Rarely do I find an outfit online and feel so compelled that I have to just have it. The kind of outfit that just consumes your thoughts. You know the ones. This outfit was it. I saw it on DISSH this summer, which you’ve heard me talk about before here. It’s an Australian brand that I discovered this summer and am simply in love with. So many great pieces in my closet from them now. But this two-piece swirl set was one item I just had to have in my wardrobe.
I saw it online and sadly my size was sold out in the skirt. I decided to buy the larger size anyway as it was my first order with the brand and wasn’t 100% sure how things would fit. And I knew that I’d be sending things back anyway so no big deal. I slipped it on and it was huge. The bra top thankfully was perfection. A perfect fit, really. I was so bummed that the skirt was so massive on me though as it was sold out in every other size. But because I was so in love with it, I decided to take it to my tailor. And that is today’s #1 lesson. Lean on your tailor to make things fit perfectly.
Should You Get Your Clothes Tailored?
Can I also be honest here? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve either gone shopping with friends or received a message from a follower, stating that something was too long and didn’t work. It happens a lot. And it just blows my mind. Maybe it’s my years of working as a salesperson at Nordstrom and we had in-house tailors, but expecting a pair of jeans, or dress to hit you just perfectly off the rack is crazy talk. Nothing is designed just for you. It’s designed for the masses. So if something is too long, or a bit gaping in one spot, it’s usually fixable!
Sure things get more complicated when you need to deconstruct an item and sew it all back together. But overall little fixes like a shorter hem, or taking a sleeve up, or even taking in your favorite jeans at the waist so they fit you perfectly (hello thighs, this is me), are usually a quick and affordable fix. And it’s something that you should always keep in mind while trying things on!
What Can You Get Tailored?
A lot of things. Really almost anything if you want to spend the money on it. But for more everyday basics and the things I find myself needing to tailor the most, are a short list. It’s just nice to have and helps to make things fit and look better. Which ends up allowing you to extend the life of your closet too. And yes, I still take scissors to my jeans all the time. But if you want a finished hem, or the original hem, getting them tailored is quick and easy too. Some things are just worth getting tailored. Below are a few I think of instantly when I’d be willing to spend a little bit of money to have it fit perfectly.
- Your favorite jeans – regular hem or the original where they literally cut off the original hem and sew it back on. More expensive but worth it if the jeans have a unique hem to them. We did this a lot at Nordstrom when the raw unrolled hem trend was all the rage.
- High-quality basics and classics
- Designer items
- Too long of skirts, dresses or pants.
- Your professional wardrobe – work pants, work dresses and so on
- Formal wear
A Tip When Heading To The Tailor
Whenever I head to the tailor I try to wear, or at least bring with me, the shoes I plan on wearing with the item. This will ensure you get the perfect hem. And if you’re getting a dress altered, or anything above the waist, wear a proper bra and any shapewear you plan to wear with it. You’ll get the best fit possible and won’t have to go back with adjustments later. And if you’re just not 100% sure where something should hit you, you can always bring in something you love and show them.
Back to the skirt…
I brought this to my tailor because I just had to make it work. After trying it on and showing them not only the waist but that it was a bit too long for my short legs, they pinned me up, marked some measurements and gave me a quote. We ended up taking a couple of inches off the waist and made it fit perfectly even though it was two sizes two big. And we took a few inches off the hemline because it was a bit long on me and I just prefer a certain spot for midi’s to hit me at.
To do this much work to the skirt was a bit more of an undertaking. Sure it wasn’t cheap. But honestly, I think it was worth it. For those things you really are excited about and just can’t find your size, this is the way to go. Find a trustworthy tailor in your area to help you with pieces like this. Plus, I think the more you use them, the better price they may give you.
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