Do you use a tailor?

[TableNiner]

Watching Trinny’s latest video this morning and thinking about how hard it can be to find clothes that fit well, and how we all need to buy less but better, I’m wondering how common using a tailor is?

I’ve used local dry cleaners to hem trousers and tops (and to have a too tight button on some jeans moved) but I don’t think they’d do much more than that?

I’d be interested in someone who could copy my much loved but very old and tired clothes, eg some skinny trousers. How does it work if you’ve done this? How do you find someone and what sort of costs are involved? Where do you source the fabric and how do you know how much to buy?

I wish I had more skills in this area, I am trying to learn but let’s just say I am not naturally talented in this area.

I don’t use a tailor because I sew myself but, given that I alter about 50% of what I buy, I can understand where you are coming from.

I think you’ll find anyone advertising themselves as a tailor probably specialises in men’s cloths. Not sure if women’s would be seamstress or sewist this days.

For sourcing fabrics, and certainly for yardage, the seamstress should guide you. (Places like Merchant and Mills are fab quality).

I use a seamstress or I do it myself, depending on what I want. I use a great italian one for difficult stuff. Worth every penny

I remember being in a dress shop in Madrid a couple of years ago and watching a mother and I guess her grown up daughter discussing the outfit the daughter was trying on. I privately thought it looked fantastic but the shop assistant pinned the hem and make a couple of other adjustments. The three of them discussed these, the mother paid and they left - leaving the dress to be altered. It looked to me that this was a completely normal day transaction. No wonder they look so fabulous, the tweaking to get a perfect fit looked like it would make the difference from lovely to fantastic- well worth the effort!

I'd try googling tailors in your area an get in touch with them to ask.

No but I would if I needed to and have used one for DD. My DM is nifty on the sewing machine so has done alterations if needed.