Top 10 Cheap Clothing Alterations in Maroubra | Airtasker AU (2024)

FAQs

Why are alterations so expensive? ›

If it was an inexpensive garment, paying someone to alter it may not seem like a good value. Why pay $50 to alter a dress that cost $75 brand new? The answer – you're paying for the tailor's time and skill, plus materials, meetings and fittings, regardless of what you originally paid for the garment.

Alterations offer smaller adjustments that generally make clothing fit better. They are focused only on the adjustment of particular parts and perform simpler tasks such as hemming and shortening of sleeves or pant legs.

If you opt to tip your alterations pro, $20–$30 is the suggested amount. If your attire required major restructuring, you may want to tip more.

For instance, if you're only having your dress hemmed, you can expect to pay between $45 and $90. When you get into more complex tweaks regarding bust, waist and hip fitting, expect to pay $150 or more.

Tailors offer personalized services that can reshape a garment's silhouette or adjust specific details like sleeve length, whereas alterations focus on fitting issues such as hemming pants or taking in a waistband.

Make Sure Your Clothing is Clean

Some tailors and local alteration shops reserve the right to only work on clean clothing & garments. Keep that in mind before making the trip to the tailor of your choice.

In the world of fashion, these terms often get mixed up. But think of a tailor as someone who creates custom clothes from scratch, like a fashion artist. On the other hand, alterations are more like adjustments or fixes made to your existing clothes to make them fit better.

Investing in tailoring allows you to extend the lifespan of your clothing by addressing wear and tear, repairing minor damages, and reinforcing seams and closures. With proper tailoring, you can breathe new life into beloved pieces, ensuring they remain timeless wardrobe staples for years to come.

Shorten or lengthen pant or skirt hem: $14-$16 (or $7-$8 a leg) Taper unlined pant legs: $14.20. Shorten sleeves on shirt/coat/jacket: $18-$30. Take in or let out waistband of pants or skirt: $14-$20.

Typically, straightforward alterations like shortening straps or hemming can be completed in about 1-2 weeks, while more complex alterations like taking in a bodice can take up to 3 weeks. It's also worth noting that you'll need to schedule up to 3 hour-long fittings to ensure the perfect fit.

How to save money on wedding dress alterations? ›

Buy a dress in your size!

A dress that is closest to your size will always cost less to alter than having to alter it down or up a size. Typical alterations usually include hemming and maybe taking up at the shoulders, etc.