
How realistic is it to find a tailor willing to custom make such a peacock patterned front up back down skirt..? And while I’m allocating a fairly large budget for this project; how expensive should I expect it to be?
(Art is by @sundae_jck)

Hello! I'm wondering if it's possible to have the bust darts on this jacket altered so that they lay flat or, at the very least, don't pucker as much. I love the jacket with the exception of these darts. Thanks in advance!

ETA: Not sure if it makes a difference, but the jacket is fully lined.

hi everyone! so i’ve been Yearning for this jacket for a couple years now and am debating between 2 second-hand listings. there’s one that’s a size too large for me at a good price, and there’s another in my correct size that’s about $400 more. here’s a link to the official item listing, they have plenty of hq photos to look at so u can get a better idea of how it would need to be tailored: https://acrnm.com/J70-BU_FW2324

would the design/construction of this piece be a good candidate for alteration? looking at the garment measurements, it looks like i would need the chest and length taken in by a few cm. the sleeves prob would also need to be taken in, though i imagine that wouldn’t be too complicated. & how much do you predict an alteration like this costing?

thanks for the input yall, this would be my first big purchase and first time getting something tailored!

Just had my final fitting appointment and while the dress looks great overall, I noticed this strange puckering at my lower back, just over my butt. When I asked the tailor about it, she insisted that she hadn’t even noticed it and that no one would be able to tell.

Well, I can’t unsee it. Am I just nitpicking? Has anyone else had this issue? It’s not as obvious from the back, though I’m also working with limited mirror angles.

I appreciate any help!