Morning dress tailor

[LondonGL]

Hello,

I’ve searched the forum and not found a completely similar question, however if I am wrong about this please let me know.

I recently purchase a full morning suit from the local charity shop in a nice area. It is over 50 years old, in great condition and from Savile Row. As some slight alterations are needed, would it be bad form to write to the tailor and ask if it would be possible to have it altered? This may seem like a silly question, however, I have never delt with the row before so plead ignorance.

If this is not possible, would anyone be able to recommend a tailor in London who could alter morning dress, as it is quite a technically complex garment. In this case time is not an issue as I need it for mid 2013.

Kind regards,

 

[Nicola]



It is over 50 years old, in great condition and from Savile Row. As some slight alterations are needed, would it be bad form to write to the tailor and ask if it would be possible to have it altered?

My guess is he's mostly likely dead or at least retired.

 

[LondonGL]

That may be likely as no individual tailor would last that long, however, the firm of tailors is still in existence and trading on Savile Row. I know that when you buy a garment new from one of these firms alterations can be purchased for a good number of years if not the rest of your life. However, I do not know if they would find it rude that I would want to alter the garment as I am not the original owner.

 

[HansderHund]

I would simply ring them and ask. If you're honest with them and explain the situation, including that you're willing to pay their prices, they'll give you an idea as to whether they have the time or inclination. They will certainly understand why you'd call even though you're not the original owner of the suit. If they say that they don't have the time to do that, ask for a reference to a trusted tailor.

 

[GBR]

One can try, they may be still business. Which tailor is it?

If they send you off with a flea in your ear, you will know that they won't. However I would not class your approach as good form.

 

[poorsod]



One can try, they may be still business. Which tailor is it?
If they send you off with a flea in your ear, you will know that they won't. However I would not class your approach as good form.

Would situation be different if he had inherited it from a relative?

 

[LondonGL]

The tailor is Davis and Son, I think I will give them a call as HansderHund suggested. However, I do see that the form is not great as it could seem like I want their services on the cheap. I like to think that is not the case as my motivation here is to re-use a very beautiful and well designed morning coat which few tailors, given the complexity, can alter without ruining
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[jeff13007]

How slight are the alterations? Seeing that you are considering actually taking it back to the original tailor I'm guessing its a bit more than a sleeve alteration/hemming of the pants etc?

 

[LondonGL]

Yes you are correct, my concern is that there is a slight pulling on the back of the shoulders due to it being a little loose around the middle. The length of the jacket is fine, as is the sleeve length and width across the shoulders. Basically, the person seems to have almost the same body structure but to have a few more pounds around that waist, I would say they were around a half an inch to an inch wider? I’m no expert in this area though but think it is close enough so that there is a reasonable shot of making it work.

Also, the trousers do need to be lengthened slightly and there is material enough to do this, but I think any good tailor could do this.

Normally I would just have my local tailor take in the back and two side seams. However this garment has three back seams and two side seams so my guess is that it is a step up in complexity.