How to prepare for your first tailoring fitting

A tailoring fitting is not complicated, but there are a few things that make the difference between a useful appointment and one where you leave with the same problem you came in with. Most of them are easy to prepare for once you know what to expect.

Bring the right shoes

This one matters more than people think. Hem length is measured from the floor up, which means the height of your heel changes where the hem should sit. A one-inch difference in heel height is a one-inch difference in hem length. If you're hemming trousers you plan to wear with dress shoes, bring the dress shoes. If you're hemming jeans you'll wear with boots, bring the boots.

Coming in barefoot or in socks is fine for jacket fittings, but for anything involving a hem, it's worth the extra effort to bring the right footwear. We've had to re-do hems because someone came in wearing flats and then wore heels every day. It's an easy thing to avoid.

Wear what you'd wear underneath

The fit of a garment changes depending on what's underneath it. A suit jacket fits differently over a thick sweater than over a dress shirt. A wedding dress fits differently over shapewear than over nothing. A coat fits differently over a blazer than over a t-shirt.

For bridal fittings especially, this matters a lot. Bring your shapewear, your bra if you're wearing one, and any accessories that affect the neckline. For suit fittings, a fitted dress shirt gives the most accurate read on how the jacket will sit in real life.

Describe the problem specifically

'It doesn't fit right' is a starting point, not a description. The more specific you can be, the faster the fitting goes. 'The shoulders sit too far forward,' 'the waist is loose but the hips are fine,' 'the sleeves are too long but only when I raise my arms'. These are all useful. If you can point to the problem in a mirror, even better.

If you're not sure what's wrong, that's fine too. Part of the fitting is figuring it out together. But if you've been living with a garment that bothers you, try to notice where the bother is before you come in.

Ask about the process before you leave

At the end of the fitting, you should know: what's being done, when it will be ready, and what it will cost. If any of those three things are unclear, ask. A good tailor will give you a straight answer on all three. If the answer is 'I'll let you know,' ask when you'll hear back.

At Stitch Soar, we give a firm date and a firm price at drop-off. If something unexpected comes up during the work, we call before doing anything that changes the quote.

The fitting itself takes fifteen to thirty minutes for most alterations. The preparation takes five. It's worth doing.