When clothes don’t quite fit, alterations can work wonders
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Every person’s body has a different shape. And the same size dress made by two separate companies may fit a woman in totally different ways.
Even in this tough economy, people continue to fill her three locations with jeans, bridesmaid gowns and just about anything else that needs a little work to get the right fit, says Anna Chin, co-owner of Anna’s Alterations in Charlotte, N.C.
We asked Chin to share her expert advice:
The easiest fixes
The simplest and most common alterations are hemming, shortening sleeves and taking garments in at the waist.
Making shoulder seams narrower is also usually a quick fix.
You can always make pants shorter, but lengthening is tricky. Usually you won’t see a telltale line when letting out the hem on wool pants. Lines are more pronounced on a fabric such as khaki.
Hemming pants — the most common alteration — usually costs between $7 and $9.
The most challenging changes
“Your hips might be a size 10 but your top could be a size 4,” Chin said. Altering a bridesmaid dress, for example, for a woman with that body type is more involved.
Prices vary depending on how the garment is constructed. The cost of altering a bridesmaid dress can range from $80 to $160.
Delicate fabrics such as chiffon and garments with fine netting or mesh are difficult to work with.
Sweaters don’t always look right when altered, Chin says. They don’t have a hem, so you can’t shorten the body or sleeves without turning the fabric under and creating a somewhat bulky finish.
Some high-end knits are difficult to alter successfully. And detailed stitching or cording on some designer clothes doesn’t hold up well when you try to make changes. A regular sewing machine can’t duplicate the stitching.
For people who lose weight
Chin says cutting a garment down one or two sizes usually works well. Sometimes it’s possible to reduce the size further, depending on the construction of an item.
When going for a fitting of any item to be altered, it’s best to wear the same shoes and undergarments you plan to wear with the outfit.
