Old clothes are worth saving, as they can quickly come back in style. But if you’ve got a piece lying around from a few years back, it might only need a few adjustments to fit your current shape and style.
Jeans that are too long may only need to be shortened or rehemmed, shirt sleeves tightened and waists perhaps taken in. Those may sound a lot—but that’s something an expert tailor can do. They’re able to do magic with the clothes they’re given, and produce a better garment in the end.
But what other tricks do they have up their sleeve? Keep reading to learn about other clothing alterations you didn’t know were possible and make you and your clothes look absolutely fantastic.
1. Line a sheer top
Sheer garments are beautiful and incredibly versatile – as you can use them in both casual and formal situations. However, when it comes to them being practical… let’s just say that there could be a tiny debate there. It can be hard to find another garment to wear underneath it that fits the exact shape of the sheer garment, making it harder to use. This is where tailors can help you out. They can add lining any garment, and this includes all your beautiful see-through tops.
2. Increase a dress size
This will very much depend on the type of the dress – but if it is a simple-cut, summer dress, tailors can potentially give one or two sizes more, by adding a fringe of fabric on each side (of the desired width, according to how many centimeters you want to add). You’ll have to find a similar fabric to the dress, or choose a different colour on purpose and revamp the design a little bit, but the result will be fantastic. This is great for when you get those amazing but last one garments at a department store sale for a bargain price.
3. Adjusting Sleeve Length on Jackets with Working Buttons
Tailor-fitting sleeve length on jackets with working buttons can be a challenge. Your tailor can’t just simply cut from the cuff, as it would ruin the buttonholes and the overall design.
One workaround for this is to shorten from the shoulder. Our expert tailors will detach the entire sleeve from the jacket, trimming the excess fabric before reattaching it. This keeps the integrity of the cuff and buttons while creating a tailored look and length.
It sounds like a fairly complex process, but an expert tailor can achieve the perfect length and fit without compromising feel, style, and function.
4. Remove or add pockets
This is actually pretty straightforward for a tailor and can make a huge difference for a pair of pants. Sometimes jeans look better with back pockets – but sometimes they don’t. This is especially true with white pants or white jeans, which can often be a little bit translucid, but with a couple of pockets in the bum, all good! And of course, they are also super handy. Up to you what your preference is – just know that your tailor is able to help you out with this one.
5. Transform wide-legged pant into slim fit ones
It seems that pant fits come and go – there was a wide-leg craze a while back (the 60’s, then the 90’s) and although it seems they may be coming back, you have the option to turn that good old pair of pants into slim fit, it that’s what you want. It’s a bigger job – but tailors should be able to do this.
In addition, they can also transform your jeans in ways you probably haven’t even fathomed. Change the waist size, the width of the ankles, and so much more.
6. Add a zipper
Sometimes, it’s better to add a zipper, rather than enduring the pain it takes trying to fit a dress over your head. Zippers can be added to the side or the back of your garment – whichever you prefer. There are also options as to whether you’d like for it to be hidden or visible, according to the style you’re going for. Tailors can also repair a broken zipper.
7. New neckline
Tailors are also able to create a new neckline on most tops. Thinking about those tees and how they could use a little trimming to show off some more skin? Or maybe a dress that looks perfect except for the neck? Totally possible to create a new one. You can turn a boring crew neck into a scoop neck, boat neck, one-shoulder style, and many more.
Tailors are also able to swap or turn around a shirt’s neck. For example, if you have a flannel shirt that you absolutely love but the neck looks a little bit old and faded, tailors are able to remove it and then put it on again, this time inside out, so the bit that was facing down previously now faces up. The colours look intense and brand new, and it’s also less likely to have suffered any damage to the fabric. Good as new!
8. Shaping a Boxy Blazer
Tailors can shape a boxy blazer into a well-fitting piece by adding darts and seams. Darts are often added along the sides or back of the blazer, which cinches the fabric and produces a more tapered waistline.
In many cases, an expert tailor may also add seams to contour and fit the clothing closer to your body’s curves, giving you a sleek and custom fit that boosts your silhouette and confidence while maintaining the blazer’s structure. Think about modernising an oversized blazer for a polished and tailored appeal.
9. Help with thigh tearing
Reinforced pants and jeans in the inner thigh is sadly not yet a thing, even though many people struggle with this issue. You have your favourite pair of pants that suit you so well, so naturally you wear them a lot, only to discover one day that there is a tear on the inner thigh. Don’t let desperation get the best of you, though – tailors can help patch it up and even reinforce the area, to prevent it from happening again.
10. Reworking Waistlines on Dresses
Adjusting and reworking the waistline of dresses is one way to enhance your proportions while creating a more balanced silhouette. It your old dress feels too long or the waistline a tad too low, a tailor can raise the waistline level to create an empire silhouette.
Doing so elongates your legs and creates a more flattering fit while lowering the waistline, which adds a degree of sophistication and a curvier figure. Depending on your body shape and desired fit, both options allow the dress to complement your body shape uniquely, enhancing your natural curves and boosting your confidence.
Making clothes last longer and look perfect with tailoring
Tailors are talented craftsmen and women who are able to help transform or fix your clothing. While they can’t do absolutely everything, there are so many amazing transformations a tailor can do so that your garment is more suitable for you, just like if it was custom-made. So what are you waiting for? Grab those old garments and get them ready for a revamp with a visit to the tailor – you never know what they may suggest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tailors alter clothes made from delicate fabrics like silk?
Definitely! Tailors have the skills to alter clothes and delicate garments made of silk. However, it requires extra care and expertise due to the silk’s lightweight and fragile nature.
Expert tailors use precise techniques like underlining or interlacing to perform seamless alterations without affecting the fabric’s integrity, including hemming, taking in, or resizing. When needed, tailors can also use finer threads and smaller stitches to avoid pulling and damaging the fabric.
Is it possible to change the sleeve style of a jacket?
Definitely. When it comes to a jacket’s sleeve style, a tailor can either change the sleeve length, alter its shape, add or remove details, or swap jacket sleeves entirely.
All of those procedures are possible but can add a certain complexity depending on the alteration and required skill. Lengthening or shortening may be simpler compared to changing details or sleeve shape, but depending on your desired sleeves, a tailor can add ruffles, pleats, or work buttons to create a new sleeve style altogether.
How can I adjust the waist size of jeans without losing their original look?
One way to do so is to take in only the side seams, preserving the waistband and the rest of the style. A tailor can also unpick the jeans’ waistband chain, remove excess fabric, and reattach the waistband.
If you’re only wearing the jeans for a short period and under layers of clothing, you can use a waistband extender that clips onto the button. But consider that only a temporary solution. Otherwise, a tailor can use darts or small pleats to subtly adjust the jeans without significantly altering their appearance.
Visit any of our LookSmart stores for a free consultation and achieve a professional finish while maintaining your jeans’ original look.
Can a tailor fix a neckline that doesn’t fit properly?
Definitely! If the neckline is gaping or too loose, a tailor can take it in by altering the seams. Too tight? We can let it out by undoing the hems.
Depending on your desired fit, our tailor can even reshape the neckline, such as turning a square neckline into a V-neck. We can also add fabric or fill in gaps just to achieve the look and feel you need.
Is it possible to alter clothing with embellishments or beading?
It is totally possible to alter clothing with beading or embellishments. However, careful design and handling are required to preserve the overall shape of the fabric. Too much embellishments and you may end up with a slightly tighter fit as the details may pull the fabric together.
Aside that, a skilled tailor can alter and adjust a garment without disrupting the embellishments. At LookSmart, we’ll thoroughly discuss your specific concerns with you and ensure that all alterations maintain your clothes’ aesthetic and structural integrity.
