It’s pretty much a known fact that clothes look better when they fit correctly. That’s the exact reason that clamps are heavily used at wedding dress fittings and in modelling shoots. Unfortunately, clamping your outfits to fit your body in everyday life just isn’t realistic, but there is one underrated service you can use to get that perfect fit – clothing alterations.
Clothing alterations are a simple yet very effective way to get your clothes to fit you correctly. Contrary to popular belief, this service can actually be pretty affordable and is well worth it when you factor in the number of wears you’ll get out of your clothing items. Plus, getting your clothes tailored can completely change the way you feel in an outfit and how others perceive you.
If you’re considering getting your wardrobe altered and are wondering where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the clothing alterations that every wardrobe needs:
Replacing Troublesome Zippers
Let’s face it – zippers can be a real pain sometimes, and the frustration of trying to fiddle with a zipper that doesn’t work can cause anyone to throw away an item of clothing. You shouldn’t be too hasty when it comes to troublesome zippers though, because they are a relatively inexpensive and easy fix.
You might want to provide your tailor with a zipper of your choice so that it matches your dress to your liking. If the zipper is plastic, consider replacing it with a metal one since they are much more durable.
Taking In Shirt Side Seams
It’s more than likely you’ve come by a clothing item and fell in love with its material and print, but it just wasn’t flattering when you put it on. If you’ve let this situation deter you from buying certain items, today’s the day that has to stop. Taking in shirt seams at their sides is one of the easiest fixes out there.
In addition to being super easy to do, taking in a boxy shirt can completely change the look of it and ensure it flatters your figure. You could open your wardrobe up to a whole new world of fashionable pieces with this clothing alteration.
Slimming Sleeves
Big, billowing sleeves are in fashion right now, but when a shirt isn’t intended to have voluminous sleeves, it just doesn’t look right. These ill-fitting items tend to look especially bad in the armpit area. Getting your sleeves taken in a couple of inches on the underside sleeve seam from the underarm area to the wrist can resolve this issue.
For this alteration, it’s best to wear the top in front of your tailor before they start stitching it. You want to make sure you can still bend your elbow and that the shirt is not too tight in the underarm area when it is pinned.
Shortening Shirts
Shirts that are too long for your frame can completely change the shape of your body and make you appear bigger than you actually are. All that extra material also tends to bunch up and make you look sloppy. This is especially true for those of us with smaller frames – just ask Stacey London from What Not To Wear.
Getting your shirt shortened just a few inches can completely change the way you look in it. When your shirt ends in the right spot, it makes you appear more proportional and balanced.
Hemming Pants
Finding a pair of pants or jeans that fits perfectly is a near-impossible feat. All of us that are of a shorter stature have had that moment after a long day of shopping where we find a pair of pants that fit us well in every area, but they stop somewhere along the bottom of our soles. This dilemma can easily be fixed for under $20 by getting your pants hemmed.
Simply head to the tailors with an idea of where you want your new pant length to be, and they’ll be returned to you at your desired length within a matter of days. If you’re worried that the stitching details will be too difficult to replicate, don’t be. Tailors are well equipped with hundreds of threads and will make the new stitching pretty much identical to the original.
Armed with these five clothing alterations, your wardrobe will be well on its way to being fashionable, functional, and flattering.One thing worth keeping in mind: a sharp outfit loses some of its impact when the bag on your arm is scuffed, peeling, or has a zip that gave up months ago. Leather bag repair is the accessory equivalent of everything this blog is about — a small investment that makes something you love look the way it should.
At Love Your Tailor, we offer a complete line of clothing alteration services in the Greater Toronto Area. From shortening to downsizing, to lining and zipper repairs, our experienced tailors have decades of experience in all types of alterations. Contact us today to get a free quote.
