Dress Pants Alterations Near Me (2024)

FAQs

Can dress pants be altered? ›

Yes, pants can be altered if you have some basic knowledge of sewing and the materials that are required for alterations such as fabric scissors, measuring tape etc. If you have no sewing skills whatsoever, you may want to enlist the help of a professional tailor that offers pant alteration services.

Generally, simple alterations like hemming or shortening pants can cost around $10 to $20. Taking in or letting out waistband or hips may cost between $15 to $25. Adjusting the length of the inseam can range from $20 to $30. Additionally, tapering or slimming down pants can cost around $20 to $30.

The waist of a pair of trousers can be let in or taken out 2-3". Look inside the seat for extra fabric at the waistband – this, minus half an inch or so, is as far as you can take the pants out. Trousers are easily shortened, but lengthening them requires fabric at the hems.

Fold and pinch the excess fabric into 2 large pleats, until the waistband is taut and comfortable around your waist. Hold these pleats in place with 1 hand and thread a belt through the loops. Once you've tightened the belt into place, you'll be ready to go!

A general rule of thumb I follow is if pants need to be taken in 2” or less, it can all be removed from the back center seam. If the pants need to be taken in more than 2”, distribute the amount through the back center seam and the two side seams and optionally any darts and pleats.

You do not need to tip a tailor or seamstress during your visit.

Simple alterations shouldn't take more than 48 hours unless your tailor is particularly busy and some even offer a same-day turnaround. So if you need some quick fixes to look presentable at, for example, a funeral, you should be good inside a week. More complex alterations can take up to two weeks.

You can definitely get your pants tapered more than one inch, but it is best to consult a tailor or seamstress. The tailor or seamstress will examine the grain of the fabric and the way the garment is cut, then they can tell if it is acceptable to take in the requested amount.

The rule of thumb is that you can go down two sizes at a maximum, but a suit jacket or blazer, only one size too large, is a safer option. The problem is always that jackets that are too large can also be too large on the shoulders, which is a more challenging thing to alter.

How many inches can pants be taken in? ›

Waist Width

The Waist Width of Proper Cloth trousers can be taken out by 0.75” (1.5” in total circumference). It can be taken in by 1” (2” in total circumference). Any changes to this dimension will require some changes to the seat (Hip Width) of the pants as well.

A dual line “hash tag” is the international tailoring symbol for “let-out”. The two horizontal chalk lines signify “out”, and the amount to be let-out is shown by the distance between the two vertical chalk lines.

Generally, trousers can be altered by either letting out, or taking in by 2", but we always recommend checking with a member of staff on specific styles of suits.

Zip or button up the pants and pull them over the ironing board until the waist is stretched as far as it can go. If you don't have an ironing board, you can also stretch the waist across a wooden chair (cover it first with a towel to protect the wood) or across a sturdy wooden board like a cutting board.