Frequently Asked Questions
What does a tailor do?
Our Riccarton tailors will alter, repair, and restore suits, dresses, and clothing according to your preferences and body shape. We’ll take your exact measurements and provide expert layering and style advice on how to achieve your desired fit.
Experience that tailored suit appeal and quality from your store-bought clothes with our range of alteration services.
There’s no reason to discard old garments and dresses of the wrong size, as we’ll restore them to brand-new condition and enhance them to highlight your best features and rock your style with grace and confidence.
What do you wear to get tailored?
You can visit any of our New Zealand stores to get fitted wearing your everyday clothes. But our master tailors recommend wearing and bringing the following when you go to our store to get fitted:
- Bring the shoes/footwear you plan on wearing with the clothing.
- Wear a dress shirt that should go with the altered garment to get accurate measurements and an idea of how you look once the job is done.
- Wear a proper bra or shapewear for dresses, wedding dresses, and any garments above the waist.
With alteration services located at Riccarton, you get easy access to our master tailors and experience perfectly fitting suits that complement your personal style while concealing trouble areas.
How long does an alteration or tailoring take?
The time it takes to finish an alteration depends on the garment and the job’s complexity. Peak seasons and public holidays also affect turnaround times, especially for bulk fittings during the New Year or wedding seasons.
Our expert tailors in Riccarton offer a 24-hour turnaround for most alteration services. Get the best quality and a stress-free experience, with 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Whether doing your last-minute outfit changes and suit tailoring for a date, business meeting, or dressing up for a night out in Riccarton, LookSmart Alterations provides fast and reliable tailoring services so you look your best on all occasions.
Note that larger tasks and bulk alterations may take longer, such as fitting tailored suits for groomsmen and sewing for entire bridal parties.
Visit our Riccarton store or contact us at (03) 348 4228 to learn more.
How much will the alteration cost?
Our tailors will assess the suit and determine the work required before arriving at a fixed price. Transforming off-the-rack garments into custom-fitted masterpieces includes the following factors:
Type of Clothing & Alteration Job
Clothing alterations for casual garments are easier than reworking wedding dresses and multi-layered suits. Besides, shortening and taking in costs less material than letting out and lengthening.
Number of Alteration Jobs
Our skilled tailors at LookSmart Alterations will determine the number of alteration jobs required to achieve the best fit. For example, a business suit that only needs taking in will cost less than reworking, restyling, adding details, taking in, and shortening it in one job.
Condition and Age
Worn-out clothing needs more repairs and a lot of work than brand-new ones. Besides, matching fabric and patterns may be hard to source, making it more costly to lengthen and let out.
Fabric Type
The material used directly influences the cost of the job, depending on its availability, workability, and how to achieve your desired fit. Many fabrics, such as premium wools, lace, and silk, are very delicate and harder to work with than others.
Extra Details
Adding glamorous details like beading, tulle fabric, and custom embroidery enhances the outfit’s look and value. Handmade details and well-thought accessories go a long way in creating a masterpiece you can be proud of wearing that leaves a flattering look.
What is the difference between a seamstress and a tailor?
Our seamstresses at LookSmart Alterations sew clothes, fabrics, and garments for a living. On the other hand, our tailors are responsible for altering and modifying garments to fit a customer’s shape and enhance their best features while hiding trouble areas.
Aside from clothing alterations, we provide dressmaking services and create tailor-fitted suits. LookSmart Alterations puts more effort into bespoke suits and custom dresses since these need specific alterations to fit your body shape perfectly.
Can a tailor make my suit slimmer?
Definitely! We turn store-bought clothes into tailor-fitted masterpieces with a comfortable feel and quality. At your fitting appointment, we’ll take your measurements and discuss what adjustments to make in order to produce a well-fitted suit.
Your suit should fit your body, not the other way around.
Our expert tailors offer wedding and business suit alterations to give discerning gentlemen a sharp and defined look on their big day. We hear your unique needs and ensure that no off-the-rack suit is too tight, loose, or plain for life’s biggest moments.
What type of alterations do you specialise in?
LookSmart Alterations in Riccarton offers the following services:
- Clothing alterations
- Wedding dress alterations
- Suit alterations
- Invisible mending
- Bespoke tailoring
All of our services also come with dry cleaning at an additional cost, so you’re style-ready and confident for your last-minute style preps, business meetings, or a major trip as soon as you pick your suit up from any of our local stores.
Will my alteration be noticeable?
At LookSmart Alterations, our seamstresses and master tailors pay close attention to detail on every tailor-fitted masterpiece to ensure no signs of repair and obvious seams are visible.
In special cases where a dress or suit has tears, rips, and holes, our invisible mending services ensure a seamless finish by taking individual threads from the garment’s interior and reweaving them carefully in the damaged sections to repair the damage.
Is dry cleaning included in the alteration service?
You can request our Riccarton store add dry cleaning to your alteration service for an extra cost. Just visit us at Westfield Riccarton and leave your garments under our care. We handle and dry-clean delicate fabrics like silk, premium wool, suede, satin, velvet, and cashmere. Let us do the cleaning and pick them up in pristine condition, ready to wear.
Do you offer any guarantee on your alterations?
Our services at LookSmart Alterations maintain a stellar reputation among first-time and repeat customers. We take pride in our craft through high-quality work and exceptional service, providing our customers with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. At LookSmart, we provide a quadruple guarantee on all your garments and alterations.
Re-alteration Guarantee: If you’re not satisfied with how the alteration comes out, we’ll re-alter it on the spot for free. If it’s impossible to finish the alteration within the day, we’ll deliver it to your address at no extra cost. All our hems are guaranteed for the life of the garment.
100% Money Back Guarantee: If you’re still unsatisfied after the re-alteration, we will refund 100% of the cost.
Competitor Guarantee: Still not satisfied? We will pay for your garment to be altered by a different tailor or suit shop of your choice, not exceeding our prices.
Damaged Garment Guarantee: In the unlikely event that your clothes get damaged during alteration or get lost while in our store, we will reimburse the amount presented with the garment’s receipt or the fair value.
Note that claims against these guarantees must be presented within 4 weeks from the date of receipt.
