# What should I look for in a tailor?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 26, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120 "2011-08-26T01:35:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120/1 "2011-08-26T01:35:58Z")

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I lost about 10 lbs and now my good suit no longer fits me. I’m thinking about getting it tailored down to the right size.

I’ve never been to a tailor before. Is there anything I should know before I choose which one is right for me?

How much should I expect to pay for a suit alteration?

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**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120/2 "2011-08-26T21:58:32Z")

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Anyone?

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**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120/3 "2011-08-26T22:38:32Z")

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Ask at local dry cleaners if they do tailoring or alterations. If you know any very stylish/dapper persons, they may have suggestions. Or if there is a nice mens’ clothing store around. Select the best dressed salesman, and explain your problem. They may provide a tailoring service, or they may be able to give you the name of someone who provides this service independently.

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120/4 "2011-08-26T22:40:48Z")

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Isn’t this mostly a buy-it-off-the-rack world? I can’t imagine that most people ever have the need to use a tailor, except for maybe having pants hemmed.

Not saying that the OP shouldn’t go to a tailor, but there probably aren’t a lot of SDMB posters that use one regularly.

If I needed one I would look in the phone book, or ask at the store where I bought the suit.

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**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-tailor/594120/5 "2011-08-27T01:37:10Z")

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My mom really loved the suit I wore when I graduated high school. However, thanks to diet and exercise, I’m 50-55 pounds lighter today, depending on whose scale you believe.

We had this suit in question altered last week, as a matter of fact. I had the jacket let in, the sleeves and shoulders fixed, and the weight let in. I paid about $120 CDN, and I thought that was a teeensy bit pricey. But the fabric was really really nice, and we paid through the nose when I originally bought it. So we decided it was worth it.

Lol, there’s as firm an answer as I imagine you’ll get on here! 🙂