My tailor... arrggghhh
 

I had a great tailor about 20 years ago. Proper dude that used chalk to make his marks on clothes. You know, those marks that mean nothing to anyone but a proper tailor. I moved away and am now back and can't seem to find a proper tailor.

There are plenty of mom or pop shops but none have measured up to my old guy. All the ones I've tried now pin stuff up and usually F something up. Pins move, chalk does not.

A couple of weeks ago, I took 3 pair of pants and two suit coats to my guy (I've been using him since moving back to SA 3 years ago). One pant just needed waist taken in; he took it in too much. The other 2 pants needed hem and waist. Both hems ended up too short. One waist was too loose. Coats were ok. Took the pants back for length. He fixed and was very apologetic about it but it is like this every time I go to him.

I've asked around and people either recommend this guy or have no other suggestions.

Mainly just venting here, however, I wonder if proper good tailors even exist any longer. Thoughts?

No matter how bad your tailor is he can’t be as bad as Joey’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fANwTBK3Ylg

I'm lucky. My local dry cleaner has a tailor on duty and they are very good.

I think you're living in the wrong decade. Maybe go into a nice men's store and buy a pair of pants and a jacket and politely ask if there's a way to get some personal items altered.

I tried that but Walmart siad they couldn't help

plenty of good tailors at Savile Row in London. Be prepared to pay...

The tailor you describe sounds like that tailor I go to. He's old, and I bet he only has a few years left before closing shop. I don't see a son or a daughter taking over, probably because only a handful would pay for good tailoring when off-the-rack is good enough for most people (or people who can't afford made-to-measure).

Might as well buy a few pieces from Suit Supply and have them alter.

Or go to Hong Kong.

I haven't had any legit tailoring done in forever. But when I was in Thailand, they had ROWS of tailor shops. Word was that they did good work. Cheap.

true about Hong Kong too.... I have a suit that was made for my father approximately 40 years old and lucky me, it fits perfectly. Have gotten tons of comments on the fit and finish on it. Completely tailored suit.

I bought a nice Harris Tweed jacket on sale a few months ago. My work attire consists of shorts and T-shirts so I don't usually frequent Men's clothing stores.

My Granddaughter had an event coming up so the Wife convinced me to "dress up" for it and sent me to go find a dress shirt to go with the jacket.

Went to Men's Wearhouse (SoCal version of Jos. A. Bank) found the shirt and was going to go to the truck and fetch the jacket, maybe they could shorten the sleeves while we're at it.

Guy in front of me bought some shirts and 2 jackets and wanted them altered. The guy said "Right now we are 3-4 weeks out on alterations". Dropped it off at the local dry cleaners on the way home.

Good tailors and cobblers will all be dead pretty soon

^^^^

I actually have a great cobbler. Hopefully they will be around a long time.

Funny thing, I needed a sport jacket earlier this year, had a res at a 3 star Michelin rest in NYC that required jackets.. but I didn't want to wear my funeral/wedding suit..

Found something I liked at Jos. A. Banks.. tried it on liked it and asked the salesperson "lets get it fitted" She said why? it fits you so well...she was right..... it fit well right off the rack..

Lucky me

I'm amazed with 30 seconds, one eye closed, a random pin, a piece of chalk, and an inch tape ruler- that they can make anything fit. Empirically, if they could get it right 1/3 of the time, they would be right on target.* :D

*In my experience- 1/3 altered clothes too loose, 1/3 too tight, 1/3 right on the money. **

**Ask me again after I've lost/gained a few.

(still- the 1/3 rule applies) :) Good luck

^^^^
This.

Go to a high-end store and tell them you are looking for the best possible results.

I sold mens/boys clothes during college, mostly high-end. Always had carried chalk in my pocket. While we didn't cut/sew from scratch, I rarely recall us ever selling anything but a knit shirt without doing at least 1-2 alterations. The boss was quite picky, and never wanted anyone to leave without looking a perfect as possible. We kept two seamstresses busy 40+ hours a week. Of course, this was rolled into the cost, but nobody ever really complained, because they knew the fit was always excellent.

UPDATE:

I found a new guy a couple of weeks ago. Uses chalk and also makes custom shirts and suits.

However, for 2 suits with sleeves, pant hem, waist, etc... it was $340. That hurt a little today

Unfortunately true for many things we all grew up with.

Engine machine shops are hard to find. I had to do a lot of digging to find a guy that would rebuild the alternator on my 911. I found a guy. His dad started the company, and he grew up doing alternators, generators and starters. He has a 5,000 sq foot packed with old cores to the point he had only his work table to put down anything. He rebuilt my alternator with American, Canadian and European parts, and no Chinesium.

I don't think I have ever had anything tailored, except clothes my mom made for me when I was a kid. Even then I preferred shorts and a t shirt.

If you're fit and thin and have a decent amount of drop, getting a jacket tailored makes you feel like a movie star.

I'm not sure if it would be worth the trouble these days, but, when I was younger .....

....and, I need to find a casual jacket with a modern cut.

I found a local guy who is nothing short of amazing. Immigrant, naturally.

He charges a significant amount. But, the suit fits like a glove.

They are out there

Honestly that’s not bad at all.

That’s not a bad price. I bought a suit 3 years ago from an excellent menswear shop. I paid around $1700, it included a tailored shirt. I only wear a suit for special occasions and to be buried in. :eek:

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I think what made my price go up was some work on one pair of pants to cut down the legs: $140

At least that's what I saw on the posted price list.

Would that basically be taking the pants in half to make the legs skinnier and then sewing them back together? Almost like making a whole pair of pants, minus upper details?

If so, sounds like a lot of work and reason for the expense. The seamstress I go to charges $10 to make legs shorter; not sure about skinnier.