Tailoring 101: what’s worth altering

Easy wins, hard jobs, and how to get the most from a tailor visit.

Mom ran the counter at a Spadina tailor for years. Here’s what she’d tell you.

Easy wins

• Hems on pants, skirts and dresses.
• Taking in a waist or the sides of a shirt.
• Shortening sleeves on most jackets and coats.
• Zippers: often just the slider needs replacing.

Hard jobs

• Shoulders: buy for the shoulders, because they’re hard to change.
• Letting out is only possible if there’s extra fabric in the seams.
• Leather needs a specialist: old stitch holes don’t close up.

Get the most from your visit

• Wear or bring the shoes and undergarments you’ll wear with it.
• Stand naturally while they pin.
• For weddings and events, start two to three months ahead.