The Importance of Tailoring: Enhancing Your Wardrobe with Alterations
Using a tailor is often one of the most overlooked aspects of getting clothing to fit. We often expect something to fit us perfectly from the clothes rail and if it doesn’t we often feel disheartened and disappointed, often blaming our bodies shape or size.
Until the beginning of the 20th century clothes were either custom made for the individual or pieces were adjusted to suit changes in bodies and fashions. Nowadays brands use fit models to design garments and are reliant on averages to fit clothes. It’s not really surprising that many of us struggle to find items if our arms/legs/torso are a bit longer/shorter than ‘average’ or we have a smaller/larger hips/waist/bum/shoulders/bust/tummy… the variations are endless! All our bodies are unique and we can’t expect that one item of clothing will fit all of us.
But there is a solution! If you find or own an item that is practically perfect other than a minor fit issue, get it altered at your local tailor. They are experts in how items are constructed and can make it look as if nothing has changed.
Below are some alterations that my clients and I have had done in the past to pieces that we love. Hope it will give you some ideas for pieces in you own wardrobe or those that you would otherwise pieces that you would otherwise overlook:
Before considering alterations, it's essential to ensure they are worthwhile and that you will continue wearing the item after modification. Ask yourself:
Do you love the colour/print?
Is the fabric still in good condition?
Does it match your personal style?
When will you wear it?
Now, let's explore some alteration ideas that can breathe new life into your wardrobe:
Shorten sleeves
Whether it be jackets, coats, tips or blouses. Full length sleeves should finish where your wrist bends, if they're longer they can make the garment drown you. Or if you dislike full length, consider having the sleeves taken upto three quarter which can be a very flattering length.
2. Turn a dress into a top
If a dress has become too tight around the bottom or it's more bodycon than you now feel comfortable with (but you still love the top half) have it converted into a top.
3. Expand or contract the waistband
If you struggle to find trousers/jeans that fit your legs and are then too big on the waist, you can get a V taken out the back. Similarly if the waistband is too tight see if you can get some elastic inserted so it has some stretch.
4. Take in the sides of a shirt
When you have a generous bust it can be a struggle to find nicely fitting shirts and blouses, often having to size up. You can get the side seams take in or have bust darts added to give the top a more streamlined shape and fit your contours.
5. Adapt a maxi dress
You could have the top half removed and changed into a skirt by adding a waistband or you can adjust the length to shorten the skirt to a midi/knee length to make it easier to wear everyday.
6. Alter necklines
You can change a round or crew neck to a V neck or scoop. I’ve also had necklines changes so that I can wear the top in reverse which was a more flattering fit.
7. Shorten trouser hems
Modernise an older paid by taking up the hems to just above the ankle, perfect to wear with trainers, shoes and ankle boots. You can also have the legs on trousers made slimmer or ‘skinnied’ but this can be one of the more expensive alterations.
8. Remove shoulder pads
With unlined jackets it's often easy to snip out the pads, if it's lined a tailor can cut the lining and remove them for you whilst making the inside look as good as new.
9. Remove the extra
If your blazer of jacket is perfect everywhere but the shoulder seam protrudes beyond your shoulder, a tailor can take in the shoulder seam, have a tailor remove it for you. Its an involved job so tends to be more expensive than other alterations but makes such a difference.
9. Bust darts and seams
When a dress or top has a bra cup effect or bustier effect and you are smaller busted, you may struggle to fill it and the bra seam bags. A tailor can re-sew the seam to remove the excess.
Nottingham Tailors
In Nottingham we have some fabulous tailors including The Tailor, Black Butterfly, Openfit (formerly Apalts) or Paul Cotton in Wollaton. There’s bound to be someone local to you. If there’s not, there are a growing number of tailors you can access by post including the Clothes Doctor.
If there’s something you have been meaning to have altered for a while, go get it done! If you have any local recommendations for a tailor local to you, do let me know so that I can add it to the list here for others- sharing is caring!
