Altering shirts (sleeves, chest, waist)

[silverlake]

1. I have some linen Banana Republic long-sleeve shirts that I like but which I now find too roomy in the chest and waist. Can the chest and waist be taken in by a tailor for a tighter fit? About how much might this cost? If it's not worth it, I can just take these shirts in to my local thrift store for credit.

2. I bought a Prada shirt from this thrift store but the sleeves were an inch or two too long. My tailor altered them and the sleeves came out very puffy around the wrist. She told me this is because the sleeves were pleated. Is this true? I often find very nice shirts in thrift stores where the sleeves are an inch or two too long, and it would be great if I could just have the sleeves altered, but my experience with my tailor has put me off doing this. If shortening sleeves can be done, about how much would that cost?

 

[Steven Aver]

I typically spend about $40 when getting the following 3 alterations: sleeves shortened, sleeves narrowed, and chest taken in.

 

[JFKJean]

$40 sounds about right for those alterations. Shop around but go no higher than $50

 

[winston]

I'm not sure if this is the normal way it is done, but in the past I have had the chest taken in on shirts, and in the process the arm hole is made smaller. (I knew this beforehand and assume it is the only way to attack the chest, rather than just tapering the waist) In some cases this has caused it to be just a little bit too tight under the arms. That's something to watch out for.