Ode to the tailor

I was never meant to be tall. While it was at first hard to accept, at 22, I have learned to not only accept my height, or lack there of, but to work around it.

At 5-foot 2-inches in height, there will always be things that are tough. Getting my orange juice at the supermarket will always be a stretch and I am not ashamed to admit I climb on my counter to get down a glass. But one thing I no longer have to tolerate is clothing that is not “made” for me.

For a while, the concept of tailoring seemed too expensive and more on the side of luxury, but since entering college, it has become my best friend.

It began with a pair of jeans and has since become my go-to solution for that dress I found online that was a steal but a bit too big or the coat with the ripped lining I can’t part with.

But there are things to remember when going to a tailor:

Always wash the garment first (if you plan to put it in the dryer and it is not dry clean only) to see if it will shrink. 

Try on the garment as you intend to wear it. That means, if it is pants, try them on with the highest pair of heels you would wear with them. If it is a coat you plan to layer, try it on with the thickest sweater or sweatshirt that would go under it.

Remember to specify any detailing you are partial to with the tailor. Pants look cleaner and less “altered” when an original hem is replaced. If you want a particular thread used, or if the hem of a dress is particularly wide and you like the effect, don’t be afraid to ask.

Finally, allow time for alterations. If you need something fixed quickly, you may have to call around to find a place that can do the work in the desired time frame. Otherwise, plan to wait a week, or sometimes more depending on the job.
 
Alterations are not as expensive as one might expect either. Fixing a hem, a very common alteration, runs around $10 to shorten pants. 

Two of my favorite tailors in the area are Twichell’s Dry Cleaners & Tailors, 221 M.A.C. Ave. and Silver Thread Tailor Shoppe, 1720 Lake Lansing Rd, in Lansing. 

Or, if you are handy with a sewing machine or needle and thread (sadly, I have that on my To Do List) try altering items yourself. 

In the end, clothing is fabric, and usually, what was done can be undone. Make sure your clothing fits you where it counts the most — in the hips, bust, shoulders — and a tailor is a great resource to customize the rest.  

The joy of growing older is getting nicer clothing and creating a professional style that still reflects you. Let’s face it — we are all probably done growing by the end of our time at MSU, so don’t settle for those pants that only fit with a really tight belt or that shirt that makes you roll up the sleeves.