As Nora said in the 10 PCA Commandments,  thou shalt make friends with a good tailor.  We here at PCA practice what we preach. As I was switching out of summer fall mode into my winter wear, I like to try everything on and make sure things still work like I remembered. the majority of things did, but there were about 10 pieces that needed some love and care. This is where having a good tailor comes in handy.

My neighborhood tailor (RDU folks – Advance Tailors in Brier Creek is what’s up!) not only just took in the pants but asked me about altering other things to make sure that the line of my pants looked clean, something I don’t normally think about. They took up the pockets, of course worked on the hems, brought in the waistband, and fixed blazer sleeves. For as many pieces as I took in there, I couldn’t have purchased a new piece for the same cost. It really is like getting a new closet.

There are a few rules to keep in mind when heading off to the tailor. Most of these are common sense, but it bears repeating:

1. Is it worth it? If the item is inexpensively made or on it’s last legs, you might not want to spend the money to get it altered. Think about the cost per wear and the cost of the fix, if it doesn’t even out then keep it as is.
2. Do you love the piece?  Along the same lines as the cost of tailoring, the cost of time should be considered. Time for you to pack up your clothes and get there; time for the tailors to work, and time to get the clothes back. If you aren’t willing to put all of that time into the piece, then don’t do it.  If you know it’s something you are going to hold on to and will be a staple in your outfit rotation, then go for it.
3. Have you seen their work? Do you like it? Yes there are tailors in the mall, but do you really trust that tailor? In some cases, sure but in most, no. You can read yelp all you want, but it’s not real until you’ve seen their work in person.  Maybe start with just one piece before you bring in a haul like I did. Or get a referral from a friend. If you’ve already decided that it’s a piece you are willing to spend time and money on, then you don’t want to pick it up and it be in ruins.

Even though I recommend getting things tailored all the time, I’m really a champion for it if you are between sizes and don’t want to let go of pants that you really love. Having a good tailor on your side will make sure you look good from all sides.

Any other tailor rules you live by? Leave them below in the comments!