Tales From The Alterationist

[LelandJ]

Got back from my relatively new a-tionist. She mangled the back collar on my LBM suit where the collar wouldn't stay folded down after she took some fabric up below the collar to remove the bunching there. She doesn't remember how much fabric she took up nor was she in a good mood with three other clients showing up all at the same time. She said she had my suit 'finished' on Wednesday but she never called me to come earlier! She did a great job on my Isaia suit so not going to give up on her yet.

Client #1 was around Thruth's height, altering a tweed suit with sleeves and pants couple inches too long. He then requested the jacket be over two inches shorter with the pins put in place folding it under and up. I couldn't help myself and say the jacket was already the perfect length for classic menswear to which Thruth clone said it's a matter of personal preference. I wanted to tell him his GQ Pitti style was crap but didn't want to piss off my a-tionist. Client #2 was an inch taller than SVB but thinner, which made me wonder how he could hold his body up. He was altering a pair of dress pants tapering in from waist all the way down on a pair of already super slim fit, hyper ridiculous wetsuit silhouette I simply couldn't believe my eyes. Oh and my a-tionist said to take in above the pockets would mean she'd have to remove the pockets, a ridiculous notion itself, to which he agreed to.

One thing to see crimes against menswear on the internet, but to see it played out in real life is troubling.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Thought these might make a good thread.

 

[Russell Street]

In reality, I'm glad to see people make use of an alterationist (and not calling them a tailor), although it is sad to see that that people have bad taste...
The bumfreezer guy is too short to just buy short sizes? Or is he "updating" a proper iterm?
I am lost on this lanky dude and the pockets. He forfeited front pockets?

 

[LelandJ]

Yes on the forfeit, short guy has bigger chest than me so definitely can't size down. Ironically the suit he got was already proportioned with a short length jacket which he's altering to look short on him.

 

[Russell Street]

I can't believe that somebody is giving up their front pockets to get a more uncomfortable and unflattering fit. Besides, couldn't excess be taken from behind the side seams?

 

[LelandJ]

Of course the pockets could be reconstructed but I'm sure if the a-tionist quoted the price for the work involved the very young and ignorant client would decline regardless. When I had my Isaia suit altered I considered having the back waist taken in an inch but she commented how time intensive replicating the pick stitching down the back would be, as if I weren't already aware and ready to pay for the labor. I've noticed going for a perfect fit on a jacket can make having hands on the steering wheel put more tension than I like. I figure the loose fit is advantageous for me anyways if I ever have to apply a martial application on someone as well.

 

[LelandJ]

Another day, another visit to pick up the jacket she mangled last time. I put on the right sleeve first for my injured shoulder, then with my left arm in 3/4 the way I feel a sharp prick in my armpit. Slight further movement I realize there's goddamn needle inside the pit about to puncture me. I'm basically stuck since I can't use my right arm and have the a-tionist remove the jacket for me. I see a long thread with a needle drop to the floor. She acted like it was no big deal, the average person without my reaction time would've had a needle stuck in his armpit.

Just remembered during the last visit there was a needle stuck in the inside waist of the matching pants to this jacket. I really hope this was a coincidence else this may turn into a story of a fatal a-tionist panda killer.

 

[Russell Street]

I know that tailors are notorious for forgetting to remove the basting that keeps pockets closed, but I can't recall ever running into a needle.
She really needs to give at least a half-hearted apology for that. Mistakes happen, but ouch.

 

[Monkeyface]

I hate alterations tailors in London. Either you go to a cheap one that will most certainly mess it up, or you go to a crazy expensive one that will do it right, but will charge you £120 for something as simple as taking in the sides of a jacket, or £50 to take in the waist of trousers.

There is simply no middle ground.

 

[LelandJ]

I know that tailors are notorious for forgetting to remove the basting that keeps pockets closed, but I can't recall ever running into a needle.
She really needs to give at least a half-hearted apology for that. Mistakes happen, but ouch.

Here's the kicker. I first calmly exclaimed that there was a "pin" poking me in the armpit and she said that wasn't possible. After she took the jacket off me it fell to the floor with thread attached and she repeated that there was no pin in there. I said look at the floor, there it is, to which she retorted, "that's a needle not a pin." No hint of remorse only admonition for my vocab mistake.

Felt like a psychotic Seinfeld script.

 

[Thruth]

Here's the kicker. I first calmly exclaimed that there was a "pin" poking me in the armpit and she said that wasn't possible. After she took the jacket off me it fell to the floor with thread attached and she repeated that there was no pin in there. I said look at the floor, there it is, to which she retorted, "that's a needle not a pin." No hint of remorse only admonition for my vocab mistake.

Felt like a psychotic Seinfeld script.

well you have to be more precise, silly Panda, as there is a difference.

 

[LelandJ]

:atomic:

 

[fxh]

 

[LelandJ]

Have a black fishbone linen waistcoat that I originally took in a tapered two inches in the middle back, realizing I want a real tailored fit I took it back in a week ago to take in another two inches from top to bottom on the back. The ationist and I should have both foreseen the neckline scrunching that resulted but didn't till the fitting today. She had to deconstruct the entire thing and used about 25 pins to get it "right" including another 1" in the upper back!

Also took in the BB trous but the manufacturing sewing job on the rise and crotch caused the zipper to be asymmetrically pulled sideways like the shark fin in the recent disagreeable fit. She took some of the reinforced lining out in the crotch but didn't solve the issue and told me to return it. Otherwise was very happy with how these worsted flannel double pleated BB trous are cut.

 

[LelandJ]

WOW it really looked just like this:

 

[LelandJ]

Update: seller asked for picture of shark fin so to oblige put them on but gone now. Didn't realize I was buttoning the internal tab buttonhole to the braces button an inch above the proper button!

 

[The Shooman]

I just picked up my altered Sunspel trousers (thick moleskins) from the bespoke tailor called `American Tailors' where they were shorted and the seat taken in. It was successful, so l will reward him with a bespoke order soon.

I also have a pair of Paul & Shark cotton pants (shortened and seat taken in) and a pair of bespoke (taken out) that needs some alterations from my usual bespoke tailor. I'll order some more trousers soon, but always a ball breaker when l see him.

Can't post pics because l don't know how to download pics onto the computer anymore.

I've been developing interest in very heavy fabric trousers in recent times.

 

[LelandJ]

No need of bespoke jackets or suits, even casual types?

 

[fxh]

shooey - I didn't think the blokes upstairs at American Tailor did alterations. I know they send a bit of that stuff out.

 

[The Shooman]

shooey - I didn't think the blokes upstairs at American Tailor did alterations. I know they send a bit of that stuff out.

Got to know how to talk to them right.

 

[FriendCustomer]

Update: seller asked for picture of shark fin so to oblige put them on but gone now. Didn't realize I was buttoning the internal tab buttonhole to the braces button an inch above the proper button!

whot? you don't know how to put on trousers. olololo

 

[fxh]

I did boost you up the last few times I was talking to Sebastien.

 

[The Shooman]

I did boost you up the last few times I was talking to Sebastien.

Nice. I showed Sabastien and Dominic my bespoke aussie shoos and they were impressed. When l get measured up for clothes l will wear alligator so they know l don't play little boy's games. We had a talk about shoos, and we all expressed disappointment in how nearly all well dressed businessmen wear cheap shoes...I consider those types to be lightweights.

Funny enough, l saw this impeccably dressed older man (probably 65) pushing a pram with a baby in it. He had a great fitting high quality suit on and excellent shoos and he walked up and down the street countless times in the city. I wanted to congratulate him, but l couldn't quite get to him.

 

[seamless]

Someone asked me to tapper to skin tight... he was offended when I explained I wouldn't fix the seams when they split....

 

[LelandJ]

Someone asked me to tapper to skin tight... he was offended when I explained I wouldn't fix the seams when they split....

I'm offended you didn't tell him no.

Not surprised Pikachu's your hero.

When I worked at the top seafood restaurant in the country about twice a month I told someone I wouldn't grate cheese over their seafood pasta when they asked.

 

[seamless]

I'm offended you didn't tell him no.

Not surprised Pikachu's your hero.

When I worked at the top seafood restaurant in the country about twice a month I told someone I wouldn't grate cheese over their seafood pasta when they asked.

I always say no the first three times. The fourth I'll do the taper but make sure they know I won't be repairing the legs.