Tailoring Tips

Tailoring Tips

First impressions are lasting ones, which suggests that although looks aren’t everything, appearance is certainly important. In the business world, “dressing for success” is a concept that gives a whole new meaning to a garment. Tailoring clothing to fit your personal body type creates a much cleaner, sleeker and refined style. To assure that you look your best, here are a few guidelines that can help determine when a garment needs altering and how tailors can help:
 
Pay attention to your waistline
Pants should rest directly on your waist, not above or below your actual waist. You should be able to fit two fingers in your waistband and wiggle them around.
 
It’s easier to take a garment in a few sizes than it is to let it out
Most garments can be taken in up to 3 sizes, however, when it comes to letting one out the range changes from 0 to 2 sizes. This is great news for those of use looking to shed a few pounds but still want to keep our favorite clothes. When it comes to taking clothes in, look at the vertical seams. The more vertical seams there are the easier it is to alter a garment without distorting the design or miss placing pockets.
 
The bottom line on hem lines
It is customary to wear your pant cuff up 1½” with a slight break from the shoe. Skirt and dress hems should end at the thinnest points of your leg profile, either just above or below the kneecap, at the bottom of the rounded part of your calf, or at the ankle.
 
We Have Hems Covered
There are times when adjusting a hem can get a little tricky. Like when there is a design along the bottom of a dress or a rough hem along a the bottom of a skirt. In these cases a garment can be taken up at the waist or the design can be removed by hand and reapplied after the correct adjustments have been made to the length.
 
Make sure your suit jacket fits properly
Jacket sleeves should reach your wrist bone. At least ¼” of your blouse should be visible below the end of your jacket sleeve. Women’s suit jackets should be tailored so that they have a pleasant tapering in toward the waistline to create a more finished look and more curved appearance.
 
More than 80% of clothes need to be tailored in one way or another. Dependable Cleaners offers tailoring services at all of our locations. Tailors are available for fittings and consultations at these locations: 152 Galen Street, Watertown; 581 Adams Street, West Quincy; 624 Hancock Street, Wollaston; 338 Granite Ave., Milton; and 1141 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester. Please go to our locations page for directions to any of our stores.