I often talk – okay, preach – about the importance of having a tailor that you like and trust. It’s really my number one, super-duper style tip and now you know it!
Here’s some quick background info on why I think utilizing the services of a tailor is just SO important:
- We come in ALL shapes and sizes: Not every human being was created the same (thank goodness for that…. how boring would that be). Not only are we of different races, ages, sexual preferences and more but we are also have different body shapes/sizes and, therefore, most off-the-rack clothing comes won’t fit us properly. This is usually the primary reason why one would go to a tailor – standard clothing off a rack wasn’t made for everyone! Take that garment to a tailor so that it can be customized just for YOU!
- The details are important: To ensure that your garment is highlighting the “right” things on you (your shape and your daily activities), take it to a tailor so that she or he can focus on some of those details that you just didn’t think were important. Here’ s a couple of examples:
- The waist of your dress is too loose and your shape is lost in it. A tailor can help by bringing in the waist which will create more focus at the smallest part of your midsection.
- The back of your dress shirt is billowy and tent-like. It looks like you’re 12 years old wearing your dad’s work shirt! A tailor can help by adding darts to various parts of the dress shirt to give it a more narrowed shape; this makes the shirt look neater when tucked in (which it probably needs to be for the office).
- We’re all unique, right? It’s only natural that we want to show our individuality and personality to those around us. A tailor can help you customize a garment so that your vision comes through, regardless of whether you got it at a massive chain store or your local vintage shop. This is the more fun and creative side of working with someone who knows what they’re doing!
So, enough preaching from me! Since I do believe in tailoring most of my clothes, I thought I’d share one of my favourite pieces that I updated last year (when my tailor doesn’t see me for a week or two, she often wonders where I am… yes, it’s a bit of an obsession – I know!). This is the most work I’ve ever had done to a garment but it was totally worth it to me!
Lazina’s restructured blazer
So I bought this blazer (I got it during a MASSIVE sale at a local, high-end boutique) and knew that it wasn’t yet right for me… even though the sales lady thought it looked perfect and was “made for me”. It WAS made for me – just not the way it was at the time of purchase! I could see the potential in this very feminine blazer so I took it to my tailor to have her execute my vision. Here’s what I had done to it (gosh, I wish I had before pictures so you could see the transformation):
- I had the shoulders restructured. Because I’m a bit smaller in the shoulders, I usually have to have them taken in so that they fit right.
- I had my tailor shorten the sleeves to ¾ length. Personally, I feel that this length gives blazers a more feminine look.
- Originally, this blazer had a belt (same material as the jacket which I don’t really care for) and belt loops (that were below the natural waistline of the blazer). I don’t know why the belt loop was below the natural waistline since this would do NOTHING for the female shape! I had the belt loops removed so I could chose to wear or not wear that belt… I’ve never worn it.
- I had a few darts put in around the waist to give the jacket (and me) more of an hourglass shape. This illusion worked great because of the overall shape of the blazer – particularly in the front.
- I had the single vent closed which gives the jacket a great shape in the back. It wasn’t sitting right when it was open so my tailor suggested we close it – I totally love when she comes up with a GREAT solution.
If you have any questions about tailoring, just let me know. In the meantime, get out there and find that tailor – your ‘go-to’ person for creating your own, unique style!
