Time Matters!

Most people I talk to are confused about the amount of time it takes to alter clothes, especially wedding gowns and formal dresses. It’s not their fault. Each business has its own turnaround times, often depending on how much work needs to be done. Many retail shops require 6-8 weeks to complete the work. That’s reasonable. Since I own my business, I can make adjustments to my schedule to fit the client’s needs. I generally take 2-4 weeks to finish wedding gown alterations. Formal dresses take 2 weeks, unless there’s a rush (usually for prom). Many people may need the job done sooner, especially if it’s a simple repair, hem, etc. Those projects take less time. We will work that out when the appointment is booked.

Back to wedding gowns, which happen to be my specialty. (Although I work on almost everything imaginable, including a Wonder Woman outfit, that’s a story for another time.) When buying a formal dress, give yourself enough time to get it in. During the spring months, it can take 3-6 months to get a dress. Shoes can also take a long time. Men’s suits are often the same. Plan ahead.

Another issue I’ve come across is that someone will order clothing and don’t try it on until the last minute. That can be a huge problem. I once had a client who had a dress for her friend’s wedding for at least 6 months but never tried it on. She called me in a panic 4 days before the wedding because the dress was too small. I said I’d try to work some magic. A LOT of magic was needed. The dress was 7.5” too small across the back! After some thought, my only option was to install a corset. However, there isn’t any place to buy a pre-made corset, it has to be ordered. Not enough time, especially since it was a red dress and would have to be a custom order. I pulled out my magic wand (I really do have one) and hand-built a corset made from leftover fabric. It worked perfectly, although it was stressful.

Always keep in mind the pickup date. Anyone who knows me knows I hate stress. Unless there’s a scheduling conflict, I give my clients their items several days before the event. It’s easier for the client and allows for any last minute changes. For bigger jobs that alter the size of any garment, it’s vital to try it on before taking it home. I once had a bride call me in a panic. She picked up her altered wedding gown from a local tailor, but he didn’t give her the option to try it on. When she did, she discovered it was 3” too short. She refused to take it back to be fixed and brought it to me. Yes, I fixed it, but it could have been a complete disaster.

So, that’s the general idea of how and why timelines matter. I’m always happy to answer questions and consult, so feel free to reach out.